For information pertaining to the Business Administration program, please click here.

The major in History covers a broad spectrum of study including American, European and non-western cultures. Completion of this major prepares students to seek admission to law school, graduate studies and governmental services.  

The mission of the History Department is to engage students in the pursuit of knowledge while preparing them for a wide variety of careers. The faculty believe that asking questions and seeking knowledge, either for practical reasons or out of curiosity, is one of the most worthy of all pursuits.

History majors can go on to a wide range of careers, including teaching, museum curators, archival work, journalism, local, state, and federal government, and political careers. Students with history majors also often choose to continue their education through law school or by earning advanced degrees in historical studies. A history major will help you explore and understand issues facing people in the past, present, and future.

Opportunities for History Majors at ALC

The History Department at Alice Lloyd College strives to give their students hands-on learning experiences. Each spring, students chosen by the department attend Legislative Day in Frankfort, KY, an event designated for Kentucky’s private colleges. The department also provides opportunities to study abroad. In 2006, for example, Dr. Paul Beasley took a small group of selected juniors on an educational trip to Germany. The History Department also takes trips to to visit Civil War battlefields and other locations relevant to the topics they are studying. Alice Lloyd’s History Department can also open the door for internship positions across the country and abroad, with frequent applications and opportunities being posted.

To learn a few more details about our History program, please view the Department of History Brochure (pdf).

The Interdisciplinary Studies major is designed to provide students a solid liberal arts background along with the flexibility to pursue an interdisciplinary course of study with particular applications to individual academic and/or career goals.

The student develops a program of study with the assistance of a Faculty Advisory Committee composed of a minimum of three full-time Alice Lloyd faculty members, one of whom must have a doctorate in the primary discipline selected by the student. When the proposal is completed to the satisfaction of the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee, it will be submitted to the Academic Affairs Committee for approval. The submitted proposal should include sections identifying the subject of the project, the feasibility of completing it in a timely fashion, a detailed discussion of the topics to investigate, the methods/procedures to be followed, and a detailed Work Schedule that provides a timeline of when portions will be completed. For more information concerning the proposal, students should see the chair of ALC’s Academic Affairs Committee. A completed copy of the Interdisciplinary Studies Major check sheet should accompany the proposal when submitted to the committee. Once the Academic Affairs Committee has approved the proposal, it will be forwarded to the Vice President for Academics/Dean of the College for final approval. Students selecting an Interdisciplinary Studies major are normally expected to declare their intentions to pursue this option as early as possible, but no later than the end of the sophomore year.

This interdisciplinary major in Social Science covers courses in sociology, psychology, political science, economics, and history. Social scientists study human, human culture, and the relationship between humans and their environment—in other words, the total human experience. The variety of courses offered in this interdisciplinary major allows students to enter fields including, but not limited to, health care support systems, criminal justice, civil rights analysis, employee relations, community development, library science, and both governmental and non-governmental agencies.

What is the difference between the Social Science major and the Sociology major?

The Sociology major at Alice Lloyd is designed for students wishing to prepare for a graduate degree in Sociology. The degree relies heavily on courses in research, theory, and applied sociology.

The Social Science major is intended for students who may not plan to go to graduate school but would like to work in the service sector where a strong background in sociology, as well as advanced courses in economics, psychology, and political science, would be an advantage. Many employees in these fields do not require the sociology degree, but some look for at least 30 credit hours in sociology which this major provides. The graduate with a Social Science major may still attend graduate school if academic standing permits.

Students may not double major in Sociology and Social Science, because there is not enough difference in the two majors to justify giving two degrees. The student must decide on one or the other no later than their senior year.

To learn more about the Social Science program, please view the Social Science Major Handbook.(pdf)

The major in Social Studies Education prepares the student to teach all Social Studies areas in grades eight through twelve. In addition to the curriculum requirements outlined in the catalog, students in this program must also meet criteria for admission to the Teacher Education Program and Student Teaching. Upon completion of this program, students must meet other specific Education Professional Standards Board requirements in order to secure certification.

The Sociology curriculum has three main purposes: (1) to aid students in understanding social structure and inequality, as well as the roles of social forces and ideas, in shaping contemporary society; (2) to provide a well-rounded education preparing the student for a wide range of occupations, particularly those that work directly with people or with categories or groups of people; and (3) to provide a sound academic background for graduate study in sociology or for such professions as law, social work, or the ministry.

The Sociology major is designed to give students a strong background in research design and social theory, as well as the tools for understanding the application of the discipline for contemporary social issues.  Graduates of this major will be well prepared for professional school or graduate work in sociology, urban and regional planning, social work, and other programs.  In addition, the sociology major instills critical thinking and analytical skills that are of value to a variety of careers and professions, including economic development, social services, health care administration and support, Christian missions, and other occupations.

