The bachelor’s degree programs require the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours to a maximum of 128 semester hours, including: (1) liberal studies program; (2) a major as prescribed by each of the departments; and (3) elective courses. Unless specifically provided for in the catalog description, credit for any course may be applied only once toward the required hours for graduation.

Majors. A major consists of a group of prescribed and elective courses (totaling at least 27 hours) providing breadth and depth in an academic discipline, in two or more closely related disciplines, or in an interdisciplinary field of study. The requirements for a major in one discipline may include supporting courses selected from other disciplines.

In degree programs that include a major of 30-45 hours, a minor, second major, or other approved program also is required.

In degree programs that do not require a minor or second major, 46-64 hours are required in a major, including any concentrations, emphases, or specialization options that may be a part of the major.

Concentrations. A concentration is a student option within a major that consists of a group of prescribed courses designed to provide preparation in a specific professional specialty within the major discipline. Ordinarily, degree programs in which the major includes a concentration do not require a minor or second major. Concentrations are required in some majors and cannot exceed 26 hours.

Minors. A minor consists of a group of prescribed and elective courses in an academic discipline, two or more closely related disciplines, an interdisciplinary field of study, or a specially designed individual program. It differs from a major principally in requiring fewer courses (16-24 semester hours) and providing less depth.

A student may not major and minor in the same field.

Second Academic Concentration. A second academic concentration is an eighteen hour course of study in an academic discipline required of education students enrolled in a B.S.Ed. program in elementary, middle grades, or physical education. The concentration areas available are the following: anthropology, art, biology, communication training and development, English, health promotion and wellness, history, mathematics, natural science, philosophy, political science, psychology, social sciences, sociology, Spanish, and theatre.

Second Majors. A second major, often called a double major, is completed at the student’s option by taking the course requirements specified in the major component of the applicable degree program. The hours earned in completing a second major apply to the minimum 120-128 hours required for any bachelor’s degree and do not lead to the award of a second degree. Students interested in earning a second bachelor’s degree must meet the additional requirements stated below for second degrees.

General Electives. Unless a program has been specifically exempted, each degree plan includes a minimum of twelve hours of general (free) electives. These electives are exclusive of (1) hours earned in meeting the requirements of the other components of a degree program, (2) any remedial or developmental work a student may take, and (3) elective hours that may become available to a student through application of the liberal studies waiver policy.

Waivers and Substitutions. Waivers and substitutions of courses, other degree requirements, and academic regulations may be made only with adequate cause. Exemption from, or substitutions in, requirements established by an academic department must be approved by the department head. Liberal studies requirements may be waived or altered only with the approval of the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for liberal studies. Collegewide requirements may be waived or altered only with the approval of the dean of the college. Waivers of, and substitutions in, university-wide regulations and requirements must be approved by the Office for Academic Affairs. All requests must be submitted to the registrar on the Waiver and Substitutions Form.

Academic Advisers. Students enter the university undeclared and are advised by a professional adviser. Upon declaring a major, students are advised by a faculty adviser in their major department.

Students Undecided About a Major. Through the Academic Advising Center, the university provides a specific program of academic advisement to assist the undecided student in course selections and career decisions. When an undeclared student does select a major, the declaration or change of major/adviser procedures should be observed.

Policy on Declaring a Major. Freshmen students are encouraged to declare a major at any time, but must declare a major prior to completion of forty-five (45) credit hours. Transfer students with forty-five (45) or more credit hours must declare a major prior to registration for their second semester. To encourage students to comply with the stated policy, a "hold" will be placed on registration until the student officially declares a major.

Declaration or Change of Major/Adviser Procedure. A student who decides to declare or change a major must complete the declaration process in order to be assigned a new adviser in the appropriate department and to change the official records of the university. The student secures the declaration form from the present adviser or department head and completes the procedure by following the instructions on the form. The new program of study should appear on the next transcript that is issued after the completed form has been submitted to the registrar.

Curricular Checksheets. Departments maintain a supply of curricular checksheets on each of their degree programs. Students should secure copies of the sheets for their programs to use as a supplementary aid in complying with catalog requirements. However, in the event of a conflict between requirements as listed on a checksheet and as stated in the catalog, catalog requirements shall prevail.

