Become a Teacher
Inspire the Next Generation
At Western Carolina University, our roots are in teaching. We opened as a teaching college serving WNC in 1889. We honor that history by continuing to support the passionate students who attend one of the best teaching programs in the nation with some of the highest teacher placement rates in the state. Discover how you can make a difference in the future by becoming a teacher.
Discover Experiential Education that Makes an Impact
Elementary Education major, Dominique Pinkney, Middle Grades Education major, Alyssa Potts and Alumna Leah Downing '18 share their experience in WCU's nationally ranked education programs and the hands-on experience they gained, preparing them to be teachers.
Request More Information
Learn More About Being a Teacher
2017 B.S. Ed. Elementary Education
Megan McKinney Tipton
3rd Grade Mars Hill Elementary, Mars Hill, NC
The best part of being a teacher?
...watching students grow and mature over the course of a year. I love that I get
to be my students' biggest cheerleader when they reach their goals!
What did you love most about your time at WCU?
I loved the feeling of community. WCU was like a second home where students and faculty
were supportive and accepting of one another.
2016 B.S. Ed. Middle Grades Education, 2019 MA Ed.
Kayleigh McAlister
8th Grade Cane Creek Middle School, Fletcher, NC
The best part of being a teacher?
...teaching students that they are capable of more than they believe.
What is special about the teacher education programs at WCU?
The education programs at WCU feel like home, they prepare you for the classroom through
internships, and the professors set high expectations. Each student is cared for and
pushed to reach their maximum potential.