Western Carolina University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a town not particularly near any major cities.

Overview

Western Carolina University, also referred to as WCU, is a coeducational, public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It was established in August 1889 as Cullowhee Academy and later chartered as Cullowhee High School in 1891, still retaining the old name as an alternate moniker. It became a state institution in 1905 and was renamed as Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School. In 1929, it was chartered as the Western Carolina Teachers College. In 1953, it was renamed as Western Carolina College. Finally, in 1967, the North Carolina General Assembly declared it a full-fledged university and gave it the name Western Carolina University.

Western Carolina University is organized into the following schools and colleges:

• College of Health and Human Sciences
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education and Allied Professions
• College of Fine and Performing Arts
• College of Education and Allied Professions
• The Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology
• The Honors College
• The Graduate School

WCU's campus is home to a number of fraternities and sororities including Chi Alpha Omega, Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Delta Sigma Theta.

WCU's sports teams are called the Western Carolina Catamounts. The official mascot of the University is the Catamount. The University sponsors football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, golf, track and field (indoor and outdoor), cross country running, volleyball, and tennis

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in engineering technician, education and teaching, and nutrition and exercise therapy.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Affordable tuition & fees.
• Large number of students.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• Selective admissions.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

Financial Aid

Western Carolina University participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 77% of students received financial aid of some sort.

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Western Carolina University:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 9,050 in 2009-2010 (7,737 full-time equivalent).

About 49% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 51% of the class.

Undergrads are 76% of enrolled students and graduate students are 24%.

Students under 25 years old represent 66% of the student body. About 10% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 100% are full-time and 0% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Western Carolina University provides on-campus housing for 3,690 of its 7,737 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Southern Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 166 male students received the aid (men were 62% of those receiving aid) and 103 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 38% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Western Carolina University offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Research/Scholarship).

The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Single Doctoral (Education).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ART STUDIES (5 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (381 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business Administration and Management
• Business Administration, Management and Operations
• Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
• Finance
• Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
• International Business/Trade/Commerce
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing
• Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (9 awarded)

• Computer Science

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (12 awarded)

• Environmental Science
• Natural Resources Management and Policy

DESIGN (19 awarded)

• Interior Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (9 awarded)

• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (538 awarded)

• Art Teacher Education
• Biology Teacher Education
• College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
• Community College Education
• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Education
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• English/Language Arts Teacher Education
• Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
• Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
• Mathematics Teacher Education
• Music Teacher Education
• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
• Secondary School Administration/Principalship
• Social Studies Teacher Education
• Spanish Language Teacher Education
• Special Education and Teaching
• Teacher Education/Profess Development, Levels & Methods
• Teaching English as Second/Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

ENGINEERING (10 awarded)

• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (141 awarded)

• Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
• Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
• Engineering Technology
• Industrial Technology/Technician

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (98 awarded)

• Public Administration
• Social Work

FINE ARTS (25 awarded)

• Fine/Studio Arts

HOSPITALITY (28 awarded)

• Hospitality Administration/Management

LIBERAL ARTS (177 awarded)

• Anthropology
• English Language and Literature
• French Language and Literature
• Geography
• German Language and Literature
• History
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature

MATHEMATICS (14 awarded)

• Applied Mathematics
• Mathematics

MEDIA (71 awarded)

• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (31 awarded)

• Environmental Health
• Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator
• Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (11 awarded)

• Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist

MUSIC (15 awarded)

• Music Performance
• Music

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (130 awarded)

• Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
• Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (105 awarded)

• Athletic Training/Trainer
• Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
• Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (10 awarded)

• Philosophy

SCIENCE (89 awarded)

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Geology/Earth Science
• Science, Technology and Society

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (114 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
• Forensic Science and Technology

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (142 awarded)

• Communication Disorders
• Physical Therapy/Therapist
• Psychology
• School Psychology