WCU College of Arts & Sciences

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WCU College of Arts & Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences was created in 1967 and is the largest college at Western Carolina University with 12 academic departments

WCU's College of Arts and Sciences implements the university’s mission through exploration of a broad range of human experience, knowledge, and expression. The most significant activity is the learning/teaching process that takes place in classrooms, laboratories, studios, field locations, and offices, which engages students, staff, and faculty in a common effort to provide an environment where in

tellectual challenge, the free exchange of ideas, and high standards of scholarship and creativity prevail. The College of Arts and Sciences includes the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Communication, English Studies, Geosciences and Natural Resources, History, Mathematics and Computer Science, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science and Public Affairs, and World Languages.

03/06/2026

Catamounts abroad! 🌎

Our Department of Communication is offering two study abroad classes this summer: International Communication: Democracy and Media and Social Media Storytelling: On Assignment in Vienna and Prague. Led by Dr. Matt Binford and Dr. Katerina Spasovska, our students are sharpening their skills, deepening their knowledge, and immersing themselves in new cultures. Not a bad way to spend a summer! ✈️ ☀️ 📒

22/05/2026

Exploring history, language, and a few palaces along the way ✨
World Languages students in Dr. Lehman's study abroad course are off to a beautiful start in Ludwigsburg—stay tuned as they head to France and Austria next! 🌍🇩🇪

21/05/2026

Caption this photo!

It's demolition season in our Communication department! In preparation for upgrades and renovation to the TV studio, we're tearing out the old to make way for the new. If you've ever wondered what 46 miles of old cable looks like, now you know!

19/05/2026

🎉 Internship Alert 🎉

We're proud to highlight Jennifer Byrd, a Forensic Anthropology student, who has been selected for the highly competitive Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Summer Internship Program!

This prestigious opportunity places Jennifer among a small group of students chosen to contribute to the DPAA’s critical mission: recovering and identifying missing U.S. service members.

Jennifer will be working in Honolulu, Hawaii this summer, continuing a strong tradition of Catamount success in this elite program.

👏 Congratulations, Jennifer! We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see all you accomplish this summer.

18/05/2026

Students in CatAstro, our Astronomy Clue, alongside Blue Ridge Rising Foundation volunteers joined a multi-state effort to survey light pollution along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Cherokee to Mount Pisgah. Using sky quality meters, students collected data to help protect dark skies, wildlife, and our ability to study the stars. 🌌✨

Check out the full story in the links below 👇
https://augustafreepress.com/news/college-groups-to-conduct-dark-skies-survey-along-blue-ridge-parkway/

https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/03/03/blue-ridge-parkway-foundation-help-students-faculty-multiple-colleges-with-dark-skies-survey/

15/05/2026

🦖 From Cullowhee to Antarctica!

Geosciences and Natural Resources faculty member Dr. Shane Schoepfer is leading groundbreaking research to help uncover what caused the dinosaurs’ mass extinction. Says Schoepfer, "“We’re trying to understand whether ecosystems were already in crisis before the impact, or if they were relatively stable until that moment."

On a recent expedition to Seymour Island near Antarctica, his team collected fossil and sediment samples dating back 66 million years.

Even more exciting? WCU students are helping analyze these samples right here on campus, contributing to research that could reshape our understanding of Earth’s most dramatic extinction event—and what it means for our future.

Read more below ⬇️

https://www.wspa.com/news/nc-professor-researching-cause-of-dinosaurs-extinction/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WSPA_7News&fbclid=IwY2xjawRzaU1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR4-HaHasxbhu5s3nDgqok-JKPiO4mFmezlh7SjCz1jTdtzaFPziKBB_lNicOw_aem_4TrNrXPXcTLvuoUlrLddMg

13/05/2026

🐍🌿 Field Experience Alert! 🌿🐢

Biology Professor Dr. Joe Pechmann's Herpetology students recently explored South Carolina’s incredible biodiversity during a multi-day field trip that combined hands‑on research, learning, and collaboration. The group spent time at the Audubon Society’s Silver Bluff Preserve and on private property owned by Dr. Whit Gibbons, documenting reptiles and amphibians across a variety of habitats.

They also visited the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS), where fieldwork focused exclusively on animals and natural environments, following all site guidelines. From wetlands to wildlife, this trip was an unforgettable opportunity for students to apply classroom knowledge in the field and learn from leading researchers.

12/05/2026

Strikes, spares, and smiles! 🎳 Math and Computer Science faculty, students, alumni, and graduating seniors had a fantastic evening bowling together. Wishing our recent graduates all the best as they take their next steps!

11/05/2026

Summer classes are officially in session… and some professors really plan ahead. 😄
First day of History of Serial Killers, with Dr. Caravelis, featuring a holiday gift that’s been waiting all year to make its debut.

Happy Summer Term!

04/05/2026

📚✨ RECESS: A Nostalgic College Book Fair at WCU ✨📚

Over three days, students gathered in UC Illusions for RECESS: A Nostalgic College Book Fair—an event that brought the magic of childhood book fairs back to campus with a college twist. Organized by English Studies major Avery Luft, and hosted by the NOMAD undergraduate literary magazine in collaboration with City Lights Bookstore, the space was filled with curated book selections, handmade décor, and plenty of literary joy.

Student volunteers helped transform the room, and additional tables showcased free NOMAD editions, student-made crafts, and small creative businesses. The fair also featured a well-attended writing workshop led by Dr. Alice Martin, inviting students of all majors to explore creativity and “make their writing weirder” in community.
RECESS celebrated books, creativity, and connection—proving that a love of reading truly never fades. 📖💛

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