Mission Statement || The Campus
Commitment to Equal Opportunity || University Calendar 2001-2002
UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents

The University of North Carolina at Asheville

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is the designated liberal arts university in The University of North Carolina system. An outstanding learning community, UNCA focuses its resources on academic excellence in undergraduate liberal arts education and community partnerships with the region.

UNC Asheville opened in 1927 as Buncombe County Junior College for area residents interested in pursuing higher education. The school underwent several name changes, mergers with local governments and school systems, and moves before relocating in 1961 to its present campus in north Asheville. Asheville-Biltmore College joined The University of North Carolina system in 1969 as the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with the distinct mission to offer an undergraduate liberal arts education of superior quality. Today, UNC Asheville is the only designated undergraduate liberal arts university in the 16-member UNC system and one of only six public universities in the country designated as a national liberal arts university (Liberal Arts I).

UNC Asheville enrolls 3,200 students pursuing bachelor's degrees in about 30 majors in the natural and social sciences, humanities, preprofessional and professional areas, as well as the Master of Liberal Arts. With an average class size of 19, UNC Asheville emphasizes a personalized education characterized by close faculty-student interactions, challenging academic programs and service-learning activities. The university has received national recognition for its interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate liberal arts education, specifically its Undergraduate Research and Humanities programs. Faculty and students founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in 1986 and it rotates annually to major universities across the country. The Humanities Program, a four-course sequence of world history and culture required of all degree-seeking students, has been a national model followed by other schools starting humanities programs. Through UNCA's Key Center for Service-Learning, students integrate community service into their academic experience.

UNCA's innovative academic programs, interdisciplinary approach and reasonable cost draw praise from the national college guidebooks annually. The popular Fiske Guide to Colleges ranks UNCA among its top 20 Best Buys in public higher education, saying, "The University of North Carolina at Asheville offers all the perks that are generally associated with pricier private institutions: rigorous academics, small classes and a beautiful setting. And it does it for a fraction of the cost. All the ingredients for a superior college experience lie in wait at Asheville." The Princeton Review: the Best 311 Colleges lists UNCA in this select group, saying, "For students who seek a public education in a smaller campus environment, this is a great choice." The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character Development cited UNCA's First-Year Experience as an exemplary college program.

The 265-acre campus comprises about 30 buildings for classrooms, administration, residence and recreation, with a new Master Plan in place for expansion over 20 years. The newest buildings on the scenic UNCA campus are two residence halls, South Ridge and West Ridge; a state-of-the-art Health and Fitness Center addition to Justice Athletic Center; and the Dining Hall. The campus houses the Asheville Graduate Center, which offers master's and doctoral degree programs of other UNC institutions for people of the region, and the nationally prominent N.C. Center for Creative Retirement, which provides programs that enhance the lives of older adults.

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097, 404/679-4501) to award baccalaureate and master's degrees.

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Mission Statement

The University of North Carolina at Asheville offers a superior liberal arts education for well-prepared students who are committed to learning and personal growth. Its education is liberating, promoting the free and rigorous pursuit of truth, respect for differing points of view and heritage, and an understanding that values play a role in thought and action. Through this education the university aims to develop students of broad perspective who think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and participate actively in their communities. UNCA is North Carolina's only designated public liberal arts university.

Small by choice, UNCA brings together faculty, students, and staff of diverse cultural backgrounds to interact closely in a supportive community. The university makes excellence in teaching the highest priority for its faculty. It fosters scholarship and creative activities by faculty and students alike.

UNCA provides undergraduate programs in the arts, the humanities, the natural and social sciences, and in selected pre-professional programs that are solidly grounded in the liberal arts. The university seeks to connect the traditional liberal arts fields through interdisciplinary studies and to integrate these areas of inquiry with programs that prepare students for rewarding careers. To enhance and extend the undergraduate programs, UNCA offers an interdisciplinary Master of Liberal Arts.

As a public university, UNCA serves the region and state in ways that complement its educational mission. It encourages students, faculty, and staff to interact with and serve the community, and it shares cultural and educational resources with citizens at all stages of life and learning. The university houses the Asheville Graduate Center, the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement, and other programs which provide opportunities to citizens for continued learning and public service.

The ultimate aim of the university is to provide students the best possible opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to pursue their goals, to find meaning in their lives, and to take their places as contributing citizens of a changing society.

