Lees-McRae College

Biology

The biology program enables students to tailor their own curriculum in biology. In addition to receiving a general background in the biological sciences, students focus on specific areas of interest through selection of a wide variety of science electives.

Business Administration (BA)

The business administration program educates and inspires students to approach life and work from creative, collaborative, and critical perspectives by helping students gain the knowledge, skills and experiences to achieve their highest potentials in preparation for business careers in a dynamic global environment. Our goal is to provide the highest quality educational experience consisting of classroom, research, internship, and practical experiences.

Business Administration (BAAS)

The Business Administration Program educates and inspires students to approach life and work from creative, collaborative, and critical perspectives by helping students gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences to achieve their highest potentials in preparation for business careers in a dynamic global environment. This Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree is offered online.

Business Administration (BS)

The business administration program educates and inspires students to approach life and work from creative, collaborative, and critical perspectives by helping students gain the knowledge, skills and experiences to achieve their highest potentials in preparation for business careers in a dynamic global environment. Our goal is to provide the highest quality educational experience consisting of classroom, research, internship, and practical experiences.

Communication Arts & Design (BA)

The mission of the Communication Arts and Design program is to produce versatile and socially aware creative practitioners. Our curriculum equips all students with foundational skillsets in communication, fine art, design, and digital media. Capstone experiences, including internships and thesis exhibitions, allow students to apply their skills in real-world settings.

Communication Arts & Design (BS)

The mission of the Communication Arts and Design program is to produce versatile and socially aware creative practitioners. Our curriculum equips all students with foundational skillsets in communication, fine art, design, and digital media. Capstone experiences, including internships and thesis exhibitions, allow students to apply their skills in real-world settings.

Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCRI) is an online program for individuals who have a bachelor's degree that would like to continue their studies on the graduate level by entering the criminal justice arena, and who wish to become or already are criminal justice practitioners in their respective field.

Criminal Justice (BA)

The criminal justice program uses a social science perspective to study the nature and causes of crime and provides a comprehensive understanding of the United States criminal justice system. Lees-McRae College students who major in criminal justice benefit from a unique, holistic learning environment. Graduates of the program work in law enforcement and investigative agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, and/or attend graduate school or law school.

Criminal Justice (BAAS)

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in criminal justice enables community college graduates with an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice, or a related field, to continue their education and advance their career. Students who pursue this degree are required to complete the general education requirements, as well as advanced coursework in the major that is complementary to the vocational, technical, or professional area of the associate degree.

Criminal Justice (BS)

The criminal justice program uses a social science perspective to study the nature and causes of crime and provides a comprehensive understanding of the United States criminal justice system. Lees-McRae College students who major in criminal justice benefit from a unique, holistic learning environment. Graduates of the program work in law enforcement and investigative agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, and/or attend graduate school or law school.

Elementary Education (BA)

The elementary education program at Lees-McRae College provides teacher candidates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for successful employment as schoolteachers in the 21st century classroom. Specific areas of emphasis include the integration of a reflective practitioner framework, assessment and technology applications. The student interested in earning teacher licensure must gain admission to the teacher education program.

Elementary Education (BS)

The elementary education program at Lees-McRae College provides teacher candidates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for successful employment as schoolteachers in the 21st century classroom. Specific areas of emphasis include the integration of a reflective practitioner framework, assessment and technology applications. The program is also available online and through distance learning.

English

The mission of the English program at Lees-McRae College is to inspire and to prepare students to pursue a versatile professional life and/or graduate school by refining skills in communication, critical thinking, comprehension, creativity, and analysis through a curriculum that emphasizes reading, writing, and speaking skills and by encouraging familiarity with world, British, and American literature.

Exercise Science

The Exercise Science program prepares students to obtain the knowledge, skills, and methodology necessary to conduct and evaluate health and fitness assessments, design and implement exercise programs, and monitor health and fitness changes/progression over time. Exercise Science majors complete one 200-hour internship during their junior or senior year of study.

Healthcare Administration

Prospective students of the program will work in diverse healthcare-related settings, including hospitals, clinics, and public health organizations, among others. The degree program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen healthcare fields. The program's goal is to advance the careers of students, expand their knowledge base, and build a stronger and more diverse workforce in healthcare.

History (BA)

The history program inspires students to investigate and explore the past in order to critically approach the present. Students gain valuable critical thinking, writing, speaking, and research skills, and they will develop a body of historical knowledge and form critical perspectives on the diversity of the human experience. These skills prepare students for a life of engaged American and global citizenship as well as careers in history and a wide range of other fields.

History (BS)

The history program inspires students to investigate and explore the past in order to critically approach the present. Students gain valuable critical thinking, writing, speaking, and research skills, and they will develop a body of historical knowledge and form critical perspectives on the diversity of the human experience. These skills prepare students for a life of engaged American and global citizenship as well as careers in history and a wide range of other fields.

Human Services

The objective of the online Master of Science in Human Services is to empower future human service professionals in becoming agents of change through service, leadership, research, and advocacy for clients and communities of all backgrounds, and in their work with multidisciplinary partners to collectively address individual, family, community, and organizational issues.

Human Services

This full-time online degree completion program prepares students for careers in various agencies and programs providing direct services to individuals, families, or communities. It builds upon associate's level course work that can be transferred to Lees-McRae College. The primary purpose of the human service professional is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living.

Musical Theatre

The BFA in musical theatre is a professional degree program designed to prepare students to pursue careers as performers and leaders in musical theatre. Entrance into the BFA in musical theatre is by audition only. NOTE: This program is no longer accepting new students; students admitted prior to Fall 2024 will follow a teach-out plan through graduation.

