Human Services (HS) Department

Concentrations:

• Professional Education
• Early Childhood
• Alternative Licensure

Program Requirements:

Entry to the program is competitive with no more than 30 students accepted into the program each spring and fall. Students in the Birth-Kindergarten Program must maintain a 2.75 grade point average.

Careers:

• Community Recreation
• Outdoor Leadership and Recreation
• Commercial and Resort Recreation
• Recreation Resource Management

The Program:

Whiule there are no formal requirements for admission to the PRM program, students must earn at least a 2.5 GPA and will work with a PRM faculty advisor to plan the courses, certifications, and experiences that support their career goals. 

Sample Electives: 

• Leadership Lessons Through Film
• International Perspectives of Leadership
• Civic Engagement and Leadership

Lead Living-Learning Communities:

First-year students can join a Living-Learning Community (LLC), where they live on themed floors with peers who share similar interests and take a LEAD class together, creating a more  connected and meaningful campus experience with strong faculty and staff support.

Social Justice: 

For the purpose of this minor, we define social justice as a process, goal, and orientation focused on action. “Social justice…is committed to the break down, challenge, and change of social structures that perpetuate marginalization, discrimination, and oppression [and exploitation of the human and non-human] from its start to its finish” (Fernandez et al., 2020, p.3).

Sample Electives: 

• Global Educational Systems
• Ethnic Conflict
• Sociology of Mental Health and Illness

Classes: 

Counseling classes are held at the WCU Biltmore Park Instructional Site in Asheville. The majority of classes are taught in person, in 3-hour blocks, and in both day and evening sections.

Counseling Internship

Internship is a required capstone where counseling students work in school or mental-health settings, performing the same duties as professional counselors under the guidance of qualified supervisors. During this experience, students apply and refine their counseling skills, especially with diverse clients, as they integrate coursework into real-work practice. 

Key Facts:

Hybrid delivery: mix of online coursework and face-to-face weekend sessions (year 1).

Program begins in August; designed for full-time study.

Small cohort size (15–20 students) for close mentorship and community building.

Why It Works:

Combines academic rigor with real-world flexibility — ideal for working educators, outdoor professionals, or those with existing commitments.

Cohort-based model builds a close-knit learning community and professional network.

Balanced delivery (online & face-to-face) allows for continuity in career while advancing education.

Graduate assistantships:

Graduate Assistantships give graduate students hands-on professional experience that complements their coursework, helping them apply what they learn while gaining job skills, networking, a sense of contribution, resume building, and a paid stipend of about $8,500-$12,000 per year. 

Our Mission: 

The M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs (HESA) has a strong focus on developing practitioner-scholars by integrating academic coursework and theoretical constructs with supervised professional experience. Our goal is to prepare learners to be competent student development specialists in all areas of university life and to cultivate practitioners who are committed to the growth and development of all students."

The MSHR Program Competency Model 

Our courses develop competencies within each of the MSHR Program’s four Leadership Competency domains:

1. Relational HR Leadership
2. Strategic HR Leadership
3. Operational HR Leadership
4. Ethical & Socially Responsible HR Leadership.

Sample Electives: 

• Talent Acquisition and Retention
• Leadership in Human Resources
• Digital HR and People Analytics

Principal Fellows Program:

WCU's 36-hour Principal Fellows Program aligns with the MSA degree and offers a competitive, state-funded scholarship loan for district-nominated aspiring school leaders, covering tuition, books, a fully paid internship in Year 2, coaching, and more. Interested educators should speak with their principal and superintendent about being nominated. 

Internship:

MSAs/PMCs complete 2 semesters of a competency-based internship-either while staying in their teaching roles or through a paid, full-time assistant principal internship. Coursework and the internship build leadership skills that blend theory and practice to prepare MSA/PMCs for real-world school leadership. 

Program Snapshot: 

• Three-year Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership
• Concentrations in PK-12 Schools or Higher Education
• Small cohorts (about 20 students)
• Hybrid format: one weekend per month plus online work
• Strong focus on equity, justice, and real-world problem solving
• Experienced faculty and community leadership partners

Accreditation:

• CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator
  Preparation)
• Authorized superintendent licensure program
  from NCDPI