YOUR PERFECT MAJOR
MAJORS TO CHOOSE FROM 70 MINORS TO CHOOSE FROM 99%
EMPLOYED OR CONTINUING EDUCATION WITHIN 180 DAYS OF GRADUATION
+ A STUDENT SUCCESS COACH!

MAJORS TO CHOOSE FROM 70 MINORS TO CHOOSE FROM 99%
EMPLOYED OR CONTINUING EDUCATION WITHIN 180 DAYS OF GRADUATION
+ A STUDENT SUCCESS COACH!
High Point University is proud of its historic commitment to a liberal arts education that furnishes our graduates with the broad knowledge, transferable skills, ethics and values they will need to become accomplished and responsible citizens. With small classes, caring professors and a myriad of student success stories, we have positioned our university as a place for scholars to thrive. The array of majors is vast, and each has been uniquely designed to challenge, inspire and transform students.
Twenty-first century education faces challenges that were unheard of a generation or two ago. Colleges and universities must adapt to patterns of work and life in which most graduates will leave their first job within three years. Within five years, more than half of today’s college freshmen will work in jobs that do not currently exist, just as “social media director” and “cloud computing consultant” did not exist a decade ago. By focusing on the development of Life Skills, critical reasoning, research and communication skills, our liberal arts education provides an ideal preparation for today’s workplace, where employers increasingly search for workers who combine in-depth knowledge with excellent problemsolving and analytic capabilities.
In both our general education core and our degree programs, students acquire and practice the knowledge, skills and attributes that are essential for success in today’s global economy. High Point University’s academic programs engage students in collaborative problem-solving, internships, research and creative work, and community engagement, in which students apply theory to practice, gaining valuable real-world experience. In addition, HPU’s liberal arts education enriches our students’ lives by making them more aware of the rich panoply of the human experience and more appreciative of the wonder and mystery of nature. A liberal arts and sciences education does not end with the graduation exercises at Commencement; instead, it engages a lifelong journey of learning, adapting and innovating values that accrue in a life well-lived.
With the academic experience in the classroom, the experiential opportunities available and the university’s commitment to holistic, character-based Life Skills learning, our students receive an education that is unsurpassed.
Daniel Erb, PT, PhD University Provost
PROJECT DISCOVERY
DAVID R. HAYWORTH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND DESIGN
DAVID S. CONGDON SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NIDO R. QUBEIN SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
STOUT SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
DOUGLAS S. WITCHER SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
EARL N. PHILLIPS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
FRED WILSON SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
CONGDON SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
WANEK SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
TERESA B. CAINE SCHOOL OF NURSING
WEBB SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
It Starts with You and Your Success Coach
NATIONALLY, AN ESTIMATED 50% OF STUDENTS ENTER COLLEGE UNDECIDED ON THEIR MAJOR.
In addition, an estimated 75% of students change their major at least once before graduating. HPU’s Project Discovery provides the guidance and resources that students need to discover their passion and achieve their goals.
Check out the 8 “Light Bulb” Moments of Project Discovery — your guide to uncovering your academic passion.
As an undeclared student, you will partner with a Success Coach who is passionate about helping you discover a major that is a great fit for you, while helping you make positive connections with organizations on campus in which you have interest. This happens as early as the December before you enroll for early decision students, or the March before for regular admitted students. You will have support and guidance from a caring Coach who understands the various options available to you.
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There’s a Class for That!
Enroll in Exploring Your Major and Career Path, the one-credit course designed to help you explore your options. A Career Advisor will guide you through selfreflection and assessment tools such as PathwayU. You’ll also be able to connect with professionals in fields you are thinking about to ask thoughtful questions and learn more.
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They’ve Walked in Your Shoes. You aren’t the only student who entered college as undeclared — in fact, it is common across the entire nation! Sometimes we learn best from someone like us — a peer. FirstYear Navigators are HPU students selected by the Office of Student Success to mentor first-year students. As an undeclared student, you will be connected with First-Year Navigators who were once undeclared, too. They know exactly what you are going through and will help you explore your options.
