Degree Name Change: Ashland University's MA in American History and Government

It appears that Ashland University recently changed its Master of American History and Government to a Master of Arts in American History and Government. The university now offers synchronous online classes in the degree program, as well as in-person summer courses. I would like to teach government at the community college level, but I am unsure if this degree program would provide the proper educational credentials to do so. I notice that Ashland's courses have an AHG (American History Government) prefix, as opposed to a POS (Political Science) or HIS (History) or GOV (Government). Does anyone think that the course prefix would be an issue for someone seeking an adjunct college instruction position since the actual degree is an MA in American History and Government?

 

I wonder if this will result in a change on the diploma. To me the difference seems minor.

 

Not unless you're in Southern Association territory.

 

Yes, I am in Florida. So, the prefix is an issue for SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)?

 

I think universities and aspiring instructors often misunderstand the requirements of SACS. I emailed them once for clarification because all of the online advice seemed off when looking at the actual rules. SACS does not care about prefixes. It is just a guideline that the instructor have a degree or 18 graduate credits in the subject being taught. The guideline says nothing about prefixes. A school accredited by the SACS has the freedom to determine that someone with an international relations degree can teach political science courses even if the person took no courses with political science prefixes. I attended a community college district in the SACS. Some of my criminal justice professors had law degrees. I doubt they took any criminal justice courses. It's more about course titles and content than prefixes.

This is the email I sent.

Their answer.

 

Sorry about the double post, but I found something that I think everyone should see in order to stop this prefix myth.

http://www.aug.edu/institutional_effectiveness/credentialing_procedures.pdf

I can tell you that my security studies program would have a lot of trouble finding qualified instructors if the prefix myth were true. Only two of the professors in the program have degrees in either security studies or national security studies. The others have degrees in military history, public policy, and international relations.