Thus, they will:
• master the necessary concepts to think critically about how organizations function,
• learn a range of methods to diagnose the needs of particular individuals and programs they serve,
• develop the leadership skills and technological competencies required to propose and effectuate interventions to help organizations and communities become more effective, and
• acquire the research and management skills needed to assess the usefulness of their interventions in order to modify and improve them accordingly.

WEL graduates will provide the leadership necessary to coordinate the collaborative work of community colleges, K-12 institutions, businesses, and government agencies in a wide variety of workforce education activities. These activities include contract training, continuing education, tech-prep programs, school-to- work initiatives, work-based learning activities, business and industry training, integrating academic and technical learning, and developing community college and industry partnerships. Moreover, advanced knowledge in workforce education leadership will give graduates highly marketable skills in today's rural community colleges, other rural development organizations, industries, and businesses. Whether graduates decide to become administrators at community colleges, one-stop career center directors, program managers, professors, trainers, or multimedia specialists, they will be taught the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the workforce education leadership program to be successful.

WEL Program of Study

Industrial Technology and Workforce Development (9 hours)

Offered by ASU
IE 578 Welfare-to-Work Programs
IE 579 Federal & State Job Training Programs
IE 552 School-to-Work Initiatives
IE 589 Vocational Administration Certification Course OR TKT 8263 Philosophy and
Administration of Vocational Education (MSU Option)

Offered by MSU
TKT 8233 – Career Planning Decision Making
TKT 8723 – Instructional Design for Industry
TKT 8763 – Seminar in Planning for Instructional Technology
TKT 8773 – Production of Technology-Aided Instruction
TKT 8263 - Philosophy and Administration of Vocational Education

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Research (6 hours)
IE 500 Research in Industrial and Occupational Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research OR PH 514 Research Design & Methodology

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Internship (3 hours)
**IE 548 Internship in Workforce Development

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Foundation Courses (12 hours)
IE 598 Planning Instructional Programs for Out-of-School Groups OR
AEC/AIS 8523 – Teaching Out of School Groups (MSU Option)
MG 640– Human Resource Management
HE 600 – Rural Sociology
MG 641– Organizational Behavior and Development
AE 508 Rural Economic and Community Development
IT 580 Industrial Management

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Community College Core (3 hours)
IE 526 Prin. and Obj. Evaluation of Vocational Education Students OR
CCL 8113 – History and Philosophy of the Community College (MSU Option)
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Program of Study Guidelines include:
• 1/2 of the courses must be comparable to the course numbers above
• Up to 9 hours may be transferred or substituted from accredited institution or program
• 6 years maximum to complete program of study
• 33 hours minimum beyond baccalaureate degree

Application and Registration Process:
The admissions process for this program has been designed so that the student will complete only one admissions application packet. Acceptance in this program will require that student complete an admissions application through the Mississippi State University Division of Academic Outreach & Continuing Education Operations. Therefore, it is very important that a primary institution is marked in Section II of the application. If ASU is marked as the primary institution, Alcorn State admissions requirements must be met and the admissions decision will be made by ASU. Likewise, if MSU is marked as the primary institution, Mississippi State admissions requirements must be met and the admissions decision will be made by MSU. Therefore, all WEL applicants must first be admitted to the Graduate School at their chosen primary institution and clear all holds prior to registration. Please contact your specific department for academic advising. Any exceptions in course requirements must be approved through your academic department and WEL Program advisor. The Operations Unit at Mississippi State University will collect the completed packets from the ASU Graduate School via the ASU Admissions/Contact person and forward a duplicate copy to the ASU WEL Program contact person. NO ONLINE REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER THIS PROGRAM. The contact persons at each school will complete the registration process for each student.

ASU Admissions/Contact Person:
Amanda O’Quinn
Department of Advanced Technologies
1000 Alcorn Drive #360
Alcorn State, MS 39096-7500
Phone: 601-877-6494
Fax: 601-877-3941

MSU Contact for WEL Application:
Amy Wallace
MSU Division of Academic Outreach & Continuing Education Operations 
P.O. Box 5247
Mississippi State University, MS 39762
Fax: 662-325-3473
E-Mail: AWallace@aoce.msstate.edu 

Download WEL Registration Form: www.distance.msstate.edu/PDF/MSURegFrm05.pdf

** Internships are offered to enrich your educational experience. The internship requirement may be waived for those students who can document experience comparable to the planned internship.