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“What’s My Major?” Day
This event, hosted each semester by The Office of Student Success and The Office of Career and Professional Development, is a great opportunity to work with Success Coaches and Career Advisors to explore major and career options and discover the best fit for you!
When you find a major that seems great, you will want to also understand what you can do with that degree once you graduate. HPU’s career advisors and their career development website will help you understand how your major translates to real-world career paths.
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You’ll see them in some of your classes and engage with them in Cottrell Hall. Your Career Advisor will explain the many resources available to you in the Career Center — the headquarters of the years of support and guidance that will lead to your portrait appearing on the HPU Young Alumni Career Wall!
Throughout each semester, faculty members host opportunities to meet with students who may have questions about a specific major. Casual in nature, these interactions allow you to connect with faculty, learn more about various programs and identify best-fit majors! You can attend as many of these meetings as you want, and you are always invited to have one-on-one visits with a professor to discuss opportunities within a major.
Visit with the Peer Career Advisors (PCAs) to get additional support. PCAs help you get started crafting a resume that can lead you to hands-on exploration of summer jobs and internships. Convenient walk-in hours in the Career and Professional Development Office ensure you have continuous support to guide you on your journey.
Olivia Lender, ’22 Associate in Emerging Leader
Program, Fidelity Investments
“Coming in undeclared my freshman year, I used the career advisors and my Success Coach in the Office of Career and Professional Development to determine my major. Brandon Floyd, assistant director of career and professional development, conducted a mock interview with me that made an impact on me, and he helped me throughout the application process for my position at Fidelity. Brandon helped prepare me for all the interviews and calmed me down. I would have never survived the interviews without him.”
Ashley Smith, ’27 Marketing Intern, Gable
“I came into HPU undecided and met with a career advisor to go over possible majors and paths I could take with each of my interests shown by the Pathway U exam. From there I registered for classes that would cover each of these interests and solidified a path for myself during these courses. It was very helpful for me to talk this through with someone and figure out my path in one semester.”
A.J. DiRosa, ’18 Cruise Vacation Agent, Disney Cruise Line
“My biggest supporter and mentor my freshman year was Pam Francisco, my Success Coach. She made sure I took all the steps in the right direction to become established and successful at HPU. Another great resource for me was the Office of Career and Professional Development, which helped me pave the way for my successful year-long internship with The Walt Disney Company, which resulted in my full-time job offer.”
The David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design is committed to providing a stimulating environment that encourages the exchange of ideas and the intellectual and creative development of both students and faculty. We value the role of the artist and designer as an individual who can facilitate social and cultural change at a local and global level. The faculty at HPU is here to help you find your voice. For those wishing to cultivate and advance their creative and critical skills, we invite you to join one of our outstanding programs.
Bridget Anderson, ’21, works for KA DesignWorks, an award-winning, full-service architecture firm as an interior designer. She works with clients on projects ranging from remodels to new homes.
Gina Figliozzi, ’20, received her degree in fine arts and communications. She is currently an assistant manager for North America Brand Commercialization at The Walt Disney Company. During her time at HPU, she interned with Marvel Entertainment as a digital comics intern.
James Sandoval, ’24, received his degree in Music (voice) and is currently pursuing a Masters in Music at the University of Sydney in Australia.
Justin Beard, ’14, received his theater and performance degree from HPU and is a lead actor at Walt Disney World.
Kenzie Ulrich, ’21, completed her graphic design degree at HPU and is currently working for Nike as a production artist. Before joining Nike, she served as a graphic designer for Kontoor Brands.
Thais Karol, ’22, received her fashion merchandising degree from HPU. She is now the visual merchandising productions coordinator for Bulgari in New York City.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND DESIGN
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Accreditation is a signal to employers that students have been exposed to a certain standard of coursework, facilities and faculty.”
