Suite 201 Advising

Welcome to Suite 201 Advising! Our goal is to provide you with a central location for all of your advising needs. It is our experience that students, who follow their curriculum checklist, meet regularly with advisors, and foster relationships with mentors are most successful in their academic and career endeavors. Below, you will find links supporting your growth as a student and teaching professional.

Birth-Kindergarten Education Advising

B-K Pic

The undergraduate Birth-Kindergarten (BK) program leads to a bachelor of science degree. The BK program is offered completely online with a concentration in either early childhood or professional education, which leads to teacher licensure. The B.S. in Birth-Kindergarten is comprised of:

Liberal Studies Coursework
BK Major Core Courses
BK Concentration Coursework

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please visit the Birth-Kindergarten Program Webpage or contact:

Deb Henry

Academic Advisor

dchenry@wcu.edu

828.227.3313

Greg McLamb

Academic Advisor

gmclamb@wcu.edu

828.227.3755

Special Education and Inclusive Learning

Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Inclusive Learning (B.S.Ed.)

Teacher candidates who complete the Special Education and Inclusive Learning program earn a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) degree and are recommended for North Carolina Professional Educator’s licenses in Special Education: General Curriculum (K-6 and K-12) and one additional multi-licensure area depending on their concentration. The options include:

Multi-licensure Gifted and Creative (K-12) Concentration
Multi-licensure Elementary Education (K-6) Concentration
Multi-licensure Adapted Curriculum (K-12) Concentration
Secondary Transition Concentration

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please consult the Special Education and Inclusive Learning program webpage for more information, including a curriculum guide/8 semester plan and details about the service learning requirement.

Graduate-Level Programs in Special Education

The Special Education Program currently offers four types of post-baccalaureate degrees and certificate programs: two graduate degrees, the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) and the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Graduate Certificates in Special Education, and an add-on Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) licensure program. We are also proud to support current educators with professional development credential programs. Courses in alll graduate level special education programs are offered online.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bridget Lopez

Academic Advisor

blopez@wcu.edu

828.227.2000

Health & Physical Education Advising

The Health and Physical Education (HPE) program leads to bachelor of science in education degree and a recommendation for a K-12 license to the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The HPE program consists of:

Liberal Studies
Professional Education Sequence Courses
HPE Major Coursework
First Aid & CPR Certification
50 hours Community Service/Professional Involvement Component

heather McGuire

Senior Academic Advisor

hmmcguire@wcu.edu

828.227.3542

Middle Grades Education Advising

Middle Grade Pic

Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education (B.S.Ed.)

The undergraduate Middle Grades Education program leads to a bachelor of science in education (B.S. Ed.) degree and recommendation for licensure to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for grades 6-9 initial licensure. The Middle Grades B.S.Ed. is a 120-125 hour face-to-face program that is comprised of:

Liberal Studies
Professional Education Sequence Courses
Middle Grades Major Coursework
Academic Concentration Coursework

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jenny Stewart

Director of Student Success

jstewart@wcu.edu

828.227.3836

Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education (M.A.Ed.)

The MAEd in Middle Grades Education program requires 30 semester hours of graduate study consisting of 12 hours of professional core and 18 hours of concentration coursework. Candidates may choose from the following concentrations: Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, and STEM Education. Each of the middle grades concentrations leads to a recommendation for Advanced Competencies licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Completion of degree requirements includes a satisfactory portfolio demonstrating advanced competencies for all concentrations. Candidates with current National Board Certification in the concentration area have demonstrated advanced competencies and are exempted from the required portfolio.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

heather McGuire

Senior Academic Advisor

hmmcguire@wcu.edu

828.227.3542

Elementary Education Advising

ELE ED

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.)

The undergraduate Elementary Education (ELED) program leads to a bachelor of science in education degree and recommendation for licensure to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for Kindergarten-6th grade initial licensure. The B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education is comprised of:

Liberal Studies coursework
Second Academic Concentration coursework
Professional Education Sequence Courses
Elementary Educaiton Major Courses

For students who have a bachelor's degree, but would like to earn an elementary grades teaching license, the path to initial licensure at WCU is our second bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. This face-to-face program is based on our Cullowhee campus and is comprised of 5 full-time semesters, which include a yearlong internship experience.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jenny Stewart

Academic Advisor

jstewart@wcu.edu

828.227.3639

Master of Arts in Literacy or STEM Education

Teaching professionals looking for an advanced degree can pursue a Master of Arts in Literacy Education (M.A.Ed.) or the Master of Arts in STEM Education (M.A.Ed.). Our online-only programs offer innovative and challenging curriculums designed to prepare teachers to develop and apply research skills, and expand and deepen content area knowledge in order to provide opportunities for curriculum development and exploration of current methodology.

The coursework enables candidates to be inviting, reflective decision makers who can give leadership in the local school system to implement or improve K-9 literacy programs and K-12 STEM programs. This program is for teachers who already have an "A" level teaching license in an applicable area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

heather McGuire

Senior Academic Advisor

hmmcguire@wcu.edu

828.227.3542

Art Education advising

Art Ed

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A./B.S.Ed.) in Art Education

WCU's Art Education Program prepares and certifies students to teach art to students in grades K-12. Nationally accredited and recognized, the program supports a studio approach to art teaching and emphasizes cross-cultural arts awareness. Students apply for entrance into the College of Fine and Performing Arts through a portfolio upon completion of 100-level art courses and students apply for entrance into the College of Education during the semester in which they take EDCI201 Introduction to Education.

Those students who pursue the BFA with emphasis in Art Education must apply for entrance into the program by submitting a portfolio of digital images and a letter of application that describes their goals and interests in the field. Students may do this either as entering first year students or as first-semester sophomores.

The program is comprised of:

Art and Art History Courses
Professional Education Courses
Liberal Studies Coursework

Art Education majors do not have to minor, but select a ‘specialty” area in art in which they can take nine hours of intermediate and advanced courses.

Sixty hours of classroom visitation are required before a student does the final student teaching experience or internship at either a public elementary, middle or secondary school.