A regional comprehensive university, Western offers programs at the baccalaureate, master's, intermediate, and doctoral (in education) levels. As a focused growth institution, Western is committed to increasing access to its programs for 40% more students during the current decade while enhancing its efforts to meet the state's need for teachers, engineers, and nurses, and expanding its support for the region's economic development efforts. Western offers career-focused degree programs in the arts, education, sciences, technologies, humanities, and professions. Courses are available on the main campus in Cullowhee, off-campus in Asheville and Cherokee, and online.As it grows, Western is committed to maintaining small class sizes and personal attention for all students. New construction on campus includes the $32-million Fine & Performing Arts Center, which features a 1000-seat performance hall with a Broadway venue stage that accommodates multiple set changes, large gallery space, and state-of-the-art classrooms and studios; the $8-million Center for Applied Technology with facilities for engineering (rapid prototyping center & laser photonics laboratory), media production (television studio features a SONY MVS-8000 video switcher, SONY HDW F900 24-frame high-definition camera, and is equipped for location shooting and video editing), and music production (recording studio features a 96-channel Solid State Logic digital audio recording console and industry-standard components); new track & field complex and other athletic facilities; two new residence halls and Greek Village; and extensive campus renovations. From among the 120+ programs of study at WCU, some unique options include Construction Management, Digital Media, Emergency Medical Care, Emergency Management, Entrepreneurship, Forensic Anthropology, Interior Design, Music Industry, Technical Theatre. Some of our newer programs are Athletic Training, Commercial & Electronic Music, Computer Graphics, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Musical Theatre.
|
- Arnold Isaacs - President of FN Thompson Construction (built the Panther Stadium and Charlotte Coliseum)
- Brad Hoover - Running back for the Carolina Panthers (NFL)
- Gary Kiser - Former CEO of La-Z-Boy Furniture
- Gerry Austin - Head Official in the NFL, 25-year veteran, 2 Super Bowls
- Larry Hendricks - President / CEO of Boyles Furniture (the largest furniture manufacturer in the world)
- Sean Bridgers - Actor, HBO Original Series “Deadwood” (2004), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Once Upon a Time…When We Were Colored (1995), Nell (1994)
- Tony White - President / CEO of Applera Corporation Pharmaceutical Company
|
|
What is a Catamount? In 1932, Western chose as its mascot the catamount, defined as "any of various wild animals of the cat family" such as a bobcat or lynx. Representing our athletic teams’ fighting spirit, the catamount is known as a fierce combatant able to down a wolverine, send a bear running for cover, and tear a mountaineer limb from limb!
|