Dr. John Turpin, Dean 1
• Dance
• Fashion Merchandising
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
Music
All majors have access to the studio spaces and labs necessary to develop and hone their craft. Performing arts students present major works in our beautiful Pauline Theater and the Empty Space Theater for more intimate productions. The creative nature of our faculty has also inspired performances in the Sechrest Art Gallery, Caine Conservatory, and the Culp Planetarium. Art and graphic design students create exhibitions of their work in the Sechrest, Norton, and Deal galleries. Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising students have the opportunity to work at the International Home Furnishings Market, held twice a year. At each market, more than 75,000 people and 2,400 exhibit and purchase products that fill 160 showrooms and more than 10 million square feet of display space. Our location offers students opportunities for field trips to see industry in action and internships to gain real-world experience.
Students studying in the School of Arts and Design have access to technology labs equipped with laser cutters, CNC routers and 3-D printers and the Anderson Creative Innovation Lab that gives students the ability to produce to-scale models of furnishings or products at a degree of detail tempered only by their imagination. They also have access to several Computer-Assisted Design labs, including a 20-plus station Mac lab with Cintiq interactive pen displays that introduce our students to programs like Sketch-Up, CAD, Revit and the Adobe Suite.
Explore our IN THE STUDIO magazine!
The arts have been the model for experiential learning for centuries. The act of performing and creating is the foundation of our disciplines. At HPU, this happens in the classroom and beyond. For example, as part of a global experience course, music students traveled across Italy, performing at some of the country’s most renowned cathedrals and basilicas, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, while theater students have had the opportunity to work with tony-nominated actor and playwright John Cariani on his newest project. Dance students choreograph works that are juried and presented at regional and national conferences. Interior design and fashion merchandising students have the opportunity to study in Florence for a full semester to complete certificates tailored specifically for High Point University and our graphic design students have had the honor of meeting with Milton Glaser and Paula Scher of Pentagram during their travels to New York City.
The High Point University Darrell E. Sechrest Art Gallery is primarily an educational gallery that provides High Point University and the greater High Point communities with rotating exhibitions in a range of media. These exhibitions will offer opportunities to interact with exhibiting artists and hear them speak about their work.
Exhibitions involve solo displays from artists currently active in their fields as well as group shows and works from a variety of collections, including HPU’s Permanent Collection, that have a more historic purpose. All exhibitions, gallery talks and openings are publicized locally and regionally and open to the public.
Dr. Jane Nichols is an award-winning interior designer who brings more than 20 years experience into the classroom. A gerontologist, she continues to research and design commercial interiors for health care, aging and hospitality environments.
The Creative Arts Fellows Program provides students a four-year, experiential, team-based scholastic experience with like-minded students. Working with a dedicated director of the program, students are provided personal mentoring, networking travel and opportunities to learn about careers in the ever-changing arts world from scholars and practitioners. The programming is threefold, focusing on community building (personal and professional), experiential learning and leadership development — culminating in a well-rounded graduate who can differentiate him/herself in the public sphere.
Dr. Brian Meixner is a nationally recognized conductor and euphonium player. He is the Director of Instrumental Studies and conducts the HPU Community Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. He is also the Founder, Executive Director, and Conductor of the North Carolina Brass Band.
Professor Scott Raynor is an awardwinning educator and artist whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He teaches painting, life drawing, and printmaking.
The department offers two degrees focused on graphic design. The BFA in Studio with a concentration in graphic design is a professional degree and recommended for those seeking careers in the field of graphic design, while the BA in design studies, concentration in graphic design, exposes students to essential core courses but offers flexibility to those students seeking to combine a minor or other major to help them reach their individual career goals.
The department offers two degrees focused on Studio Art. The BFA in General Fine Arts is a professional degree that prepares the student for a career as an artist in a medium of their choice. The BA in Studio Art gives the student a broad exposure to art that offers flexibility for those students seeking to combine a minor or other major to help them reach their individual career goals. Classes range from sculpture, painting, ceramics and digital art to darkroom and digital photography. The faculty focus on a one-on-one approach to develop each student’s artistic and expressive abilities.