Second Bachelor’s Degree. Students already graduated from accredited four-year institutions who are admitted to work toward another bachelor’s degree must meet the university’s regular graduation requirements. A minimum of thirty additional semester hours with a 2.0 GPA must be earned by regular enrollment at the university. The student must meet the requirements in liberal studies and in the major as specified by the department head and dean. A student may obtain from the university a second bachelor’s degree provided the degree is in a different major (students may not earn a second degree in the same major).

Students enrolled at the university who wish to work toward two bachelor’s degrees simultaneously may do so, provided they secure the prior approval of the departments and colleges through which the degree programs are offered. Approval must be secured not later than the end of the junior year. Students must meet the university’s regular graduation requirements and complete at least 150-158 semester hours with a 2.0 GPA, including a minimum of 120-128 hours as specified for one degree and a minimum of thirty additional hours for the other (or second) degree through regular enrollment at the university. The 30-32 additional hours must be selected so as to meet the requirements in liberal studies, the program requirements component of the degree plan, and requirements in the major as specified by the department head and dean for the second degree.

General University Degree Requirements*

To be awarded a bachelor’s degree, the student must meet the following general requirements:

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours to a maximum of 128 semester

hours under requirements outlined for one of the degree programs.

2. A minimum GPA of 2.0 on all work attempted at Western Carolina University and on all courses in the major.

3. A minimum of 25 percent of semester hours applied toward a bachelor’s degree must be earned through regular enrollment in Western Carolina University junior-senior level courses, including a minimum of twelve hours in junior-senior courses in the major field.

4. Fifty percent or more of the credits in the major presented for graduation on the junior-senior level unless the degree program being completed by the student is specifically exempted from the requirement.

5. Be enrolled at Western the intended graduation semester. (Students who wish to pursue an exception to this rule must contact the registrar’s office.)

Liberal Studies Program

Rationale

At Western Carolina University, all bachelor’s degree programs include courses in Liberal Studies designed to provide each student with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an educated person. These include the ability to think critically, to communicate effectively, to identify and solve problems reflectively, to use information and technology responsibly, to appreciate the creative and performing arts, and to seek personal development and lifelong learning.

Through a First-Year Seminar in Liberal Studies, first-year students begin to experience intellectual life at the university level. Through participation in an Academic Learning Community, students begin to experience the integration of knowledge. The core provides students with the academic skills and intellectual habits needed throughout the undergraduate experience; therefore, it should be completed as soon as possible. The Perspectives component of the Liberal Studies program exposes students to important modes of inquiry, discovery, and interpretation through study of the concepts, principles, and theories of the Liberal Arts. Because all disciplines at the university can offer courses in the Liberal Studies program, the Perspectives provide a broadened worldview and knowledge base, with opportunities to take courses outside areas of familiarity or major interest. Students also take at least one three-hour course at the upper level (300 or 400 level) in a Perspectives area outside their major. It is a primary goal of the Liberal Studies program to promote a lifelong love of learning.

Requirements

The Liberal Studies component includes a total of forty-two semester hours, distributed as listed below.

THE CORE, 21 hours

C1. Writing, 6 hours.

ENGL 101, Composition I (3)

ENGL 102, Composition II (3)

C2. Mathematics, 3 hours. This requirement can be satisfied by any higher-level mathematics course.

MATH 101, Mathematical Concepts (3)

C3. Oral Communication, 3 hours.

*CMHC 201, Introduction to Speech Communication (3)

*Prerequisite - ENGL 101

C4. Wellness, 3 hours.

HEAL 111, Stress Management for Health and Wellness (3)

HEAL 123, Health and Wellness (3)

HSCC 101, Nutrition, Fitness, and Wellness (3)

C5. Physical and Biological Sciences, 6 hours

Students may take one of the following combinations of courses to satisfy this requirement:

1. two Liberal Studies science courses in two different disciplines.

2. one Liberal Studies science course and one non-Liberal Studies 100- or 200- level science course with a laboratory or applied component in a different discipline.

3. two non-Liberal Studies 100- or 200-level science courses with laboratory or applied components in two different disciplines.

