Amos Sawyer College’s Prospective Graduates Excited  About  Thesis Defense

Sometimes, we forget important happenings that can help us through tough situations, but when we get a different perspective, it can make all the difference in how we react to a on. This is the reality of the account of how people unknowingly misjudged the numerous gains of the nation’s flagship higher institution of learning, University of Liberia (LUX in Tenebris) under the philosophical inclination of its students-faculty centered President, Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson.

While dire heart critics and other detractors subscribed to the notion that everything is bad at the University of Liberia due to unhealthy publicity owing to persistent protests, equally so there are too many good things ongoing at the University of Liberia that are enhancing human growth, development and profound achievements in the academic environment.

The Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia, Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray discloses that all prospective graduates of the 104th Class must defend Thesis and Practical Research in front of the College’s Thesis Committee as a requirement to fulfill a four-year Baccalaureate Degree from the institution.

The Sawyer College approved curricula mandates all prospective graduates to write, defense and present a 40-page thesis on an important topic relating to the student’s discipline. Every student is assigned to a professor or instructor to supervise and guide the student in the process.         According to Dr. Gray, Thesis defense is one of the basic components and requirements for students of the Amos C. Sawyer College to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree, therefore, an extra sense of importance attached to the process.

During the Friday’s meeting, the students expressed their excitements about participating in the academic exercise to share the results of their studies,  and explain how the study is significant in their fields of studies, present the highlights of the methodology and results of the thesis.

The reintroduction of Undergraduate thesis at the Amos C. Sawyer College took effect 2021 Academic Year as one of the major requirement for successful completion of undergraduate studies. Thesis writing has been dormant for about fifteen years at the UL Undergraduate Programs but under the present administration of the University of Liberia headed by Prof. Dr. Julius J.S. Nelson, the program has been reactivated to a professional standard.

During the Friday’s interactive session with all Prospective Graduate of the 104th Class of the College, Dr. Gray informed the students that the role of the Thesis Committee is evaluate the quality of the thesis, and examined the candidates to determine if they are the authors of the research.

The Friday’s session was wonderfully informative and well attended, and was all about information sharing. It was held at the Thelma E. Duncan Sawyer Faculty Lounge at UL Fendall Campus.

The Sawyer College Dean used session to encourage and motivate the students to attach importance to their research works.  Dr. Gray who is also Sharda University in India Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia further briefed the prospective graduates that thesis defense is an established academic exercise conducted in accordance with the University of Liberia’s policies and guidance and that of the Liberia Institute for Policy Studies and Research.

According to the Dean, every students must have enrolled and successfully passed the research methodology course offered every first semester at the college before any student can be authorized to participate in the thesis process. He informed the students that only candidate with less than 13 credit hours would be allowed to write his or her thesis.

Meanwhile, the prospective graduates were very thankful and appreciative for the interactive session with the Dean, Prof. Dr. Gray regarding the Thesis Defense and Presentation. Everyone at the meeting was given the opportunity to express their views, make suggestions, comments and ask questions.

Speaking further, Dr. Gray informed the students that the College has been successful in integrating research in all the degree granting departments, and added that   Amos C. Sawyer College has harmonized the curricula of the various academic departments in the college and introduced standardized research methodology course across the institution to prepare the graduates for future job challenges. Students who successfully passed the research course are advanced for senior thesis writing or undertake a senior project as a special requirement to fulfill a four-year Baccalaureate Degree Requirements to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree.

The thesis exercise is expected to commence mid- June 2024 at the college under the supervision of 7 Panelists including Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors from Amos C. Sawyer College. The committee members include: Assistant Professor Alexander O. Teaway. Other members are Roseline Tomah-Weah, Co-Chair, Dr. Elliot Wreh-Wilson, Cllr. Mark Bedor-Wla Freeman, Dr. Nathaniel G. Gbessagee, Mr. Leviticus O. Kollie, Ernest WInderburk and Abraham Fofana.

In a related development, the Amos C. Sawyer College is expected to introduce MSc degree programs in Professional Writing and Communication, and MSc degree Sociology upon the approval of the Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia.

The current curricula of the Departments of English and Language Studies, History, Political Science, Geography and Communication and Media Studies are required to write undergraduate thesis and defend the work in-person. Students from the Departments of Demography, Sociology, Criminology, Philosophy and Religious Studies are required to write Undergraduate Research Project and defend the work in-person. While prospective graduate of the Social Work Unit are required to present and defend their seminar work.

Meanwhile, thesis presentation and defend is one of the basic components and requirements for students of the College to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree.

In a related development, the Amos C. Sawyer College on September 8, 2023 and February 9, 2024 conducted separated seminars about research methods and thesis development. The

sessions were about information sharing and brainstorming among the academic team, faculty and the leadership of Amos C. Sawyer College to  enhance  research methods teaching and the enforcement of thesis across the college. College has been successful in integrating research in all the degree granting departments, as a major requirement for completion. At Sawyer College, faculties pursue a full range of research interests related to their own academic disciplines.

The college has harmonized the various academic departments’ curricula and introduced standardized research methodology course across the college. Students who successfully passed the research course are advanced for senior thesis writing or undertake a senior project as a special requirement to fulfill a four-year Baccalaureate Degree Requirements to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree.

The College has a proud history of providing courses that help communities to grow and flourish, this focus on combining practical knowledge with quality learning and teaching.The College remains driven by its commitment to societies and is dedicated to providing quality programs and degrees in a flexible and supportive environment.

The college offers degrees in 13 disciplines and runs certificate and diploma programs in Public Relations, Journalism, GIS, Statistics, Chinese Language, and Performing Arts.

Meanwhile, two committees have been constituted to draw out plans for the establishment of a MSC degree programs in Mass Communication and Professional Writing, and Sociology.

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