The fashion merchandising major within HPU’s School of Arts and Design provides a blend of cross-disciplinary courses in order to provide students with both creative and analytical skill sets to prepare them for entry-level positions in the fashion retail sector. This may include jobs in retail management, merchandising and buying. Careers in fashion merchandising often include merchandise allocation and planning, international sourcing, and branding and marketing within the fashion industry. The major offers experiential opportunities, valuable internships and hands-on learning experiences that will engage students, facilitate learning and deliver a comprehensive foundation of knowledge about the fashion industry.
The interior design program is challenging, rigorous and rewarding. Students graduating from the program are well-versed in a wide vocabulary of design concepts and have the problemsolving skills to apply that knowledge in the field. Many students have gone on to work for some of the biggest names in the interior design and furniture fields, ranging from Interior Architects (IA) to Gensler. The interior design program creates opportunities for students to be exposed to other designers and artists. Designers Libby Langdon and Barclay Butera, among others, come into HPU’s classrooms to share their firsthand knowledge and offer insight to students for their future careers. Opportunities proliferate beyond the International Home Furnishings Market and HPU’s campus. Students are able to study interior design with partner universities in Florence to provide a global edge to this extraordinary degree.
The music curriculum offered at High Point University is unique, innovative and reflective of the highest standards in collegiate music instruction. By utilizing an integrative learning style, our curriculum gives students a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the art of music making in the 21st century. We have been a distinguished All-Steinway School award recipient since 2009.
Some potential areas of secondary emphasis are music business, jazz studies, sacred music, musical theatre, opera, music technology and music education. Because students are given so much flexibility within the degree program, the possibilities for secondary areas are limitless.
The Department of Theater and Dance at High Point University proudly offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Arts degree in dance, combining rigorous course work, practical performance and production experience. This degree provides students with the skills needed to prepare them for positions in the professional dance performance world, graduate study or related careers, in which creativity, communication skills and collaborative abilities are essential.
The Department of Theater and Dance at HPU is a family of creative, welcoming and supportive peers and mentors. Our small class sizes, active production work and faculty mentorship provide our students with deep and lasting personal and professional relationships. We bring in guest artists each semester, such as acclaimed playwright Jessica Dickey, playwright and Broadway actor John Cariani, and other actors from Broadway, film and television.
We teach Stanislavski’s acting principles, the Meisner technique of actor training, a period styles advanced acting class, a devised theater class and several specialized technique classes. Students also get many opportunities to expand on the technical skills gained in high school. We have a full costume shop where we build many of our costumes for productions. We never say no to students who have ideas on how to do things differently. We encourage them to try it and provide the resources and support to see it through.
Combining dance with a minor or other areas of study will provide support for careers in areas such as:
• Arts Management
• Costume, Lighting
• Dance Criticism
• Dance Medicine
• Dance Photography
• Dance Studio Ownership
• Dance Therapy
As a fashion intern at Good Morning America in New York City, Anderson worked with the fashion experts and stylists for Robin Roberts and DiAndre Tristan. She assisted with styling clients, buying trips and experiencing their everyday professional routine. Through her internship, Anderson gained more experience and understanding of the fashion industry in New York City.
HPU interior design majors have the unique opportunity to graduate not only with a four-year degree but also with a concentration certificate from the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute in Florence, Italy. Students have the option to travel abroad in their junior spring semester to study in the geographic heart of design — Italy. Students are immersed in Florentine culture and instructed by professors native to Florence. Students can earn certificates in:
• Furniture Design
• Product Design
• Visual Communication for Fashion
The Congdon School of Entrepreneurship at High Point University is committed to providing an experiential education and fostering a community of innovative thinkers and doers. We are creating an environment of innovation, empowering students to learn, lead, collaborate, think critically, create value and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. With innovation at our core, our students receive a comprehensive education within their major supported by opportunities to develop leadership skills inside the classroom, as well as by being a part of our Leadership Fellows programs.