Nutrition Science

The Nutrition Science major focuses on nutrition, dietetics, and promoting healthy lifestyles. This major provides a strong base in the sciences while also developing students' communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities. NOTE: This program is no longer accepting new students; students admitted prior to Fall 2024 will follow a teach-out plan through graduation.

Outdoor Recreation Management (BA)

Outdoor Recreation Management is designed for students with a career interest in outdoor, environmental, and experiential education. The program focuses heavily on leadership and program management with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.

Outdoor Recreation Management (BS)

Outdoor Recreation Management is designed for students with a career interest in outdoor, environmental, and experiential education. The program focuses heavily on leadership and program management with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.

Pre-Physical Therapy

The Pre-Physical Therapy program prepares students for the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) graduate admissions process to become a Physical Therapist. The Pre-Physical Therapy program boasts a unique curriculum that includes both the foundational science pre-requisite courses with applicable courses in exercise science. Students will learn how to deliver patient centered care through evidence based curriculum and approach patient care through a holistic lens.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

The pre-veterinary medicine major combines coursework from the biomedical sciences, wildlife biology, and work in wildlife rehabilitation to prepare our students to pursue a professional degree in veterinary medicine. The major especially stresses the importance of experiential learning through laboratories, field work, animal care, internships, and independent study. This program is meant to fulfill the prerequisites for most Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs.

Psychology (BA)

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, thought, and emotion. The psychology program is designed to provide students with exposure to the many different fields of psychology. In addition to an exposure to psychology, students learn problem-solving techniques through the program's focus on research and analysis of human behavior in experimental research and statistics courses.

Psychology (BS)

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, thought, and emotion. The psychology program is designed to provide students with exposure to the many different fields of psychology. In addition to an exposure to psychology, students learn problem-solving techniques through the program's focus on research and analysis of human behavior in experimental research and statistics courses.

Religious Studies (BA)

The religious studies program promotes the study of religion—in all its complexity, richness, and variety—as a phenomenon of human existence in a liberal arts environment. Students who major in religious studies explore the important role played by faith traditions in shaping our intellectual tradition. The religious studies program examines the nature of religious conviction and explores how those convictions shape our perception of life and death, good and evil, justice and mercy.

Religious Studies (BS)

The religious studies program promotes the study of religion—in all its complexity, richness, and variety—as a phenomenon of human existence in a liberal arts environment. Students who major in religious studies explore the important role played by faith traditions in shaping our intellectual tradition. The religious studies program examines the nature of religious conviction and explores how those convictions shape our perception of life and death, good and evil, justice and mercy.

Special Education (BA)

The special education program at Lees-McRae College provides teacher candidates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for successful employment as teachers of students with special learning needs in the 21st century classroom. Specific areas of emphasis include the integration of a reflective practitioner framework, assessment, and technology applications. The student interested in earning teacher licensure must gain admission to the teacher education program.

Special Education (BS)

The special education program at Lees-McRae College provides teacher candidates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for successful employment as teachers of students with special learning needs in the 21st century classroom. The program is offered on the main campus as well as online and through distance learning, and prepares candidates to be licensed in Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12) in the state of North Carolina.

Sport Management (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in sport management is designed for those students with a career interest in the sport industry. The business of sports is the emphasis of this program, with career paths in college athletics, professional and minor league sports, parks and recreation, and private sport organization entrepreneurship.

Sport Management (BS)

The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in sport management is designed for those students with a career interest in the sport industry. The business of sports is the emphasis of this program, with career paths in college athletics, professional and minor league sports, parks and recreation, and private sport organization entrepreneurship.

Teaching in Secondary Education

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education is for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in history, biology, English, or business marketing and who wish to become teachers. Teacher candidates enrolled in the program may take their courses on the campus of Lees-McRae in Banner Elk NC, online, or a combination of seated and online.

Theatre Arts (BA)

Through an integrated curriculum, the theatre arts program prepares artists and leaders for a diverse and challenging job market, and trains practitioners in the field to impact the development and welfare of their community through viable arts experiences.

Theatre Arts (BS)

Through an integrated curriculum, the theatre arts program prepares artists and leaders for a diverse and challenging job market, and trains practitioners in the field to impact the development and welfare of their community through viable arts experiences.

Tourism and Resort Management

Students within the Tourism and Resort Management program can work and learn creatively in a service industry that is consistently evolving. The program offers collaborative opportunities through existing partnerships with area resorts and private communities. Upon graduation, students will be prepared for growth in tourism and resort management while working as ambassadors for the mountains.

Wilderness Medicine and Rescue (BA)

The Wilderness Medicine and Rescue program is designed for students with a medical, emergency management, and rescue in a wilderness, backcountry setting career interest in the outdoors. This program seeks to train students for practice in low-resource environments such as backcountry guiding, search and rescue, ski/bike patrol, park ranger, government work, and more. This program can also assist students in transitioning into paramedic or medical school.

Wilderness Medicine and Rescue (BS)

The Wilderness Medicine and Rescue program is designed for students with a medical, emergency management, and rescue in a wilderness, backcountry setting career interest in the outdoors. This program seeks to train students for practice in low-resource environments such as backcountry guiding, search and rescue, ski/bike patrol, park ranger, government work, and more. This program can also assist students in transitioning into paramedic or medical school.

Wildlife Biology

The wildlife biology degree is an environmentally-focused program that synergistically integrates zoology, botany, earth science, and chemistry. The program is based on the belief that field experience is vital to the understanding of ecosystems. Field experience includes exposure to a wide variety of habitats, including aquatic and terrestrial communities, field observations, and collection and analysis of data.