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Humanities at WCU

The humanities teach us how to think and reflect, how to write and defend, and how to understand cultures and languages. At WCU, all undergraduate students are exposed to humanities courses in the College of Arts and Sciences as part of their liberal studies requirements.

Departments and Programs

English graduate Anna Oates sitting at a desk with her laptop and books in the library

English Studies

In today鈥檚 "high-text" careers, those who get ahead have mastered critical thinking and clear communication. Students gain the intellectual and real-world tools to succeed: business skills in research, writing and editing, and media and textual interpretation.

Professor David Dorondo speaking to students in a field with a horse and its trainer

History

Through the study of history, students learn the skills of analysis, interpretation, written communication, and critical thinking. Through studying the past students discover how today's world was shaped and garner a foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Professor John Whitmire animatedly speaking in class during a lecture

Philosophy and Religion

Studying philosophy or religion will help students gain a broad understanding of the human condition while developing the ability to bring critical thinking and organizational skills to creative problem solving.

Students listening and taking notes during a world languages class

World Languages

Language programs not only build and broaden oral skills, but also expose students to the rich culture and history of the world鈥檚 people and places. The comprehensive and intensive range of courses allows for the study of a wide variety of languages and cultures.

Graduating student smiling for the camera at commencement

Latino/-a Studies

Student giving a presentation in a Global Black Studies class

Global Black Studies

Events and Centers

Children and parents looking at various booths at the 2025 Mountain Heritage Festival

Mountain Heritage Center

Join us at the Mountain Heritage Center and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the southern Appalachians. Discover the rich traditions of the mountains, see the Appalachian region from new perspectives, and come away with an enhanced understanding of its land, culture, and people.
Author presenting their work at a podium for the 2025 Literary Festival

Literary Festival

蘑菇短视频's annual Spring Literary Festival has a long tradition of bringing established and emerging literary talent to our campus and region. It reflects WCU's commitment to providing the best humanities education possible to its students and to bringing the best of the arts to the mountains.

The festival grew out of 蘑菇短视频's Visiting Writers Series, the oldest such series in North Carolina. While the area has a rich literary heritage all its own, the festival seeks to secure that heritage's place on the nation's literary stage by bringing local and national writers together.
Aerial view of central campus in the fall

Our Mission
Yonder is a yearly, online literary journal operated by the English Studies department at 蘑菇短视频, and our mission is to showcase the creative writing that has been produced by WCU鈥檚 graduate students. We welcome fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry that reflects any content or style, as well as whatever perspective the author brings to their work. We are especially interested in work that some may consider weird, strange, and a little bit out there 鈥� or, in other words, out yonder.
Mountain View of the Blue Ridge Parkway with clouds hovering over the mountains

Founded in 1992, the Tuckasegee Valley Historical Review is a peer-reviewed journal published by the history graduate students of 蘑菇短视频. We consider essays, book reviews, and exhibition reviews for publication from students who are currently pursuing an MA in history at colleges and universities throughout the Southeastern United States. It is our mission to present the best work that MA students have to offer, while simultaneously giving graduate students quality experience in academic publishing.