• Entrepreneurship
• Event Management
• Hospitality Management
• Sales MINORS
• Entrepreneurship
• Event Management
• Hospitality Management
• Leadership Studies
• Sales
• Women’s Leadership Development
HPU students have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and pitch their best business ideas during the annual Elevator Pitch Competition. The award money allows students to invest in their business ideas and move forward in making those ideas a reality.
Students vie for first, second, and third place awards, plus an additional Rockstar Rookie award. Up to $20,000 in prizes may be awarded.
Students may compete individually or in teams. The competition is open to any enrolled student at High Point University.
• Leadership • Value Creation • Critical Thinking • Collaboration • Creativity • Life-Long Learning
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
The event management major is uniquely positioned in the School of Entrepreneurship as a leisure servicesbased event management program. Our B.A. in event management degree prepares students for a variety of roles in the private, nonprofit, public or corporate sectors, in one of the world’s fastest developing fields of employment. The curriculum combines nine event management courses with core communication offerings as well as experiential research projects, volunteer opportunities, practicums and internships. Students can also participate in study abroad programs for expanding their global awareness.
The entrepreneurship major at High Point University offers a unique combination of courses that provide students with an understanding of entrepreneurial development and management. In addition, students may select from an array of electives through which more specialized business knowledge can be attained. There are multiple opportunities for experiential learning outside of the classroom.
Our Event Management Program has been recognized since 2016 as the Best Event Management Bachelor's Degree by the International Festivals & Events Association. The Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Gold Award, announced during the organization’s annual convention, recognizes the quality, excellence, creativity and achievements of the festival and event industry.
In addition to their classwork, event management students are also community partners, volunteering and interning more than 6,000 hours annually with local event-related organizations and facilities as well as several nonprofit organizations.
The mission of the Professional Selling Program is to provide students with the tools and experience to significantly improve their value to the selling profession, to showcase the excellent talent of our students and to give employers a compelling choice for recruiting professionally trained new sales talent. The Professional Selling Program is the hub of the sales program’s development, direction and activities. It offers:
• Role-play labs — uniquely furnished individual facilities for sales call role-plays to create a realistic corporate buying environment using digital recording with live streaming to judges’ viewing rooms
• Meet and greet facilities
• Meeting rooms
• Interview spaces
• Sales classrooms
The Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management combines substantive management coursework with fieldwork to prepare students to deliver extraordinary hospitality experiences. Students are required to complete a supervised internship and work 800 hours in the hospitality industry to gain valuable on-the-job experiences, build their resumes and apply what they have learned from their coursework. Students can also participate in study abroad programs for expanding their global awareness.
Caitie Gehlhausen, ’20, CEO & Founder of Catie G and Lock-It
“I feel so honored to have attended a school that fully supported its students’ business endeavors. Being awarded first place in the Business Plan Competition, receiving $10,000 during my freshman year, allowed me to dedicate a budget towards marketing and promotion that would ultimately propel the Socket Lock-It to the next level in the phone accessory industry. I can’t thank HPU enough for the amazing opportunities.”
Caitie is pictured with her “Caitie G” purse, which aims to eliminate event-day insecurities – adhering to the clear bag policies while also protecting your privacy. Inside the purse is her other product, Lock-It, which offers both the convenience of a wallet and the functionality of a phone grip.
Our students shine in prestigious competitions, internationally showcasing their skills and knowledge. In the recent Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Global Student Competition, two HPU teams made it to the Top five finalists, with one team emerging as the overall winner! HPU was the only school with two teams represented among the finalists, beating out teams from renowned universities across North America, South America, and Australia.
Members
Entrepreneurship
This club is designed to inspire and accelerate young entrepreneurs across campus, helping them launch their products and companies.
