Western Carolina University's main campus is located in the Southern Appalachian mountains
for Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Our 600-acre mountain campus is surrounded by one of the most biodiverse regions in
the state that provides students unparalleled learning and adventure opportunities.
Named the #1 Outdoor Adventure School, our Cullowhee campus' proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides research and discovery
access for a wide variety of programs.
Dive in to the Adventure
Western North Carolina attracts people who are looking to explore and our campus is
known for it's accessibility to the outdoors.
Our students often spend their free time hiking or biking through national forests
and backpacking or camping on the Appalachian Trail or in the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. In winter we're under an hour from two ski areas for skiing and snowboarding.
Base Camp Cullowhee is WCU's hub for all things outdoor adventure. Whether you're looking to go rafting,
hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, caving or fishing, they have all the gear and everything
you need to know.
If you're looking to be on the water, there is plenty of access to streams, lakes,
and rivers. You can go whitewater rafting down the Nantahala or float down the Tuck
in tubes with friends.
Learning Happens When You Put it into Practice
Students in the Geology Department are studying at the Western Carolina Hydrological Research Station where they are examining water movement through the Southern Appalachian mountain
environment.
The Highlands Biological Station includes a Nature Center, Laboratory, and Botanical Garden where students can conduct
research in a fully-equipped scientific research station located in nearby Highlands,
North Carolina.
Biology and Natural Resources Management students can pursue ecology and biotic diversity
studies of the mountain ecosystems with the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity and Ecology Center.
Work for a Goal that Leaves an Impact
The WCU campus is deeply connected to our region and rooted in service to the people
of Southern Appalachia and beyond.
Students in the College of Health and Human Sciences gain real-world experience by delivering care to surrounding rural communities through
on-site clinics and outreach programs. These clinics cover a number of specialties
such as physical therapy, nursing, social work, nutrition, athletic training, and
a nationally recognized speech and hearing clinic.
Our outreach programs provide hands-on learning experiences while supporting the regions'
unique populations such as migrant farm workers and members of the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians.
Innovators Never Give Up
Growing industries throughout the region seek assistance from our College of Engineering and Technology and College of Business through The Rapid Center, a research and development centered and the WCU's Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Our students work in teams with faculty and staff as well as corporate partners and
project sponsors to discover solutions to problems that will have an impact far beyond
the classroom. Students have developed new products and processes, they've received
patents for new inventions, helped engineer new ideas with emerging technologies and
have had work published in prestigious journals.
Leaders Embrace Change
One of only six in the United States, the Forensic Osteology Research Station (FOReSt) was the second human decomposition research facility in the world.
FOReSt is an outdoor human decomposition facility where students of forensic science, forensic anthropology, and criminology have the opportunity to learn and conduct research through experiential learning.
The research station also aids in training Human Remains Detection dogs and their
handlers along with Local Law Enforcement in the region.
Art Requires Being Willing to Explore
WCU's Cullowhee campus is the cultural heart of the region connecting student and
faculty work with the vibrant artistic and cultural legacy of the Western North Carolina
region.
School of Stage and Screen and School of Music students experience performing productions and concerts at the 1,000-seat performance
hall in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Students in the School of Art and Design showcase their work in the Fine Art Museum and throughout the region in local galleries.
Choose Great. Choose WCU.
At WCU, we provide students with a community of support that recognizes their potential
and with mentors who will work with them to help define and achieve their goals.
If you are looking for a university ready to fight as hard for your success as you
are, choose WCU.
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