Career and Technical Education (BS) - Business, Finance and Information Technology Education

About

Appalachian State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Career and Technical Education prepares students to teach about technology, business, child development, design and engineering. This degree program uses an investigative, hands-on research and design approach to help students better understand the world around them.

Appalachian State University is widely recognized as providing top-quality teachers for the public schools. Graduates of our program are in extremely high demand, both here in North Carolina and across the nation. Career and Technical Education teachers get to teach a subject they love while providing an invaluable service to students and schools.

This degree has five concentrations, each of which is considered a high need field. Many school districts seek teachers who are specialists in these areas.

Business, Finance and Information Technology Education
Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Education
Family and Consumer Sciences
Technology, Engineering and Design Education
Trade and Industrial Education

The Business, Finance and Information Technology Education (BFIT) concentration focuses on the preparation of business education teachers in grades 6-12. BFIT instructors teach a variety of courses in these grades from business law and computer applications to personal finance and computer networking. As a student, you will learn how to teach young people about business skills and techniques, an understanding of basic economics, and business attitudes essential to participate in the multinational marketplace as productive workers and consumers. You also will develop the skills necessary to teach students about financial management and make intelligent consumer and business-related choices.

Transfer students or students who have completed Community College courses related to a specific skill area should contact the program director to determine if these courses can count toward a program of study at Appalachian.

After Graduation

Employment: Our students are typically hired throughout North Carolina as well as in surrounding states such as South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee to teach middle or high school courses as well as community college. Examples include Accounting, Personal Finance, Business Law, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Multimedia and Webpage Design. A complete list of all BFIT courses in North Carolina is located on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s website.

Because of the extensive training in business subjects, individuals who choose not to teach after graduation have found lucrative and successful careers in all types of business and marketing fields.

Graduate School:
Complementary graduate programs include:

Business, Finance and Information Technology Education
Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Education
Family and Consumer Sciences
Technology, Engineering and Design Education
Trade and Industrial Education

Professional Licensure

This is a program that can lead to licensure or certification in North Carolina. Appalachian State University cannot confirm whether this program will meet the requirements for professional licensure in other states or territories.

If this applies to you, check the Professional Licensure webpage for information on licensure requirements and licensing agencies in other states. Or, you may address questions to State Authorization at App State at stateauthorization@appstate.edu or 828-262-7559.

People

Alumnus Profile: Robert Dail ’12
“It’s like I graduated with an ‘ace up my sleeve’ in regard to the current education trends in the K-12 environment.”
– Robert Dail, career in technical education teacher and IB diploma programme faculty member at Millbrook High School in Raleigh.
Faculty Profile: Dr. Herb Brown

“Because of the huge range of courses they might teach and the changing nature of these topics, instructors will never get bored in this career path.”
– Dr. Herb Brown, professor in Appalachian’s career and technical education (CTE) degree program
Faculty Profile: Dr. Tempestt Adams

“I am interested in how we train and support future and in-service teachers and how we can rethink our approach to schooling … I am motivated to help students across K–12 be exposed to these possibilities so they can make more informed college, career and entrepreneurial decisions.”
– Dr. Tempestt Adams, assistant professor in Appalachian’s career and technical education (CTE) degree program
Alumni Profile: App State leads nation in board certified teachers

For the sixth consecutive year, App State tops the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ list of “Top 50 Alma Maters by Total Number of NBCTs,” leading the nation for the number of National Board Certified Teachers — 2,211.

Courses

Program of Study
Four Year Guide

Click on the pdf for your major
NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide

Related Programs

Minors

No minor is required for this degree. Students can pursue a minor in Business and Information Technology Education.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

North Carolina Association for Career and Technical Education (NCACTE)

Appalachian Educators - open to all education majors; sponsors service events and provides professional development and leadership opportunities.

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.

Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division of Future Business Leaders of America.

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. Opportunities for education majors include international student teaching.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Appalachian’s Teacher Education Program is required.

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Degrees

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Costs and Aid

Why Appalachian?

The CTE program is delivered online and on campus.
Graduates are hired quickly and often have multiple job offers.
This program has a long-standing commitment to excellence in CTE teacher preparation and is well-respected at the local, state, national and international levels.
Faculty and students are actively in involved 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.
This is a small, personal program in which teacher candidates take courses and participate in field experiences together for four semesters. All students are known well by each other and by the CTE faculty.

Location

Boone and Hickory* and online

*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.

Careers

High school teachers
Community college instructors
Adult educators in community agencies
Private school teacher
Educator in business or industry
Career center instructors

Contacts

Reich College of Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Jerianne Taylor
Professor
taylorjs@appstate.edu
Program Coordinator: Trade and Industry, and Technology, Engineering, and Design

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a broad range of comprehensive degree programs at the baccalaureate and master’s level. The department seeks to provide quality programs that emphasize an integration of academics and field experiences.

Reich College of Education
Approximately 2,400 students
- The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. It houses five departments: Curriculum and Instruction, Family and Child Studies, Human Development and Psychological Counseling, Leadership and Educational Studies, and Reading Education and Special Education.
Teacher preparation
- Appalachian has been training quality educators for more than 100 years and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
- Appalachian offers the largest undergraduate teacher preparation program in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. There is at least one RCOE graduate working in every county in North Carolina.
- The Reich College of Education is recognized consistently in the annual Institution of Higher Education Performance Report by the State Board of Education.
Close ties to public schools
- The Appalachian State University Public School Partnership – which includes 125 schools in nine surrounding districts – provides sites for student teachers and interns as well as professional development opportunities for teachers.
- The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, located in Walkertown, North Carolina, serves over 300 K-5 students. The Academy provides a balanced education through the implementation of research-based practices, state-of-the-art literacy instruction, and exemplary classroom instruction and administration.
Graduate programs
- The School of Graduate Studies’ Accelerated Admission program, in which select undergraduate students can fulfill both undergraduate and graduate course requirements in their senior year toward the completion of a graduate degree program, is offered in: higher education, reading education and special education.
- Other education-related master’s degrees, graduate certificates and specialist degrees are listed on Appalachian’s School of Graduate Studies website.