Western Kentucky University Courses & Fees

An accounting major can lead to a successful career in many different areas of accounting and business.  From the smallest start-up company to large international companies and governmental agencies, every organization requires the skills of accountants. 

The accounting programs at WKU focus on building an nurturing a culture of student success and engagement with an adaptive and innovative, and flexible curriculum, career mentoring, professional development, and engaging student organizations. Upper level accounting classes have a low faculty/student ratio. 

The Department of Accounting and the Gordon Ford College of Business are both accredited by the AACSB-International, the highest mark of quality a business program can be awarded. 

The Health Care Administration program has full membership in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).

The undergraduate degree program in health care administration prepares the student for administrative positions in various types of health care facilities and agencies, such as acute care, long term care, group medical practices, managed care organizations, health insurance agencies, public health agencies, clinics, and health related organizations such as manufacturing, marketing and consulting.

The Health Information Management bachelor degree program is accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)*. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA)** certification examination for the designation of Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

The major in health information management is designed to prepare the graduate HIM professional with skills and competencies in health data management, data analytics and informatics, information governance, privacy and security, compliance, clinical documentation improvement, revenue cycle management, medical coding, health information technology management and administrative and clinical work flow. Students will focus on operations management essential to ensuring an accurate and complete medical record and cost effective information processing.

Enrollment in the program is limited. A students’ application to the baccalaureate degree program will be considered following successful completion of the introductory course, HIM 100: Health Data Content and Structure or following successful completion of an associate degree in HIM from a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM*) accredited program or successful completion of the HIM 100 departmental examination.

The Business Administration concentration of the management major provides a broad business perspective for students who eventually wish to be involved in profit or goal management responsibilities. This program of study is not intended to prepare students for career in any one type of industry of profession. Rather, it provides the graduate with a knowledge of basic managerial skills required by managers from small entrepreneur to corporate president. 

The Human Resource concentration of the Management major is designed to develop skills for managing an essential resource of any organization--its employees. Because of the importance of increasing human productivity, human resource management is viewed as a key contributor to organizational effectiveness. Human resource managers are frequently involved in top-level decision making.

The Entrepreneurship concentration allows students to develop the skills needed to start and own a business, to develop or grow an existing company, or to create an entrepreneurial environment within an organization.  Entrepreneurial students are not only prepared to operate a business, they are trained to innovate within existing organizations to increase productivity and performance. Students are encouraged to develop creative and impactful solutions by thinking critically about problems relevant to a variety of organizations, and continually practice and hone these skills through hands-on engagement in real-world exercises and projects.

The Global Business concentration is designed to increase students’ knowledge and develop the necessary skills in order to function effectively in today’s dynamic global environment. Students learn business practices around the world, international economics and trade regulations, geopolitical impacts on organizations, and cross-cultural management. Students are required to do an internship in a firm engaged in international business or participate in study abroad.

The Strategic Marketing concentration develops critical thinking skills necessary to build strategy based on market knowledge. Areas of study include strategic planning; segmentation and target marketing; consumer behavior; marketing research; product, promotion, pricing, and distribution decisions; services marketing; and international marketing.

As part of the Center for Professional Selling, one of the few certified centers in the United States, this track prepares students for careers in face-paced and lucrative corporate sales positions. Tremendous networking opportunities are made through engagement with internships, guest speakers and in national sales competitions.

Focuses on the strategic use of traditional, digital, and social media platforms to meet Marketing goals. Students have ample opportunity to work with real organizations on social media campaigns, content marketing, SEO, analytics, website design and more.

There are so many reasons to learn Spanish, we could hardly list them all here. Spanish is spoken by some 400 million people. According to About.com, it is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. It is the official language on four continents, and the number of Spanish speakers in the United States is growing. Speakers of Spanish are needed in a wide variety of fields such as business, education, health care, journalism and social work. Spanish makes a great "second major" in combination with just about any other discipline that interests you. Our Spanish program provides you many opportunities to interact with Spanish speakers both at home and abroad, and to apply your skills in service opportunities.

Concentrations

Spanish Language and Cultures (SPLC)

Communication (COMM)

International Business (INBU)

Health Sciences & Health Careers (HSHC)

Legal Professionals (LEPR)

Teacher Education (TCHR)

Workforce Administration major (WFA) is an interdisciplinary major offered through the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. The Workforce Administration major applies a professional perspective to the management of people, information, processes, and systems within the organization. The WFA major offers an interdisciplinary approach to the design, application, use, and management of information and organizational systems. Courses in the WFA program emphasize the human, technological, and organizational perspective. Students also take elective courses from various allied disciplines to complement their professional education. In a knowledge-oriented economy, organizations succeed on the basis of their innovation and management of information. The WFA major is designed to help students prepare for a rewarding career in this dynamic field.

Civil engineers design a better world in which to live. They design, build, and maintain our nation’s infrastructure including: roads and bridges; buildings and foundations; water supply and waste-water facilities; stormwater management systems; and environmental protection facilities.

