…Also Approves Diploma, Certificate Programs
The Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) and the Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia on Tuesday, 25 April 2023 and Thursday, 27 April 2023 overwhelmingly voted and endorsed the establishment of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts which comprises a BA degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs, respectively.
The Fine and Performing Arts program will be hosted within the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Liberia College) in Fendall. The Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray and his illustrious chairpersons, faculty anf heads of the Creative Society are of Liberia (entertainment industry) credited for initiating the discussions, meetings, and seminars which led to the establishment the program.
For the past 12 months, the leadership of Sawyer College headed by the Dean together with the chairpersons, members of the Creative Society of Liberia, and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism met at the University of Liberia Fendall campus on several occasions to hold meaningful roundtable discussions, meetings, fora, and seminars to brainstorm, explore new ideas, formulate new curricula, and come up with recommendations for the establishment of the degree program, diploma, and certificate programs in Fine and Performing Arts.
A Special Committee was constituted by the Dean of the College to supervise the establishment of these programs. Members of the committee include Rev. Jethro S. Tamba, Chair, Department of Geography, Assistant Prof. Richmond S. Anderson, Chair, Department of Political Science, Dr. D. Elliott Wreh-Wilson, Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Dr. Kula Thompson-Williams, Chair, Department of English and language Studies, Cllr. Mark Bedor Wla Freeman, Instructor, Department of English, Culture Ambassador Julie Endee, Rev. Tehpamubo Sayeh, Instructor, Department of Regional Studies, Mr. Senyon Kieh, Instructor, Department of Communication and Media Studies, Mr. Michael Seator, Chair, Department of Regional Studies, Mr. Smith Peters, faculty, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Mr. Fred Snorton and Mr. Eddie Gibson of the Liberia Movies Union and others.
Dr. Gray has extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the ACC and the Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia headed by its President Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson for the approval of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
The Prof. Amos Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, formerly Liberia College, was founded on an agenda of social responsibility to the Liberian Society and the world in general to provide educational access to the nation and other nationals across the globe. Since 1862, the College has traditionally served students pursuing full undergraduate bachelor’s Degrees in the most exceptionally professional disciplines. While in 1951 Liberia College and the William V. S. Tubman College of Education (formally the William V. S. Tubman Teachers’ College) merged to form the University of Liberia through the Trustees of Donations for Education based in the United States of America.
Following several deliberations and consultations, the Dean of Sawyer College, Dr. Gray on April 25 and 27, 2023 presented the documents for the establishment of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts to the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) and the Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia for approval. Fortunately, for the Dean and his head working committee, the document was finally approved by the two bodies of the university and accepted as working tool to serve as a policy document of the institution to confer BA degree, diploma, and certificate.
The Fine and Performing Arts program is one of the most lucrative industries in the world, and it has been growing at a rapid pace for many years now and support the economy. There are not many jobs that pay as much money as those in the entertainment industry. The industry is where people dream of creating something out of nothing.
The new degree, diploma and certificate training programs would prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry and help to empower them in the field of innovation, critical thinking, and creativity. This degree is highly regarded by employers because it allows students to pursue their passions while working for their selves.
The curriculum emphasizes a critical and creative relationship between content and form, an awareness of historical connections, and engagement with varied contexts of creative production and provides better opportunity for self-employment and independent contractors in the flourish globe job market , Self-efficacy, Self-sustainability and self-employment to earn own income.
Meanwhile, Sawyer College offers a 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree program in English, French, Communication and Media Studies, Demography, Geography, History, Sociology, Criminology, Political Science, Religious Studies and BSW degree in Social Work. It also offers no degree programs in Kpelleh, Vai, Physical Education, Social Science, ROTC and Arts and Crafts.
The College is the fourth oldest tertiary institution in Africa and Second in West Africa, and first in the country. The first seven students in 1862 to enroll at Liberia College now Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities were tested in Latin and English, while the Spanish Language was also taught at the University of Liberia.
Sawyer College is an interesting place to visit and be. It’s a small, supportive community hosted in a single roof of the Academic Complex of the University of Liberia. It is just a place where you’ll soon know every new friend, but it sits at the heart of the university due to its credible history as the fourth oldest in Africa and second oldest in West Africa. To us, it’s the best with a beautiful land scape, major highways, with access to every possible amenity.
The College is driven by its commitment to society and provides quality programs and degrees in a flexible but academic way. Sawyer College has harmonized the various academic departments’ curricula and introduced standardized research methodology courses across the college. Students who successfully pass the research course are advanced for thesis writing.
Thesis writing is a part of requirements for students in the college to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree. Sawyer College has withstood the test of time as one of the best colleges in the areas of academic excellence, research, quality teaching and creative thinking in which all scholarly works are cherished and promoted. Our students are allowed to decide which of the social sciences and humanities areas of study.
Our graduates earn Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in the following disciplines: English, French, Demography, Geography, Sociology, Criminology, History, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Philosophy and Religious Studies and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in Social Work.
Sawyer College, formerly Liberia College has continued to evolve since 1862, when the government of Liberia, 15 years after independence, authorized the establishment of a college. The period was a crucial one in the nation’s history with emphasis on education to ensure a sound and academically prepared human resource development.
The first President of Liberia, Joseph J. Roberts became the first president of Liberia College, while the current Dean is Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray; he hails from Barclayville, Grand Kru County. The College has a unique obligation to contribute knowledge and creative thinking to society especially in the areas of education and human services. The college has been successful in integrating research in all the degree granting departments, as a major requirement for graduation.
At Sawyer College, faculties pursue a full range of research interests related to their own academic disciplines. At the college, high premium is placed on academic freedom, and students receive a top-quality education, while faculty and students are equally held in an orbit of high standard. The college remains committed to empowering its students with requisite knowledge and practical skills vital to achieving personal and professional success in the changing local and global communities.
The campus is situated on a major highway and surrounded by friendly communities and a beautiful landscape in Fendall, Montserrado County, about 16 miles from the capital. Our faculty and students often say that Sawyer College is “just the right place for those wishing to gain expertise in social sciences and humanities disciplines.”
It’s an intellectual community where you are known, there are places to gather for learning or fun, and our grounds are perfect for soaking up sun and the beauty of the wider and most spectacular campus. The three-story beautiful structure hosts academics and administrators, and several classrooms, suited for teaching and learning. The campus is literally surrounded by lush green trees and beautiful landscapes.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Fine Arts and Performing Arts is a full-time program and requires 134 credits (including 62 General Requirement, 48 major credit hours, 18 minor credit hours and 6 elective credit hours) to successfully complete a four-year degree program. The program emphasizes a critical and creative relationship between content, form and creative.
Students in the program are presented with content-driven assignments intended to guide them towards an increased understanding of their own artistic practices in relation to the contemporary fine arts world. A bachelor’s degree in the performing and Fine Arts entails a general course of study. This degree program will typically focus on creativity, acting, dance, music, film, and drama. The degree helps to prepare Students for various careers in arts, performance and entertainment.
Students are encouraged to combine their majors with a minor in the field to complete their study program better prepared to work in the various courses offered by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Whether Fine Arts or Performing Arts, most importantly, students can understand the importance role of arts as it relates to their careers in any field.
The course teaches practical skills, dynamic training and experience designed for students who want to pursue degree studies and seek a professional career in Fine Arts and Performing Arts. The curricula of the programs are practically craft-performing based, offering rich and intensive courses.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gray has extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the ACC and the Faculty Senate of the University of Liberia headed by its President Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson for the approval of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Press Release
