27 Master's degrees offered by the university

A graduate degree in English at the Western Carolina University helps prepare you for a variety of careers including teaching, writing and research-intensive professions.

A graduate degree in History at Western Carolina University could be the ticket to your future working in education, pursuing a career in the museum industry and a number of other career options in the private and public sectors.

Western Carolina University’s Master of Business Administration was named to The Princeton Review’s list of “The Best 296 Business Schools” and is cited as having a “reputation for not being an assembly-line program.” The College of Business is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the internationally recognized accrediting agency for business schools.

The path to these careers start with a Master of Arts in Psychology that can prepare you for a doctoral program or a job as a psychology associate. Western Carolina University offers a Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology.

The Master of Accountancy Program at Western Carolina University builds on your existing accounting education with a 30-semester hour program focusing on subjects such as accounting theory, auditing standards, concepts of taxation, tax research, accounting information systems and business law. 

The Masters of Arts in Comprehensive Education at the Western Carolina University offers opportunities for individuals who already hold a North Carolina teaching license to become more professionally competitive.

Western Carolina University’s graduate studies in nursing provide students with academic and field-based experiences that lead to a Master’s of Science Degree in Nurse Educator (MSN).

Western Carolina University’s Master of Project Management program is designed primarily to assist those involved with project management initiatives and requires relevant work experience of at least two years.

The Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in School Counseling offered by the Western Carolina University prepares you for employment as a counselor in school settings at elementary, middle, and high school levels and leads to a recommendation for K-12 School Counseling licensure (certification) by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. 

The health industry is full of unique and exciting opportunities that can have you rushing to the scene of an accident as a paramedic. A Master of Health Sciences at the Western Carolina University can lead to a career working with the public, teaching in a classroom, researching health issues and other opportunities. 

Western Carolina University's Master of Science degree in Human Resources is an online program that will equip you with the skills needed to work as a human resources leader.

A Master of Social Work degree offered by the Western Carolina University prepares graduates for professional practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

Western Carolina University offers two versions of the Master of Science in Engineering Technology (MSET) degree. We offer a thesis-based program on our Cullowhee campus with concentrations in electrical or mechanical tracks that prepare graduates to pursue further graduate education or enter industry in advanced positions.

The Special Education program at Western Carolina University provides you with the education and credentials required to be a special education teacher. Coursework focuses on the methodology and psychology of working with special education populations, and also covers teaching methods and lesson preparation.

Western Carolina University offers a convenient, and comprehensive, Master of Construction Management program giving students a well-rounded construction education desirable to future clients.

In Western Carolina University’s Master of Science in Sport Management, hands-on skills and expertise serve as cornerstones of the curriculum, so that our graduates are Business-Ready® for opportunities that come their way after completion of the program.

The M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education at Western Carolina University is a two-year hybrid program. Hybrid coursework is a mix of online (synchronous and asynchronous) and face-to-face weekend (Friday and Saturday) core class sessions during Year 1 and elective courses (offered online, face-to-face and hybrid) in Year 2.

The online Teaching - TESOL program at Western Carolina University prepare students to teach English to non-native speakers in a variety of contexts ranging from overseas instruction to kindergarten through community college instruction to language support in community settings. 

The Master of Public Affairs program at the Western Carolina University is designed for students looking to work in the public sector and for current professionals looking to advance their careers.

Western Carolina University’s Biology Department offers a Master of Science in Biology that will prepare students for careers as research biologists, educators, doctoral studies or one of many other possibilities in this diverse and cutting-edge industry.