College of Applied Sciences

Linda Stanford, dean

Ann Johnson, associate dean

The mission of the College of Applied Sciences is to offer quality education for a variety of professional careers. In fulfilling this role, the college provides undergraduate and graduate educational programs in Cullowhee and Asheville.

The faculty of the college engage in instruction, research, and service. The primary activity of the faculty is teaching. Quality undergraduate and graduate education is provided for a diverse student population through student-faculty involvement which promotes creativity and critical thinking. Complementary faculty activities include providing individualized student advisement, service, continuing education opportunities, maintaining currency in areas of expertise, active involvement in professional organizations, and scholarly activities including research, creative activities, presentations, and publications.

The college is responsible to the Office of the Provost and is organized into four academic departments (applied criminology; health sciences; nursing; and physical therapy).

Special Expenses. Due to the nature of the clinical, laboratory and studio experiences required in some of the college’s programs, students will encounter special expenses beyond those listed in the fees section of this catalog. Liability insurance, uniforms, transportation to clinical sites, criminal background checks required by clinical education facilities, software programs, and special texts and class materials are examples of what might be expected. Each program has different requirements and students should discuss costs with the program director.

Clinical Education and Criminal Background Checks

Accreditation standards for certain health care facilities require that criminal background and/or drug screening are conducted on students who participate in facility clinical education rotations. A student may be denied participation in a clinical education rotation if he/she has a positive drug screen or a record of any felony or misdemeanor conviction. A conviction involving alcohol or drug use, possession or distribution offenses, violence-related offenses, or the abuse/neglect of children or disabled adults may be a significant obstacle to successful completion of the academic program.

If a student is denied participation in a clinical education rotation based upon the results of a criminal background or drug screen, the student may be removed from the academic program; provided, however, that prior to removal the student is given the opportunity to appear before a review committee.

Admission to Health Sciences and Nursing Programs. Declaration of a major in the health sciences and nursing does not guarantee admission to the professional course sequence in the major. Students are not officially in the professional segment of a program until they have received written notification of their program admission. Applications for program admission are normally available late fall semester of each year for potential admission in the fall of the next academic year.

Athletic Training Program. The Athletic Training program prepares students for careers as certified and licensed athletic trainers. Students graduating with a degree in Athletic Training may also pursue graduate studies in other health care professions such as physical therapy or medical school. Admission to the professional sequence requires completion of HSCC 150 with a grade of C+ or higher. Students must also complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of Athletic Training observation at WCU or one of its approved affiliate clinical sites under the direct supervision of an Approved Clinical Instructor. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required. Students enrolled in the Athletic Training program must meet the Technical Standards as outlined on the Athletic Training Web Site. Completed applications must be received in the program office by April 15 of each year for entry the following August. Early decision applications must be received by December 15 of each year, also for entry the following August. Application to the program does not assure acceptance. Students admitted to the professional sequence must earn a grade of C+ (2.33) or better in each ATTR course in the major and must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 and a major GPA of 2.75 to remain in the program. Transfer students and WCU varsity athletes should contact the program director for program information. For more specific and up-to-date information regarding the program, please refer to the Athletic Training program website linked from the Department of Health Sciences.

Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Students may apply for admission to the program when they have completed, or are concurrently completing, all liberal studies and program requirements. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required. Applications must be received in the program office by February 15. Interviews are required. Admissions decisions are announced in writing to applicants by March 15. An accelerated curriculum available for associate degree medical laboratory technicians normally allows completion of degree requirements in two years.

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Western Carolina University is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 8410 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, #670, Chicago, Illinois 60631. Phone: 773-714-8880 or WWW.naacls.org.

Emergency Medical Care. Admission to the professional sequence requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours including all liberal studies and preprofessional courses. Applicants must hold or be eligible for North Carolina EMT certification and forward an application to the program office by February 15 of each year for entry the following August. Application to the program does not assure acceptance. Articulating and other transfer students holding current paramedic certification should contact the program director about degree requirements and program admission. Students admitted to the professional sequence must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each EMC course in the major and an overall 2.0 GPA to remain in the program.

Environmental Health. Students may apply for admission to the major at anytime after becoming a student at WCU and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Applicants are evaluated on their overall educational records, including achievement in science and nonscience courses as well as communication skills. Transfer students will be admitted with provisional status for one semester. Students admitted to the professional sequence will be required to maintain a C (2.0) in each course in the major and in the emphasis area.

Health Information Administration. Students may apply to the program after or while completing a minimum of 60 semester hours including all liberal studies and pre-professional courses with a 2.0 GPA. Application does not assure acceptance. In order to remain in the program, students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or above in each professional course (HSCC and HIA prefixes). The Health Information Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). HIA graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination. Successful completers of the exam earn the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential.

Nursing. Admission to the upper-division nursing major is competitive, and priority is given to the best qualified students. To be considered for admission, all students must have completed, or be in the process of completing, 60 semester hours of college work, including all program requirements. Admission is based on cumulative GPA (2.75) minimum on all previous undergraduate college work and test scores. This applies to the basic, non-RN student. Students who are already licensed as RNs will continue to meet the 2.5 minimum GPA requirement. Further details are in the departmental application packet. Applications from non-RNs should be received with all supporting materials by January 15. Registered nurses may apply at any time of the year. Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each required course in the major in order to remain in the program.

Nutrition and Dietetics. Students may declare a major in nutrition and dietetics when they have completed, or are concurrently completing, all liberal studies and program requirements. The undergraduate didactic program in nutrition and dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Students who complete the program with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a C (2.0) or better in all major courses will receive an ADA verification statement. Having a verification statement is not a guarantee that you will be accepted into an internship. This verification statement qualifies graduates to pursue further training in ADA-accredited dietetic internships or ADA-approved preprofessional practice programs, after which they will be eligible to take the ADA registration examination to become registered dietitians. Western Carolina University offers this training within the dietetic internship, which is a part of the master of health sciences degree program. Admission to the option and to the program is competitive.