Planning on Point Club (POP) Event Management Club
Members regularly complete professional certifications and attend regional and national conferences.
Future Hospitality Leaders
Hospitality Management Club
This club is geared towards Hospitality Management majors but open to all. Our plans are to explore different aspects of the hospitality industry through touring venues, listening to guest speakers, and networking.
Sigma Nu Tau
The foremost academic honor society solely dedicated to entrepreneurship. This club stands at the forefront of empowering students and faculty committed to advancing the field of entrepreneurship.
Selling Club
Open to students from all schools offering weekly sales skills training and preparing students, as a team, for national selling competitions with other students from around the world.
This annual competition, supported by Truist and the Center for Entrepreneurship at HPU, is open to all undergraduate students. Competitors submit their business plans and present before a panel of judges for the chance at winning start-up funding for their venture. The event provides student entrepreneurs with direct exposure to mentors and potential investors.
The School of Entrepreneurship Fellows Program is an exciting opportunity for students who are passionate about innovation and leadership. This four-year program allows you to work closely with likeminded peers and receive personal mentoring from a dedicated program director.
Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, event management, hospitality management, or sales, this program will help you stand out and succeed.
• Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset Development of Students
• Providing Experiential Learning Opportunities:
• Competitions
• Business starts
• Study Abroad/Maymester
• Internships
• Access to Innovators in Residence
The Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T Fellowship Program provides networking, leadership development, mentorship and coaching for female students interested in becoming CEOs, leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and trailblazers in their chosen careers.
• Research Opportunities
• Preparing Students for Post-Graduation Success
• Providing Mentorship Opportunities
• Deepening the Culture of Innovation on Campus
Successful applicants to the Siegfried Leadership Fellows Program will possess a high level of intellectual curiosity and be focused on pursuing academic and professional excellence. The program is highly selective and limited to the top students who want to be prepared to lead, give, serve and make a positive impact on our global community.
High Point University and the Earl N. Phillips School of Business (PSB) are deeply committed to the positive development and education of young people who possess the drive and potential to be successful, contributing members of society. We work with local industry professionals to make sure our curriculum is pertinent and state-ofthe-art. Our approach in all of our programs is to provide a practical, applied, experiential education utilizing a variety of teaching methods such as case studies, computer simulations and projects with the local business community. Activities outside the classroom are also viewed as critical elements of an education. Internships, career events, speakers, resume and interview workshops, etiquette dinners, and company tours all provide opportunities to work with the business community to obtain a practical, relevant education.
We are fortunate to be located in the furniture capital of the world, the City of High Point. Our region, the Piedmont Triad, has a population of over one million people. Numerous global companies have a large presence here including Ashley Furniture, Bank of America, Daimler Buses of North America, DT, EY, FedEx, HanesBrands, Honda Aircraft Company, KPMG, Krispy Kreme, Lincoln Financial Group, Old Dominion Freight Lines, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, PwC, Qorvo, VF Corporation and Volvo.
Plato S. Wilson Hall houses the W. Allen and Nancy Tilley Trading Room, providing faculty and students with the ability to analyze a vast array of financial and economic data. Access to this data and information supports critical decision-making processes. The trading room includes teaching and research technology, including financial databases, investment software, a stock ticker, dual-screen monitors, smart boards, a world clock and Bloomberg terminal.
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Business Analytics & Economics
• Finance
• Healthcare Management
• International Business
• Marketing
Keaton Geist, ’24, works for JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a Middle Market Banking and Specialized Industries Analyst in Dallas, Texas. He assists bankers in offering resources to mid-size businesses across the United States.
John Liebkemann, ’24, is a Business Analyst at Honda Aircraft Company in Greensboro, North Carolina. He contributes to product planning and development operations that will enable the company to make sound business decisions.
Morgan Pickney, ’24, is a Marketing & Communications Rotational Associate at TIAA in Charlotte, North Carolina. She will create and edit a variety of content, assist in campaign development and execution, and manage social media channels, including content creation and engagement.