AST 102, Introductory Observational Astronomy (3)

AST 103, The Solar System (3)

AST 104, Cosmic Evolution (3)

BIOL 102, Human Genetics (3)

BIOL 103, Environmental Biology (3)

BIOL 104, Human Biology (3)

BIOL 105, Biology in the 21st Century (3)

CHEM 101, Chemistry in Society (3)

ENVH 130, Environmental Health Science: Systems and Solutions (3)

GEOL 140, Investigations in Environmental Geology (3)

GEOL 150, Methods in Geology (4)

NRM 140, Natural Resource Conservation and Management (3)

PHYS 105, Contemporary Physics (3)

THE FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR (3 HOURS)

a. Students with 0-15 credit hours are required to take this course.

b. Students with 15.1 - 29.9 credit hours are eligible to take a First-Year Seminar, but it is not required.

c. Students with 30 or more credit hours are not eligible to take First-Year Seminar.

d. Students who do not take First-Year Seminar must take another 3-hour Liberal Studies course in the Core or Perspectives to meet the 42-hour total for Liberal Studies.

ANTH 190 First-Year Seminar: The Human Condition (3)

BIOL 190 Discoveries in Biology (3)

BIOL 192 Plant Biodiversity (3)

BIOL 193 Forensic Biology (3)

BIOL 194 Biotechnology: Methods, Applications and Implications (3)

CHEM 190 Chemistry in Industry (3)

CHEM 191 Issues in Environmental Chemistry (3)

CHEM 192 Human Gene Discovery Laboratory (3)

CHEM 193 Chemistry in the Arts (3)

CHEM 194 Forensic Chemistry (3)

CIS 195 The Information Society at Work (3)

CJ 190 Controversies in Criminal Justice (3)

CMCR 190 A User’s Guide to the Mass Media (3)

EDCI 191 The Great School Wars (3)

ENGL 190 First-Year Seminar in Literature (3)

ENGL 191 First-Year Seminar in Creative Writing (3)

ENGR 199 Introduction to Engineering Practices and Principles I (3)

ENVH 190 From Black Death to Bioterrorism-The Public Health Solution (3)

ET 190 Technology Systems (3)

GEOL 191 Geology, Landscapes, & the Human Psyche (3)

GER 190 First Year Seminar: Triumph &Tragedy Reflected in Modern German Film (3)

HIST 190 First Year Seminar (3)

HIST 191 First Year Seminar (3)

HSCC 191 Does Inequality Make You Sick? (3)

JPN 190, An Introduction to Japanese Popular Culture (3)

LAW 195 Contemporary Legal Issues (3)

MATH 190 Mathematical Models of Population Growth (3)

MATH 191 Mathematics in Social Choice & Decision Making (3)

MATH 192 Fractals: The Geometry of Nature (3)

MUS 190 First Year Seminar (3)

ND 190 Personal Nutrition (3)

PAR 190 Freedom Culture & Technology (3)

PSC 190 Active Citizenship: Making a Difference in Your Community (3)

PSY 190 First Year Seminar (3)

PT 190 Caring for the Aging Population: Challenges & Solutions (3)

SOC 190 First Year Seminar: Social Institutions & Issues (3)

SPAN 190 Celluloid & Paper Dreams: Hispanic Literature & Film (3)

THE PERSPECTIVES (18 HOURS)

Includes Upper-Level Courses*

P1. Social Sciences, 6 hours. Courses in two different disciplines are required.

ANTH 110, Origins of Civilization (3)

ANTH 414, Minority Groups (3)

ASI 250, Introduction to Appalachian Studies (3)

BA 133, Introduction to Business (3)

*BIOL 334, Biotechnology and Society (3)

ECON 231, Introductory Microeconomics and Social Issues (3)

FIN 350, So You Want To Be A Millionaire (3)

GEOG 101, Population Geography (3)

*HSCC 300, Occupational Health (3)

*HSCC 307, Evaluating Health Claims: Fact or Quack (3)

LAW 105, Introduction to Law (3)

*LAW 406, Media Law (3)

*MKT 409, Negotiations/Relationship Marketing (3)

*PAR 313, Philosophy of Law (3)

*PAR 332, Biomedical Ethics & Social Justice (3)

*PAR 333, Environmental Ethics & Public Policy (3)

*PAR 334, Biotechnology and Society (3)

PSC 150, American Government and Politics (3)

PSY 150, General Psychology (3)

*PSY 331, Human Sexuality (3)

*PSY 370, Psychology & Law (3)

*PT 400, Complementary & Integrative Therapies (3)

*RTH 300, Health & Healing: The Spirit-Mind-Body Connection (3)

SOC 103, Human Society (3)

SOC 414, Minority Groups (3)

SOCW 251, Social Issues, Policy & Programs (3)

*SOCW 402, Diversity in Contemporary Society (3)

*SOCW 420 Addictions (3)

P2. Category Has Changed to Core 5 (Physical & Biological Sciences)

P3. History, 3 hours.

