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 village. 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 situation, this is the reality of the account of how people unknowingly misjudged the numerous gains of the nation’s flagship higher institution of learning, LUX In Tenebris (University of Liberia) under the philosophical inclination of its students-faculty centered President, Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson.
Since Dr. Nelson took over the affairs of the institution, almost four years now, the institution has prestigiously positioned itself on a path of new academic trajectory, thus propelling itself far above redemptive glamour, instead elected to strengthen ties and collaboration at all echelons with emphasis on academic and development with other sisterly globally recognized institutions of higher learning across the globe, while research works have taken center stage at the institution including the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The prospective graduates of the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Liberia commenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, commenced thesis defense. Thesis defense 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.
Academic exercise is one of the major requirements for a student to earn a Bachelor degree from College. The candidates are given an opportunity to write, present and defend their research studies before other academic professionals (Six man academic jury) who evaluate the quality of the academic work and examined the candidates to determine if they are the authors of the research work.
The exercise is being conducted by a seven-member committee headed by 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.
Tuesday’s event brought together prospective graduates from all degree-granting departments of the College including English and Language Studies, History, Geography, Communication and Media Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology; Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Social Work. Also in attendance were faculty and invited guests.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of thesis defense on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the Dean of the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray said the established academic process is being conducted in accordance with the institution’s policies and in line with the guidance of the Liberia Institute for Policy Studies and Research.
Dr. Gray emphasized that all prospective graduates of degree grating departments in the College are obligated to appear before the Thesis Committee to defend their research work including Thesis, Project, Seminar, and Research Paper which is part of the college’s curricula.
According to the Dean, noted that all prospective graduates must appeared before the thesis committee at the Thelma E. Duncan Sawyer Faculty Lounge. Prior to their advancement to thesis writing, it is demanded that students must enroll and successfully passed the Research Methodology Course offered every first semester of each Academic Year before the student can be authorized to write and defend his/her thesis or research project as spell-out in each department’s approved curriculum.
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.
Thesis writing and defense has been dormant for about twenty years 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. Meanwhile, thesis defense 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.