Natalie Ryan, ’24, is a Trust Solutions Associate-Audit for PwC in New York City. As an associate on PwC’s Audit Services team in the Banking Capital Markets division, Natalie will be responsible for analyzing and reviewing the financial statements and regulatory compliance of major banking institutions.
Isaiah Tyler, ’24, is taking his skills to JPMorgan Chase in Dallas, Texas, as a Credit Risk Analyst. He will work on financial models to support financing transactions. Isaiah will also be collaborating with deal teams regarding business development strategy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
There are numerous opportunities for students to build great resumes and enhance their best qualities through leadership or membership in PSB organizations:
• Accounting Club
• Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity
• American Marketing Association
• Business Professionals of America
• Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society
• Floyd T. Craven Investment Club
• Healthcare Management Club
• HPU Economics Association
• National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
• PSB Student Advisory Board
• Real Estate Club
Phillips Hall is a 27,000-square-foot structure housing classrooms, computer labs, study rooms, boardrooms and faculty offices. It features tiered lecture rooms, a spacious auditorium and conference rooms and is modeled after some of the finest business schools in the country.
The Earl N. Phillips School of Business faculty members focus on student success. Whether a faculty member is teaching, advising, consulting or researching, the primary goal is always to expand the knowledge, improve skill sets and increase the value of our students in the marketplace. Our mission is directly tied to the success of our students. www.highpoint.edu/business
Oliver Stoutner, Assistant Professor of Management and Director of the Business Fellow Program, is a professor who challenges students and has a sense of humor, someone who provides a positive and safe classroom space for exploration and learning. He is rigorous but fair, creative but purposeful. His motivation is to help foster a classroom environment filled with collaborative learning where students are willing to share and emboldened to take risks. Dr. Stoutner earned his B.A. in Music from the University of Iowa, his M.B.A. from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Relying on his music background and talent, he had the opportunity to perform on stage with iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, along with HPU students and alumni at the PNC Arena in Raleigh as part of a 60-person chorus for the concert.
Cynthia Hanson, Zenon C.R. Hansen Professor of Marketing and Marketing Department Chair, has taught courses in both the MBA and undergraduate academic programs. With over 25 years of university experience, along with experience writing and placing local advertising, and working with marketing agencies, Dr. Hanson’s students have engaged in classroom consulting projects for local businesses and organizations. Her research interests are in advertising and consumer behavior with her works appearing in the Advances in Consumer Research, the Journal of Consumer Affairs, the Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, and the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising. Dr. Hanson earned her Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Maryland, her M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, and her B.A. with Honors in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Nassir Assar serves as associate professor of economics and M.B.A. program director. He teaches business analytics I, II, and the capstone course that are part of the business analytics concentration. He has taught a myriad of undergraduate and graduate business courses over his career including quantitative analysis and decision-making, finance reporting and analysis, advanced and elementary statistics, econometrics and forecasting, managerial economics, policy and strategy, labor economics and money, and banking and financial markets, to name a few. Dr. Assar earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University, an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Marshall University, and B.A. in Accounting from Iranian Banking College.
The major in accounting is offered to those students who seek preparation to become professional accountants. The degree provides students with the technical and analytical foundation for the discipline of accountancy. Students establish qualifications for careers with public accounting firms, financial institutions, commercial and industrial businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit institutions and other organizations. The accounting program combines general study courses with business and accounting courses, along with significant internship opportunities, to provide students with a total academic experience.
The business administration major provides a challenging curriculum carefully calibrated to meet specific goals and expectations. With 12 elective credits, students may select multiple course combinations in accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing, allowing them to tailor their programs to meet personal and professional goals. For example, a student who seeks a position in new product development may select project management, marketing research and marketing management as electives. A student interested in corporate recruitment and/or placement may choose to take human resources management and labor economics.