HIST 107, World Cultures in Historical Perspective (3)

HIST 141, Turning Points in American History: Paths Taken and Rejected (3)

HIST 142, Lunatics, Dreamers and Ordinary People: Biography in American History (3)

HIST 151, Turning Points in European History: Paths Taken and Rejected (3)

HIST 152, Lunatics, Dreamers and Ordinary People: Biography in European History (3)

HIST 221, European History to 1517 (3)

HIST 222, European History Since 1517 (3)

HIST 231, American History to 1865 (3)

HIST 232, American History Since 1865 (3)

*HIST 308, Explorations in Regional History (3)

*HIST 311, Ancient Greece & Rome (3)

*HIST 312, The Heroic Age (3)

*HIST 313, The Medieval World (3)

*HIST 317, History of Twentieth-Century International Relations (3)

*HIST 322, British History to 1603 (3)

*HIST 323, British History Since 1603 (3)

*HIST 327, Modern Russia (3)

*HIST 330, Modern Germany (3)

*HIST 341, North Carolina History (3)

*HIST 361, Latin American History I (3)

*HIST 362, Latin American History II (3)

*HIST 373, Modern Asia (3)

*HIST 375, Middle East Since Mohammed (3)

*MATH 301, History of the Scientific Revolution (3)

PAR 106, Western Religious Traditions (3)

PAR 210, Origins of Early Christian Traditions (3)

*PAR 305, Medieval & Reformation Theology: Divine Foreknowledge, Free Will & Justification by Faith (3)

*PAR 326, Religion and Science: God’s Law and Laws of Nature (3)

P4. Humanities, 3 hours.

ENGL 206, Literature of Place (3)

ENGL 207, Popular Literature and Culture (3)

ENGL 209, Past Times: Literature and History (3)

ENGL 231, Interpretation of Literature (3)

ENGL 290, Literature and the Sacred (3)

*ENGL 350, The Renaissance (3)

*ENGL 351, The Beats, Radicals, & Avant-Garde Literature (3)

*ENGL 352, The Journey in Literature (3)

*ENGL 364, Southern Literature (3)

*ENGL 367, Appalachian Literature (3)

*ENGL 390, The Bible as Literature (3)

HIST 171, Religion in America (3)

HIST 175, Native American Civilizations (3)

HIST 181, Religion in Europe (3)

HIST 182, The Ancient Empires (3)

HIST 185, History of Death in Western Civilization (3)

LAW 201, Individual Rights (3)

*LAW 306, Women and the Law (3)

*LAW 412, Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility (3)

PAR 101, Western Philosophical Traditions (3)

PAR 102, Western Moral Traditions (3)

PAR 230, Legal, Scientific and Critical Reasoning (3)

*PAR 304, Justice, Power, & Human Nature in the Ancient Greek Polis (3)

*PAR 306, Science, Reason, & Autonomy in the Enlightenment (3)

*PAR 307, From Existentialism to Feminism (3)

*PAR 308, From Pragmatism to Postmodernism (3)

*PAR 309, Philosophy in & of Film (3)

*PAR 312, Philosophy of Religion (3)

*PAR 330, American Wilderness Ethics & Aesthetics (3)

*PAR 350 Philosophical and Religious Classics (3)

P5. Fine and Performing Arts, 3 hours.

ART 104, Introduction to the Visual Arts (3)

CMTA 104, The Theatre Experience (3) *CMTA 310, Black Theatre Experience (3)

DA 259, Dance Appreciation (3)

MUS 101, Music Appreciation (3)

*MUS 304, Jazz Appreciation (3)

*MUS 410, History of American Musical Theatre (3)

P6. World Cultures, 3 hours. (Satisfied if student passes MFL 101, 102, 110, 231, 232, 240, or 301) Only three of the six credit hours earned in FREN, GER, SPAN 110 apply to P6 category. The remainder apply to program, major or elective hours outside of Liberal Studies.

