About
Appalachian State University’s Career and Technical Education (BS) concentration in workforce leadership and development is a broad and flexible program designed for students who are interested in combining technical skills with the business preparation needed to advance into management or the training of employees within a particular industry. It does not lead to teaching licensure, as do other CTE concentrations at Appalachian.
The program offers a distinctive combination of career and technical courses, workforce courses, business foundations — such as accounting, marketing, law and organization behavior, and an internship. It develops the “hard” and “soft” skills needed to improve your competitiveness in the workforce.
The program is designed to accommodate the needs of both transfer students, who may already have earned an associate degree and have work experience in a particular business or industry, and traditional students just beginning their postsecondary education. It is offered both online and on campus.
After Graduation
Employment: Students in this concentration will have the business training as well as development of technical and soft skills to pursue entrepreneurial ventures or careers in business, industry, government, health care institutions or postsecondary educational-technical institutions.
Graduate school: Students will have the preparation needed for advanced study in a variety of fields, including business, education, training and development, and other areas.
People
Related Programs
Minors
No minor is required for this degree.
Engagement Outside the Classroom
Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division of Future Business Leaders of America.
North Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education (NCACTE)
Student North Carolina Association of Educators - a pre-professional organization for college students interested in a career in education.
Chi Sigma Iota - the international honor society for students, professional counselors and counselor educators.
Kappa Delta Pi - the national honorary education fraternity.
Orchesis - the expressive arts honor society, which sponsors activities throughout the year.
View all student organization contacts
Global Learning
Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society. International internships for this program may be available.
Admission Requirements
Admission to Appalachian’s Teacher Education Program is required.
Why Appalachian?
- This concentration is delivered both online and on campus. It is among only a few workforce development programs offered at the bachelor’s level.
- The CTE program has a long-standing commitment to excellence and is well-respected at the local, state, national and international levels.
- CTE graduates are hired quickly and often have multiple job offers.
- A required internship offers work site experience with a qualified professional mentor.
- Faculty and students are actively involved in professional and student organizations related to Career and Technical Education. Students have the opportunity to compete in regional, state and national TEECA, TSA and VEX competitions through the student organization ASU TECA.
Location
Careers
- Entrepreneur
- Career Facilitator/Manager/Specialist
- Workforce Specialist (working for the state workforce organizations or private organizations)
- Former Offender Specialist
- Agricultural Employment Specialist
- Apprenticeship Specialist
- Career Counselor or Career Advisor
- Corporate Curriculum Specialist
- Product Trainer/Education Specialist
- Business Services Representative
- Workforce Education Director
- Workforce Education Cooperative Education
- Workforce Education Teacher in Middle and High Schools
- Teacher in Career and Technical Education Centers
- Government Training Programs
- Business Training Programs
- Industry Training Programs
- Adult and Continuing Education Programs
- Professional Development Consultant
- Organizational Development Specialist/Consultant
- Instructional Coordinator
- Community College Instructor
- Military Development
Contacts
Department of Media, Career Studies and Leadership Development
Jerianne Taylor
Professor
taylorjs@appstate.edu
Program director