- Academic Programs & Support
- Departments, Schools & Colleges
Colleges
Western Carolina University’s academic programs are housed in six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, and Engineering and Technology.
In addition, Western Carolina’s Brinson Honors College coordinates courses and events in every area of student, the Graduate School coordinates the admission process, funding support and awarding of degrees to graduate students, and Hunter Library provides academic support for all academic units.
While each college has a central home on campus where students in similar disciplines learn and collaborate together, WCU prides itself on creating opportunities for students to be exposed to a wide variety of fields during their time on campus. With that in mind, our engineering students in the College of Engineering and Technology work with students in Arts and Sciences on the development of new machines, our Fine and Performing Arts students have the opportunity to take courses in entrepreneurship in the College of Business, and much more.
College of Arts and Sciences
Western Carolina’s College of Arts and Sciences offers degrees in math, science and the humanities. The College provides students with a liberal arts foundation where they are taught to think critically, grow academically, and communicate effectively. Fields of study include anthropology, biology, chemistry, criminology, computer science, English, languages, history, natural resources, physics, political science and more.
College of Business
The College of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields including accounting, business administration, business law, economics, entrepreneurship, hospitality and tourism, finance, sport management and more. In addition, the College of Business operates the the Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation(CEI) ;to facilitate public private partnerships that bring together business owners, faculty, and students who have a desire to grow an idea into a business.
College of Education and Allied Professions
The primary role of the College of Education and Allied Professions is to prepare educators, counselors, psychologists, recreation personnel and other human service specialists at both entry and advanced levels. These professionals will staff public elementary, secondary, postsecondary schools, sport and recreation agencies, and other human service organizations in North Carolina and the region beyond.
College of Engineering and Technology
The College of Engineering and Technology offers undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering with concentrations in electrical, mechanical and manufacturing engineering as well as construction management. Graduates are highly sought after by employers thanks in part to the college’s focus on applied learning through its Rapid Center, Automation Lab, Optoelectronics Lab and Engineering Design Lab. Through the Rapid Center, the College of Engineering and Technology offers the services of a university-based, product development center for inventors, entrepreneurs, project sponsors and business partners throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Explore our programs in engineering and construction management
David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts
The David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts includes the School of Stage and Screen, the School of Art and Design and the School of Music. Its mission is to strengthen and broaden the intellectual and cultural horizons of the university and the larger community by providing a creative learning environment in the fine and performing arts. CFPA students study studio art, graphic design, theater, film, music performance and more. The Bardo Center for the Performing Arts and the WCU Fine Art Museum offer performance and exhibition opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
Explore our Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Stage and Screen
College of Health and Human Sciences
WCU’s College of Health and Human Sciences serves as an important resource to meet Western North Carolina’s growing demand for trained nurses and other health care professionals. The college also attracts students from around the world for award-winning programs in fields such as athletic training, emergency medical care, forensic science, physical therapy, recreational therapy, social work and more. The college's programs are housed at WCU's state-of-the-art Health and Human Sciences Building. This four story building encompasses over 160,000 square feet of space, including state of the art classrooms, laboratory spaces, and a developing interprofessional clinic.
