Degree Programs in Asheville

Western Carolina University at Biltmore Park offers a mix of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, with most programs designed for working professionals looking to complete their degree while continuing their career. The degree mix offered at Biltmore Park was created using input from regional employers on their most in-demand professional skills so that Western Carolina might meet regional need while preparing students for available jobs.

Our focus on professional and graduate degrees makes the program mix at Biltmore Park distinctive from our main campus in Cullowhee. What remains the same is WCU's commitment to delivering a top-quality education with courses taught by highly qualified faculty.

Graduate Degrees in Asheville

  

WCU's graduate programs at Biltmore Park deliver the high quality you would expect of a UNC system school at an affordable cost. Plus, our instructional site is easily accessible to residents in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood counties.

WCU offers a wide variety of graduate degrees at Biltmore Park with a focus on professional, evening programs designed with the working student in mind. A few programs, including our well-respected Master of Accountancy, Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Affairs also offer the option of full-time coursework for those looking to shorten their time to degree.

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Explore Degree Programs in Asheville:

ACCOUNTANCY (MAC)
The Master of Accountancy program prepares students from all backgrounds for successful careers in the private, government, and public accounting sectors. Program graduates have the foundation for successful completion of their uniform CPA examination and professional licensure.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)
The MBA program is designed for the WNC working professional. Led by Ph.D. faculty with professional experience, courses cover a wide range of business skills geared toward assisting students in expanding their toolbox of applied knowledge.

CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (MS)
This program prepares counselors for employment in diverse settings such as mental health/substance abuse centers, juvenile court/public offender systems, community colleges, four-year colleges, career counseling centers and more. Upon graduation, students may begin the application process for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP - DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (EDD)
The Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership at WCU has undergone a major curriculum revision to be more rigorous and focus on the needs of students pursuing this degree. Students can concentrate in P-12 Leadership, Community College Leadership, or University Leadership.

ENGLISH (MA)
The MA in English helps you prepare for a host of professional careers, including community college teaching, writing and editing positions, research-intensive professions, law and library schools, and doctoral programs. WCU also offers a graduate concentration and a professional certificate in professional and technical writing.

FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER (DNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner program is a graduate-level course of study that combines academic and field-based experiences. In this program, students develop competencies in family health promotion and the clinical management of common health conditions.

NC School Executive Leadership (MSA or Principal Fellows Program)

• WCU's MSA program is a 36-semester-hour program designed for full-time educators with families and other community responsibilities. We use a cohort model to build a strong network of professionals as we prepare P-12 school leaders throughout NC in alignment with NC Standards for School Executives and National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards.
• WCU’s Principal Fellows Program (PFP) is a 39-semester- hour program aligned with our MSA. However, Principal Fellows are “tapped” as aspiring leaders by their school districts. The NC Principal Fellows Program is a competitive, merit‐based scholarship loan program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. Students do not self-select for the PFP program; they need to be nominated by their districts. Talk with your principal and superintendent to discuss being nominated for our next cohort.

NC School Executive Leadership (Post Masters Certificate, PMC)
WCU's PMC program is a 24-semester hour program for educators who have already earned their master’s degree in education or a related field; we offer aspiring and current school administrators the opportunity to earn a Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) toward principal licensure (Add-On).

NURSE ANESTHESIA (DNP)
The Nurse Anesthesia Program is a 36-month course of graduate study that integrates research, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and anesthesia principles in didactic and clinical training. Foundational skill development and crisis management occurs in the state-of-the-art, high-fidelity human patient simulation center. Students also receive advanced clinical training in administration of all anesthetic and insertion of central venous and arterial lines.

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the terminal practice degree in nursing. This degree prepares students to practice at the highest clinical level and provide leadership in our dynamic healthcare systems.

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT)
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a 33-month, full-time, entry-level program that accepts 32 students per cohort in Cullowhee and 16 additional students in Asheville. Our program is dedicated to developing exceptional clinicians through a challenging curriculum built on inter-professional collaboration, evidence-based practice, and community engagement.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS (MPA)
WCU's Master of Public Affairs program offers a professional degree for part-time and full-time students interested in leadership careers in public service including government, nonprofit management, and public policy.

SCHOOL COUNSELING (MAED)
The Master of Arts in Education program in school counseling prepares graduates for careers as counselors in elementary, middle/junior high, and secondary/high schools.

SOCIAL WORK (MSW)
This program prepares graduates for careers in a variety of settings, including public agencies, private practice, social service administration, and social service management. The MSW is required for those who want to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (MSET)
The Master of Science in Technology (MST) program prepares qualified candidates for professional careers that require technical applications related to quality assurance, manufacturing operations, and industrial supervision.

Undergraduate Degrees in Asheville

Western Carolina University offer's bachelors-level degree programs in engineering and nursing at its Biltmore Park location. Each are the direct result of continuing job growth in these fields across Western North Carolina. Flexible class schedules and our convenient location make it possible for students to complete their degree without sacrificing their careers.

Engineering

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING (BSE)

WCU is one of only three UNC system institutions that offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. WCU expanded the B.S.E. to Biltmore Park in 2014 in response to a growing demand for research and development engineers to fuel continued growth of the high-tech manufacturing sector on the I-26 corridor. The Asheville-based program offers evening classes and is ideal for working professionals who hold an Associate of Science or Associate of Engineering degree and want to take the next step in their career. 

Hands-on Learning: WCU practices project-based learning in engineering, with students partnering with companies across the region. In addition to high-tech labs at Biltmore Park, those pursuing the degree will have access to the Center for Rapid Product Realization and metal and plastic machine labs in Cullowhee complete with the latest in 3D printing and other development technologies.

Nursing

A growing number of hospitals and doctor's offices in Western North Carolina are encouraging registered nurses or those looking to become nurses to earn their bachelor's degree. In addition to its online RN to BSN program, WCU's School of Nursing offers two-degree tracks at WCU's Biltmore Park location. 

WNC REGIONALLY INCREASING BACCALAUREATE NURSE (RIBN)

WNC Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses Program will dually admit and enroll students at Western Carolina University and a local community college. The RIBN Program provides students with a four-year, seamless associate to baccalaureate nursing education.

ACCELERATED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (ABSN)

This accelerated undergraduate program is designed for individuals who have already obtained undergraduate degrees in another field and want to earn a four-year degree in nursing.  Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national exam required for licensure as a registered nurse.