ANTH 120, Comparative Cultural Systems (3)

ART 202, Art of World Cultures (3)

CHER 101, Experiencing Cherokee and the Cherokee-Speaking World (3)

ENGL 204, The Literature of Culture (3)

*ENGL 366, Literature of American Immigration (3)

FREN 101, Experiencing French and the Francophone World (3)

FREN 102, Experiencing French and the Francophone World II (3)

FREN 110, Experiencing French and the Francophone World: Accelerated (6)

GEOG 103, Cultural Geography (3)

*GEOG 440, Regional Geography (3, R12)

GER 101, Experiencing German and The German-Speaking World (3)

GER 102, Experiencing German and The German-Speaking World II (3)

GER 110, Experiencing German and The German-Speaking World:

Accelerated (6)

HSCC 210, Global Disparities in Public Health (3)

LAT 101, Beginning Latin I (3)

LAT 102, Beginning Latin II (3)

*MUS 303, The World of Music (3)

*ND 310 Food, Nutrition, and Culture (3)

PSC 110, Global Issues (3)

*PSC 415 Contemporary British Politics (3)

PAR 105, Eastern Religious Traditions (3)

PAR 202, What is Religion? (3)

PAR 211, Understanding Islamic Traditions (3)

PAR 220, Women and Religion (3)

*PAR 314, Religion, Suffering, and The Moral Imagination (3)

*PAR 323, Mysticism and the Modern Mind (3)

*PAR 324 Contemporary Religious Classics (3)

*PAR 325, Religion in Film (3)

*PAR 327, Native American Religions (3)

SPAN 101, Experiencing Spanish and the Spanish-Speaking World (3)

SPAN 102, Experiencing Spanish and the Spanish-Speaking World II (3)

SPAN 110, Experiencing Spanish and the Spanish-Speaking World

Accelerated (6)

* Only three of the six credit hours earned in FREN, GER, SPAN 110 apply to liberal studies. The remainder apply to program, major, or elective hours outside of liberal studies.

UPPER LEVEL PERSPECTIVES, 3 HOURS, 300-400 LEVEL COURSES

*One course required in any Perspectives category outside the major.

Students should not enroll in courses numbered above their class rank without permission of the department offering the course.

NOTE: A course approved as a Liberal Studies Perspectives course may be used to meet a major requirement. However, when a Perspectives course meets a student’s major requirement, the credit hours for that course will not be counted toward the total of 18 hours of Liberal Studies Perspectives required of every student, although the Perspectives category requirement met by the course will be satisfied. In this situation, the student will take an additional elective Liberal Studies course in any Perspectives category outside of the major. The credit hours for this Liberal Studies elective course will count toward the 18 hours of Liberal Studies Perspectives. Credit hours will not count for both Liberal Studies Perspectives and for the major simultaneously.

Perspectives Courses and the Major

If a particular Liberal Studies Perspectives course is required by a degree program or major, the Perspectives category requirement met by that course will be satisfied for students in that program; however, credit for that course will not count toward the 18 hours of Liberal Studies Perspectives required of every student. In this situation, the student will take an additional elective Liberal Studies course in any Perspectives category outside of the major. In other words, credit hours will not count for both Liberal Studies Perspectives and for degree program requirements. [Students who elect to complete a minor/second major, which is not required by their degree program, may count credit hours for both Liberal Studies Perspectives and the optional minor/second major, concentration, emphasis.]

Liberal Studies and Transfer Students

Courses transferred from other institutions to fulfill Liberal Studies requirements will be evaluated by the registrar in consultation with the appropriate department head or the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for liberal studies and the Liberal Studies Committee, based on university guidelines. Credit earned by examination and advanced placement may be applied toward fulfillment of Liberal Studies requirements.

Students who have completed the general education core (44 hours) or the Associate of Arts degree or the Associate of Science Degree in the North Carolina Community College System will have the Liberal Studies requirements waived. However, if a student has completed the Associate of Applied Science Degree in the North Carolina Community College System will have each course evaluated for transfer credit. When a transfer student has completed the General Education or Liberal Studies requirements of a public or private institution outside of the University of North Carolina system, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Liberal Studies Committee, will determine whether that institution’s general education program is sufficiently similar to Western Carolina University’s Liberal Studies program to warrant a blanket waiver of the Liberal Studies requirements.

