Graduate Studies

Appalachian's Mission Statement

Appalachian State University is a public comprehensive university, offering a wide variety of degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's, and intermediate levels as well as the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. With a distinctively residential campus and a faculty and staff characterized by high quality and broad diversity of professional skills, Appalachian takes as its mission the practice and propagation of scholarship. This is accomplished particularly through instruction, but also through the research, creative, and service activities of the University community. Appalachian is committed to excellence in its undergraduate and graduate educational programs, while continuing to serve as a center of culture and professional activity within its state and region.

--The University of North Carolina Board of Governors (1998)

Appalachian's Expansion of The Mission Statement

Founded in 1899 as Watauga Academy, Appalachian State University evolved into a state teachers college, later broadened its mission to include the liberal arts, gained regional university status, and in 1972 became a part of The University of North Carolina system. From its beginning as a small local institution, Appalachian has developed into a university with an enrollment of over 12,000 students, including over 1,200 graduate students, from every section of North Carolina, as well as from other states and nations. Throughout its growth, the University has maintained a strong sense of community. It continues to provide educational leadership and service to the state and region and to foster an understanding of Appalachian culture.

Appalachian State University is a comprehensive university, offering a broad range of undergraduate programs and a wide selection of graduate programs. The University serves a large traditional undergraduate student body in a residential environment. Undergraduates are offered a well-rounded liberal education and the opportunity to pursue a special field of inquiry in preparation for advanced study or a specific career. Graduate students engage in advanced study and research while developing and extending their academic or professional specializations.

With instruction as its primary mission, the University is committed to excellence in teaching and the fostering of scholarship. As an academic community, it takes pride in its tradition of faculty commitment to students both inside and outside the classroom. Mindful of the relationship between the curricular and extracurricular, Appalachian seeks to promote the intellectual, cultural and personal development of its students.

At Appalachian, scholarship and service are complementary to the instructional mission. The major purposes of scholarship, including research, writing and other creative activities are threefold: to serve as a basis for instruction, to ensure a vital and intellectually engaged faculty, and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Professional and public service is provided in the form of continuing education programs and activities, consultation services, the extension into the community of the professional knowledge and skills of the faculty, staff and students, and the sharing of the University's cultural and recreational activities.

--The Appalachian State University Board of Trustees (1995)

The Educational Goals for Graduate Education

Graduate Education at Appalachian State University has the following educational goals for each graduate student:

To master a particular discipline or field at a level of complexity and generalization that extends knowledge, creativity, and intellectual maturity.
To develop an understanding of research, the manner by which research is conducted, the subject matter, bibliography, theory, and methodology of a particular discipline or field.
To develop the ability to utilize discipline-appropriate skills to analyze, explore, question, reconsider, synthesize, and applytraditional and contemporary knowledge and methods.
To acquire an understanding and commitment to a profession and the professional ethical standards within a given discipline or field.
To develop the skills, knowledge and experience necessary for appropriate professional employment, professional development, and/or further graduate study.
To develop direct intellectual/creative association with resident graduate faculty as mentors.
To develop the ability to communicate effectively in ways that is appropriate to the discipline.
To develop awareness of the world's diversity of cultural and national experiences, identities, and values.

In support of these goals and with the cooperation of the appropriate colleges, schools, and departments, the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School of Appalachian State University will:
Monitor the quality and currency of graduate programs through systematic program reviews and recommend any needed improvements on the basis of those reviews.
Maintain admission standards for graduate students.
Provide adequate resources consistent with the needs of graduate education through assistantships, scholarships, and research and grants support.
Ensure that graduate faculty possess the necessary scholarly credentials to teach and conduct research with graduate students.