The mission of the civil engineering program is to prepare students for professional engineering and management positions in all phases of civil engineering projects. The program provides a broad educational background with a foundation in basic engineering and business principles. These basic skills are complemented by advanced topics in engineering design, management, finance, computer applications, and real world civil engineering experiences throughout the baccalaureate degree program. The civil engineering program at WKU focuses on construction, geotechnical engineering, construction materials, structures, surveying, and hydrology.

The teaching philosophy of this program focuses on project-based learning. This is achieved by placing competent, practicing engineers in the classroom as professors, engaging students in the practice of civil engineering through hands-on class projects, and involving students in faculty consulting and applied research activities. Real engineering projects often serve as class projects. Project sites and professional engineering and construction management firm offices often serve as classrooms.

Electrical engineering touches virtually every aspect of life in the twenty-first century. Electrical engineers are experts in dealing with electricity, electromagnetism, and electronics. Electrical engineers are employed in a variety of industries including:

Circuits and Electronics

Communication and Signal Processing

Electrical Power Systems

Computer Hardware and Embedded Systems

Robotics, Control Systems and Automation

Biomedical Applications

Automotive and Aerospace Systems

Manufacturing plants

The mission of our Electrical Engineering Program at WKU is to build a foundation of knowledge in electrical engineering by integrating a variety of project experiences at every level throughout the curriculum. Our program is to be relevant to our region and to produce graduates who can immediately contribute to the profitability of their employer. Our electrical engineering curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics to prepare them for careers as engineers.

METs design, develop, test, and optimize manufacturing processes and mechanical devices, including tools, power systems, and machines. They make sketches, develop factory layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations, provide cost estimates, and report findings. MET manage the people, processes, and systems of manufacturing,
 

Mechanical engineers are involved in designing and building almost everything that is needed in our modern world, from nearly invisible electro-mechanical devices to enormous power generating and distribution systems producing millions of horsepower. Mechanical engineers use scientific principles from the physical world to create a tremendous variety of mechanical and thermal systems. Practicing mechanical engineers use these principles to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain systems that include:

automobiles and aircraft

heating and cooling systems

electric power plants

specialized materials

manufacturing plants

industrial equipment and machinery

Mechanical engineers need a solid understanding of engineering science, which includes mechanics, engineering materials, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. The program at WKU focuses on these sciences as well as design and professional skills necessary for a successful career in mechanical engineering. Our graduates have a strong competitive advantage with their unique background of engineering fundamentals combined with practical knowledge and experience. The mechanical engineering program provides a project-based, learner-driven environment relevant to the needs of modern society. In support of this learning environment, the professional engineering activities of the faculty create opportunities for the students to practice the art and science of contemporary Mechanical Engineering.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical basis of living organisms. The subject includes the investigation of the various classes of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates) and their metabolic interactions.

Training in biochemistry offers many exciting opportunities in teaching, research, and public service. It provides excellent preparation for students intending to enter professional programs such as Dentistry and Medicine as well as graduate study in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Biology. The Biochemistry program is the only stand-alone Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry at a public institution in the Commonwealth. It is administered jointly through the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. Students may enroll for biochemistry courses through either the Department of Biology or the Department of Chemistry, depending upon their major emphasis.

The major in biology (525) does not require a second major or minor. Students complete a range of biology courses and are able to participate in research projects to ease the transition into the workplace.

Students who wish to be certified to teach high school biology must complete both the major in Biology (reference number 617) with a Teacher Education concentration (TCHR) and the major in Science and Mathematics Education (reference number 774), offered in the School of Teacher Education. Interested students should contact the SKyTeach Office, Kelly Thompson Hall 1011A, 270-745-3900.

The major in biology (617) gives students an opportunity to take basic biology courses and couple the major with a second major or minor. In addition to coursework, students may work with faculty on research projects to gain experience for the workforce.

Students who wish to be certified to teach high school biology must complete both the major in Biology (reference number 617) with a Teacher Education concentration (TCHR) and the major in Science and Mathematics Education (reference number 774), offered in the School of Teacher Education. Interested students should contact the SKyTeach Office, Kelly Thompson Hall 1011A, 270-745-3900.

We offer several tracks in our undergraduate chemistry major, serving students who are interested in becoming K-12 teachers, health professionals, professional chemists, or numerous other occupations that require a background in chemistry. Highly qualified and motivated undergraduates may also pursue a joint BS/MS degree in a rigorous 5-year JUMP curriculum (Joint Undergraduate-Masters Program).  Together with the Department of Biology, we jointly manage the biochemistry major for students interested in an interdisciplinary degree. 

Our graduate program offers a thesis-driven Master of Science degree with traditional and research-intensive tracks.  Graduate students gain in-depth experience through a combination of research, traditional coursework, and seminars; most of our full-time students receive financial assistance by serving as teaching assistants in our laboratory courses.

Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to work alongside of our faculty in unique research opportunities.  Students have the opportunity to share their research findings with the scientific community through publication and/or presentations at the local, regional, or national level.  Our faculty combine excellence in teaching and scholarship to provide students with outstanding education and mentoring.