Academic Advising Center

The Advising Center works with all newly admitted students in academic advisement, course scheduling, and selection of a major. Upon the declaration of a major, students are advised in their academic department; however, their academic adviser in the Advising Center will continue to work with them in areas of university policy and personal advisement. Additionally, the Advising Center offers career planning as well as programs for students in academic difficulty.

Academic Success Centers

The academic success centers at the university consist of the University Writing Center, the Mathematics Tutoring Center, the Student Technology Assistance Center, and the Catamount Academic Tutoring (CAT) Center. Services are available during fall, spring, and summer semesters and are offered to students without charge.

University Writing Center. A staff of graduate assistants and undergraduate peer tutors is available to assist students in developing skills for preparing essays, term papers, creative writing assignments, articles for publication, and other writing projects. Faculty members are encouraged to refer students to the center for general development of writing skills.

Beginning with the writer’s initial ideas, tutors can help with brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, and revising. By offering the writer workable strategies, the tutor moves the student toward self-sufficiency. In addition to one-on-one tutorial help, the center regularly offers handouts, called mini-courses, tailored to specific writing needs. The center is located in Hunter Library. Visit the center’s Web site at www.wcu.edu/writingcenter for hours, online resources, staff information and helpful links. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 828-227-7197.

Mathematics Tutoring Center. A student peer-tutoring program is staffed by undergraduate and graduate mathematics students. Tutoring is available on a drop-in and individual appointment basis. Tutoring is offered in all lower-division undergraduate mathematics courses and beginning computer science courses. Tutoring experience is provided as a practicum for students majoring in mathematics education. The tutoring center has a small library of supplementary materials, including textbooks, computer-assisted instruction materials, and a few current periodicals in mathematics and computer science. The center is located in 294 Belk. Visit the Center’s web site at www.wcu.edu/mathlab.

Student Technology Assistance Center. The Student Technology Assistance Center offers assistance to students based on their individual needs. Students needing help with word processing, spread sheets, databases, electronic presentations, campus network tools (such as WIN, My Cat, VAX/VMS, etc.), or the Internet (such as web browsers, web page design assistance, newsgroups, e-mail, chat, etc.), can stop by or call for an appointment. Although appointments are not required, they can be beneficial for the student by ensuring one-on-one appointment time. Check the Web site at http://www.wcu.edu/techassist/ for more information and for dates and times of workshops.

Catamount Academic Tutoring Center

The Catamount Academic Tutoring Center, located in 135 Killian Annex, is designed to ensure the academic success of all Western Carolina University students by offering free peer tutoring, workshops, and other resources to improve learning. Trained peer tutors facilitate small-group sessions for most 100 and 200-level classes. Tutors offer strategies for effective study and efficient time management, and they facilitate collaborative groups in which each student is involved with actively exploring and learning the material. Visit the CAT Center website (http://www.wcu.edu/catcenter) or call 828-227-2274 to schedule a tutoring session or to learn more about workshop offerings in areas such as Time Management, Note Taking, Goal Setting, and Exam Preparation.

Testing Services

The Office of Professional Examinations, located in 135 Killian Annex, oversees administrations of the Graduate Record Examination (subject tests only), the Praxis Series, Scholastic Aptitude Test, ACT, Law School Admission Test, and the National Counselor Examination. Visit the website at http://www.wcu.edu/catcenter/OPE.html for registration and exam-preparation information.

For information about the Miller Analogies Test, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Institutional SAT, Residual ACT, or the verbal portion of the SAT (for pre-nursing students), call 227-3264.

Programs of Study

The university offers programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, education-specialist, and doctoral degrees as well as preprofessional, interinstitutional, and certification curricula. All of the bachelor’s-level programs, including the course requirements for the various majors, minors, and concentrations offered by the colleges and departments, are described in the sections that follow. Programs of interest to graduate students are presented in the graduate catalog of The Record.

Degree Programs

The following table lists alphabetically the university’s principal academic programs and indicates the college offering the programs. The colleges are: Applied Sciences (AS); Arts and Sciences (A&S); Business (BUS); and Education and Allied Professions (E&AP).