The major in Sports and Fitness Programs Management offers an interdisciplinary course of study in Physical Education and Business to prepare students for professional positions in the creation and administration of programs in community recreation, community centers, state and city parks and recreation, resorts, camps, theme parks, tourist attractions, youth service organizations, corporate fitness programs and church programs. Many of these positions will require teaching ability in addition to management and leadership skills, and graduates may expect to lead and give instruction in games and sports in addition to administering programs and facilities. College graduates with skills to operate in recreational resources and facilities add to the physical and economic health of the region.

This minor is open to all students regardless of their designated major.

This minor is open to all students regardless of their designated major. A minimum of a “C” grade in each course is required. Students should be sure they have met the prerequisites for each course prior to signing up for the course. Courses carrying designations for multiple disciplines cannot be counted for more than one major or minor.

This minor is open to all students regardless of their designated major.

Dr. Paul W. Beasley, Professor of History, attended Princeton University, Cumberland College, Georgetown College, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.  He began his teaching career at Georgetown College and subsequently taught at Louisiana College. He has also served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma Baptist University and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of History at Palm Beach Atlantic College, Wingate College, and Bluefield College.  He joined the Alice Lloyd faculty in 2004 and is now faculty President, sponsor of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and a certified teacher educator.

Dr. Beasley’s special academic interests include southern, frontier, Kentucky and European history. He is the author of several books and a contributor to Kentucky’s Governors, published by the University of Kentucky Press. He has been named to Outstanding Educators of America and has served on numerous accreditation committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Leo Daugherty serves as an adjunct member of the ALC History Department.  He earned his Ph.D. in history from Ohio State University in 2001. He is currently the Command Historian for the United States Army in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Dr. Daugherty is a Marine reservist and has published several books on the history of the Marines and World War II. He has expertise in Middle East history, Asia and Soviet-American relations.

Prior to beginning the pursuit of a doctorate in sociology, Dr. Marylee James worked as a nurse, primarily in emergency care and in state and local prisons in South Carolina.  She also served in the U.S. Navy Ready Reserve as a hospital corpsman.  Following completion of a double major in Sociology and Political Science at Furman University, Dr. James was accepted into the University Professor’s Program at Boston University under the mentorship of Dr. Peter L. Berger. She was a research fellow at the University of Witwatersrand in the Centre for Policy Studies in Johannesburg, South Africa where she completed the research for her dissertation entitled Good News for the Poor?: The Church and Community Development in South Africa.

Dr. James received her Ph.D. in Sociology, Political Science and African Studies in 1990, and returned to South Africa.  From 1990 to 1996 she established and taught in an alternative educational program that was designed to provide black South Africans with an educational bridge between their interrupted secondary educations and undergraduate studies, as well as marketable skills in community development. While in South Africa she also completed a master’s degree in Theology in 1995. Since returning to the United States, she has spent 15 years at Alice Lloyd College. She is listed with Cambridge Who’s Who 2010, in Elite American Educators 2011, and in Worldwide Who’s Who: Lifetime Achievement Awards 2012.

Dr. Marvin Pippert teaches Sociology and has more than 28 years of experience as a faculty member, department head, and administrator. He received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University and his Master’s and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. He dedicated a sabbatical year working as a counselor for senior high school students for Upward Bound. As a sociologist, he has written, presented, and published research in the areas of population, migration, and Appalachian culture. Further, he has taught a variety of courses including Population and Society, Race and Ethnicity, Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, Sociology of Community, and Sociology of the Family.

Dr. Rhonda L. Smith-Daugherty, Associate Professor of History and Departmental Chairperson, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1999 and has taught history since 1993. She joined the faculty of Alice Lloyd College in 2004.

Dr. Smith-Daugherty’s specialty is 20th Century American history. Her research interests include the American Civil War, World War II, and the 1960s. She has published several book reviews and encyclopedia articles. Currently, Dr. Smith-Daugherty is researching the Iran-Contra Scandal for an upcoming collaborative work on counterinsurgency in American history. She is also writing a book on President John Kennedy and South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem.

Additionally, Dr. Smith-Daugherty is a certified Teacher Educator and a member of ALC’s Teacher Education Program Committee. She serves as the American History Content Specialist, Social Studies Education advisor, and Pre-Law advisor. Dr. Smith-Daugherty is also the advisor for the Jack Cooke Kent Scholarship Program, the James Madison Scholarship Program, and the Impact Club. She serves as Assistant Sponsor for the Alpha Chi Honor Society.