(Adopted by the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees Aug. 24, 2000)

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Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed to equality of educational experiences for students and is an equal employment opportunity employer. UNC Asheville will not discriminate against students, applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation*, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or any other legally protected status with respect to all terms, conditions or privileges of university-sponsored activities, employment and the use of university facilities.

The university supports the federal laws protecting members of its community, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act, N.C. General Statutes 126-16 and 126-17 and other applicable federal and state laws.

More information about the university's commitment to Equal Opportunity may be obtained from the Affirmative Action Officer, Human Resources, 232 Phillips Hall, CPO #1450, University of North Carolina at Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-8503.

*UNC Asheville acknowledges and understands that the category of sexual orientation is not a protected category under federal or state laws and therefore cannot be grieved beyond the campus level.

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The Campus

The 265-acre UNCA campus is located one mile north of downtown Asheville, a growing city of 75,000 that offers a unique blend of modern living and mountain culture. The Blue Ridge Mountains surround the city and the campus, providing outdoor recreation and study opportunities. Classroom buildings are situated on the main UNCA quadrangle, as follows.

Ramsey Library and Media Center is prominent on the quadrangle and offers a spectacular view of Mount Pisgah to the west. The library houses 1,365 current journal subscriptions; 354,000 books, bound periodicals and government documents; 7,500 audio visuals; and 5,500 curriculum materials. The online library system connects students to the combined library holdings of UNCA, Western Carolina and Appalachian State, and provides access to hundreds of research databases via the World Wide Web. Ramsey Library maintains special collections including photographs documenting Western North Carolina history, rare books, manuscripts, papers of prominent area citizens, and materials relating to Jewish history in the Southeast and the culture of the Southern Highlands. The library staff provides assistance and instruction in research skills. The facility offers attractive, comfortable areas for reading and studying on three levels, with student and faculty carrels and group study rooms. The Media Center has areas designed for using media materials for course-related work and houses the Square D Teleconference Center for distance learning.

Robinson and Rhoades Halls form a single facade on the southeast side of the quadrangle and house the departments of Atmospheric Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, and the North Carolina State University Engineering Programs in Asheville. Also here are the University Computing, Steelcase Teleconference Center and the N.C. Center for Creative Retirement offices.

Phillips Hall, the administration building, houses the offices of the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Vice Chancellor for Public Partnerships and Special Programs, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The offices of Human Resources/Personnel, Business and Purchasing are also here.

Lipinsky Hall is home to UNCA's Office of Enrollment Services, which includes the offices of Admissions, Academic Advising, Financial Aid and the Registrar. The Music Department and the 644-seat Lipinsky Auditorium are in this building, next to the library.

Carmichael Hall houses the Classics, Foreign Languages, History and Philosophy departments, as well as the 330-seat Humanities Lecture Hall. The College for Seniors, a program of the N.C. Center for Creative Retirement, has offices here.

Carol Belk Theatre is home to the Drama Department, where classes, rehearsals, technical production and performances in the 200-seat arena theatre take place.

Owen Hall houses the Management and Art departments, exhibition galleries and Owen Conference Center, as well as the office of the Vice Chancellor for University Relations (Including Public Information, Development and Alumni Relations).

Zageir Hall is home to the Education, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology departments, and Printing Services.

Karpen Hall houses the departments of Literature and Language, Mass Communication and Economics, as well as the Asheville Graduate Center, Master of Liberal Arts Program, Multimedia Arts and Sciences Program and Laurel Forum meeting facility.

Justice Center, UNCA's athletics and recreation complex, includes an 1,100-seat arena, indoor swimming pool and Health and Fitness Center, which has a 1/10-mile indoor track, weight and fitness center, dance studio and multipurpose courts. Soccer, baseball and intramural fields and an all-weather outdoor track and tennis courts are just outside Justice Center.

Residence Halls. Five residence halls have single-, double- and suite-style arrangements. The newest are West Ridge and South Ridge (a substance-free residence hall); Mills and Founders are highrise double-occupancy buildings; and Governors Village is a complex of small single-room residences.

Highsmith University Center, situated between the residence halls and Dining Hall, provides a convenient student meeting place with snack bar, recreation rooms, lounges, offices of student organizations, and the campus bookstore.

The Dining Hall offers different meal-plan options in a convenient and friendly environment.

The University Botanical Gardens, a 10-acre preserve adjacent to the main campus, showcases labeled plants and trees native to the Southern Appalachians. The gardens are a study center for botany students, a refuge for wildlife, and a source of enjoyment for the community.

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University Calendar 2001-2002 Fall Semester 2001

Spring Semester 2002

Summer Semester 2002

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