Undergraduate Major	College	Degree
Accounting	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Anthropology	A&S	B.A.
Anthropology	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.S.
Art	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.F.A.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Athletic Training	AS	B.S.
Biology	A&S	B.S.
Birth-Kindergarten	E&AP	BS
Business Administration and Law	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Chemistry	A&S	B.S.
	A&S	B.A.
Clinical Laboratory Sciences	AS	B.S.
Communication	A&S	B.S.
Communication Sciences and Disorders	E&AP	B.S.
Computer Information Systems	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Computer Science	A&S	B.S.
Construction Management	AS	B.S.
Criminal Justice	AS	B.S.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology	AS	B.S.
Electrical Engineering	AS	B.S.
Elementary Education	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Emergency Management	AS	B.S.
Emergency Medical Care	AS	B.S.
Engineering Technology	AS	B.S.
English	A&S	B.A.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Entrepreneurship	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Environmental Health	AS	B.S.
Environmental Sciences	A&S	B.S.
Finance	BUS	B.S.B.A.
French (inactive status)	A&S	B.A.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
General Special Education	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Geography (inactive status)	A&S	B.S.
Geology	A&S	B.S.
German	A&S	B.A.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Health Information Administration	AS	B.S.
History	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.S.
Hospitality and Tourism	BUS	B.S.
Interior Design	AS	B.S.
International Business	BUS	B.S.
Management	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Marketing	BUS	B.S.B.A.
Mathematics	A&S	B.S.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Middle Grades Education	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Music	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.M.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Natural Resources Management	A&S	B.S.
Nursing	AS	B.S.N.
Nutrition and Dietetics	AS	B.S.
Parks and Recreation Management	E&AP	B.S.
Philosophy	A&S	B.A.
Physical Education	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Political Science	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.S.
Psychology	E&AP	B.S.
Recreational Therapy	E&AP	B.S.
Science Education	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Social Sciences	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.S.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Social Work	A&S	B.S.
Sociology	A&S	B.A.
	A&S	B.S.
Spanish	A&S	B.A.
	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Special Education (General)	E&AP	B.S.Ed.
Special Studies		B.A.
		B.S.
Speech and Theatre Arts	A&S	B.A.
Sport Management	E&AP	B.S.
Telecommunications Engineering Technology	AS	B.S.
Theatre	A&S	B.F.A.

In addition to the curricula offered by a department or jointly by two departments, the university provides a number of special-purpose programs in which students may participate either as a part of the regular degree programs of their choice or as alternatives to them. These opportunities include the following programs:

An Approved Program

An approved program is a selection of courses designed to take the place of a minor or second major in cases where a student has a secondary interest in an area not covered by a recognized second major or minor. The program must consist of 16-24 credit hours of courses, developed in consultation with the major adviser and appropriate faculty adviser(s) in the relevant department(s). The approved program must be approved by the department head of the major department, the head of the approved program department, and the dean(s) of all involved college(s), upon consultation with the head of the department(s) which offer(s) the courses in the approved program.

Special Studies Programs

A Special Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program to take the place of a recognized major program in cases in which a student wishes to earn a degree in a specialized area not covered by recognized majors, or an area that intersects two or more recognized majors and cannot be accommodated by a combination of a recognized major and minor, second major, or approved program.

A Special Studies Program is developed by the student in consultation with an academic adviser in one of the primary departments and in consultation with advisers/faculty from all involved departments.

The program should include completion of the liberal studies program, and any other applicable college and university requirements. It should include a distribution of courses to complete the Special Studies program, in place of a recognized major, plus a minor, second major, or approved program (as needed). It should include a plan for some kind of senior project, capstone course, or final assessment component.

The Special Studies Program will be approved by all involved department heads, the curriculum committees of all involved colleges, and the University-Wide Curriculum Committee. The University Curriculum Committee should pay particular attention to the assessment component(s) of the proposed program and will approve or disapprove the special studies program.

Study Abroad

The Office of International Programs and Services administrates the University of North Carolina Exchange Program (UNCEP), the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) and several Western Carolina University exchanges with over 35 countries worldwide. Students with a 2.75 GPA and higher can study for a semester or a year by paying Western Carolina University tuition and fees and comparable room and board charges. Financial aid assists eligible students with study abroad costs, and scholarships are available through external grant agencies. Some summer programs are available through our overseas partners. Other summer abroad programs sponsored by Western Carolina University professors are handled by the Division of Continuing Education and Summer School.

