Western North Carolina is home to three of the nation's most respected regional public universities — Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Western Carolina University — as well as ten community colleges and several private liberal arts colleges.
These schools offer many fine programs, and on this page, we highlight selected curricula that support the ten clusters of innovation on which AdvantageWest is focusing its region-building efforts. Click on the links to learn more about each of the universities and colleges, and the full range of programs they offer.
Appalachian State University (Boone)
ASU Energy Center; fine and applied arts; furniture technology; computer science; chemistry; biology; hospitality and tourism management; recreation management; construction management; criminal justice; gerontology (Masters).
University of North Carolina at Asheville (Asheville)
Engineering degrees in partnership with North Carolina State University, fine arts; nursing; chemistry; biology.
Western Carolina University (Cullowhee)
Manufacturing engineering technology; engineering technology; electrical and computer engineering technology; computer science; computer information systems; nursing (including Masters); clinical laboratory sciences; nutrition and dietetics; emergency medical care; health information management; recreational therapy; communication disorders; physical therapy (Masters); biology; chemistry, hospitality and tourism management; recreation management; construction management; emergency management; criminal justice, entrepreneurship (Masters).
Community Colleges
Multiple community colleges offer AA degrees and/or certificate programs in industrial systems technology, machining technology, welding technology, mechanical engineering technology, computer programming, information systems, internet technologies, computer engineering technology, Cisco Systems certification, Microsoft certification, nursing, surgical technology, emergency medical science, medical laboratory technology, and criminal justice technology.
Asheville-Buncombe TCC (Asheville)
Database management; culinary technology; Biowork (a certificate program for biotechnology labor technicians); hotel and restaurant management; hospitality management and customer service, fire protection technology.
Blue Ridge CC (Flat Rock)
Environmental science; automotive systems technology; computer information systems; community Spanish interpreter; fine arts; criminal justice technology; business administration; digital media institute; advanced manufacturing certificate; machining; WorkKeys and Career Readiness Certification. Caldwell CC (Hudson)
Fine arts; horticulture technology; biomedical equipment technology; nuclear medicine technology; pharmacy technology; emergency preparedness technology.
Catawba Valley CC (Hickory)
Environmental life science; furniture technology; fire protection technology.
Haywood CC (Clyde)
Professional crafts; wood science; film and video production technology; forest management technology; nature resources; horticulture technology.
Isothermal CC (Spindale)
Plastics technology; graphics design; broadcast production technology.
Mayland CC (Spruce Pine)
Forest management technology.
Southwestern CC (Sylva)
Graphics design; environmental science technology; culinary technology; hotel and restaurant management; outdoor leadership; cyber crime.
Tri-County CC (Murphy)
Advanced machinist certificate program and horticulture technology.
Western Piedmont (Morganton)
Business graphics; fabric design; professional crafts (clay); interior design; broadcast production technology; electronic commerce; internet technologies; environmental science technology; water resources management; horticulture technology; therapeutic recreation.
Wilkes CC (Wilkesboro and West Jefferson)
Industrial technician boot camp.
Private Colleges
Brevard College (Brevard)
Fine arts; environmental studies; outdoor leadership.
In an effort to respond to the diverse economic development needs of North Carolina, then State Representative Martin Nesbitt introduced legislation creating the regional economic development partnerships. It was this extraordinary insight that allowed AdvantageWest to become one of the most innovative and nimble economic development programs in the state.
Gordon S. Myers
Founding Chair
AdvantageWest Board of Directors