Cooperative Transfer Agreements with Community Colleges

Western Carolina University participates in the general transfer agreements developed by the University of North Carolina General Administration in cooperation with the North Carolina community colleges. The university is developing additional agreements and transfer guides with individual community colleges in all academic areas. For additional information, contact the transfer coordinator in the Western Carolina University admissions office or a local community college.

Cooperative Program in Agriculture and Life Sciences

Students who complete a two-year prescribed course of study at Western Carolina University have the opportunity to transfer to North Carolina State University in one of the following bachelor’s degree programs in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

Agricultural economics, agricultural business management, agronomy, animal science, biological and agricultural engineering, biochemistry, biological sciences, botany, conservation, fisheries and wildlife sciences, food science, horticultural science, medical technology, pest management, poultry science, applied sociology, zoology, and selected preprofessional programs. For further information, contact the department head in the geosciences and natural resources management department.

Cooperative Program in Forestry

By agreement between Western Carolina University and the School of Forest Resources at North Carolina State University, a student interested in the field of forest resources may take the first two years of the program at Western Carolina University and the remainder at North Carolina State University. For further information, contact the department head in the geosciences and natural resources management department.

During the freshman year, students should select one of four specialty areas of the program: (1) forestry; (2) wood science and technology; (3) pulp and paper science and technology; (4) recreation resources administration. The courses to be pursued for each area are available from the department head in the geosciences and natural resources management department.

Students with acceptable scholastic records in the first two years of the program may earn the professional degree in two additional years. Before transferring, students should check their credits with the requirements of North Carolina State University to determine the advisability of completing additional courses in summer school at one of the two institutions. A GPA of 2.5 is required for transfer.

Experiential Programs

Western Carolina University endorses the concept of education as a multidimensional process of learning that incorporates study and practice. To that end, its curricula are designed to provide for acquisition of knowledge and understanding of theory combined with opportunities for experience in practical applications in real settings. Many of the degree programs include required work in professional situations specific to the positions and career areas for which the students are preparing. At the student’s option, a variety of other work opportunities deriving from and related to academic study are available. To further its commitment to the preparation of well-qualified graduates, the university provides various types of support to departmentally developed experiential activities. It also operates university-wide programs that make work opportunities directly related to their fields of study available to all students.

Western Carolina University has the following guidelines for enrolling students in external instruction courses/programs. External instruction programs are defined as instruction received at a site(s) to which the student is sent by the enrolling institution to participate in instructional activities. Encompassed in the scope of external instruction are programs referred to as cooperative education, practical training, independent study, and open-circuit televised instruction.

1. All courses are bona fide: approved by all required college, university, state, regional, and national regulatory agencies. Courses are also approved to meet all certification and licensing requirements.

2. All courses are an integral part of the student’s program; credit will apply toward graduation and/or will be required for a particular degree program.

3. All courses are appropriately rigorous with credit assigned proportionate to the amount of instructor involvement and control (course credit is determined by university and state requirements).

4. The university/college has an agreement on file with specific work sites assuring that the experiences will provide opportunities for application of the knowledge, skills, and competencies gained from on-campus academic programs.

5. All courses have regularly-employed faculty members responsible for all students participating in external instruction courses.

Cooperative Education Program. Cooperative education is a program in which students combine academic study with career-related work experience while pursuing a degree. Designed to be an integral part of the educational experience, the program offers experiential learning in both full-time and part-time positions in virtually all majors. Participants are primarily undergraduates, but some graduate programs offer co-op to their students. Information about eligibility for the program, work opportunities, and requirements for credit is available from the Career Services/Cooperative Education Office, Room 237, Killian Annex.

Internships and Practicums. A broad range of full-time and part-time learning opportunities are provided through internships, practica, field courses, and clinical affiliations for periods of one or more terms. The courses allow students to gain experience in the actual practice of a profession and to develop mastery of the tasks, skills, and theory applications in career fields pertinent to their majors. The experiences gained are well integrated into the curricula and are frequently included in the requirements for a degree.

Independent Study. Independent study courses are offered by several departments at Western Carolina University. The content and criteria for each course is determined by each academic department. Credit for these courses range from one to six semester hours credit as determined by the department. Students must be juniors or seniors in order to take an independent study course.

This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in the Office of the Provost.
Last updated: 3/10/2006.