The finance major equips the student with qualitative and quantitative skills needed to measure, analyze and evaluate the value and performance of financial assets in multiple asset classes like fixed income and real estate. Students learn to apply this real-world knowledge of financial decision-making to the fields of personal wealth management, corporate finance and investment research. Integrated into the finance major are several experiential learning opportunities through national certification programs, such as Bloomberg and Envestnet Institute, the CFA Program and internships. This integrated approach to the major prepares the students for careers in finance and/or graduate study.
The Business Fellows Program provides students a four-year, experiential, team-based scholastic business experience with like-minded students. Working with dedicated directors at the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior levels, students are provided personal mentoring, networking, travel and opportunities to learn about business careers and the everchanging business world from scholars and practitioners. Students will engage in deep interactions with the business faculty from disciplines such as accounting, banking, finance, marketing, project management, and supply chain and then have opportunities to see how these disciplines are applied in real-world business applications. Business Fellows will also have priority access to High Point University’s Innovator in Residence and Entrepreneur in Residence — world leaders who have committed their time and expertise to help HPU students stand out in a crowded market. Business Fellows receive a $3,000 scholarship renewable annually based on academic performance and continued participation in the program. This is in addition to any Presidential or High Point Scholarship. Learn more at www.highpoint.edu/admissions/business-fellows
A degree in business analytics will provide students with the skills necessary to understand data and use it to inform major business decisions. Business analysts use methods like data mining, predictive analytics and statistical analysis to review and translate data into useful information, discover and anticipate trends, and ultimately help organizations make smarter, data-driven choices. Employees value the analytical skills, critical thinking abilities, and quantitative skills that business analytics majors possess. Courses offered cover topics ranging from accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations and supply chain management, quantitative analysis, and statistics.
Competitiveness in today’s business environment often requires executives and managers to think and act globally. The international business major prepares students to function in entry-level positions within firms selling or operating internationally or in domestic firms which compete with imports or have a culturally assorted customer base. Conducted in cooperation with the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, the program prepares the students culturally and professionally for this rapidly expanding field of employment.
Marketing is a complex and dynamic element of commerce, essential for the successful practice of business at all levels. Sole proprietorships and Fortune 500 companies alike must successfully implement and monitor their use of marketing in all important aspects, including the development and maintenance of product, price, placement and promotion. Students majoring in marketing receive exposure to these concepts and are given opportunities to develop marketing plans and strategies that will help them better understand the role marketing plays in the 21st century commercial environment. Students studying marketing have opportunities to learn about important marketing functions such as marketing communications, research and management, international marketing, and consumer behavior.
The degree in Healthcare Management will provide students with the skills and opportunity to become a business leader in healthcare but still have the option to work in other industries. Students will build a solid foundation in business with courses in managerial accounting, organizational behavior, and supply chain management. They will focus on broader topics specific to healthcare management responsibility including healthcare strategic management, leading and managing in healthcare organizations, healthcare delivery, funding of healthcare delivery, different national healthcare systems, and human resource management in health service organizations.
The Nido R. Qubein School of Communication uses top technology and facilities to educate students in a real-world setting. Students majoring in communication have 24-hour access to a state-of-the-art building equipped with the latest professional digital equipment. It includes a 4K TV studio, featuring a 24-foot video wall and advanced augmented reality and virtual production capabilities, a gaming and interactive media design lab with dedicated Esports Arena, digital editing bays, a student-run state-of-theart podcasting studio, an audio recording booth, a neuromarketing analysis lab, and multiple PC and Mac labs. The School of Communication offers majors in:
• Advertising, Public Relations and Strategic Communication
• Game Design
• Multimedia Journalism
• Media Production
• Social Media and Digital Communication
• Sports Media
• Sport Management
Each year, the top incoming communication majors are granted membership into High Point University’s Communication Fellows Program. The Communication Fellows Program has three tracks: media fellows, sport fellows, and publicity fellows. The fellows partake in real-world projects in a client/agency model, work together to develop and oversee unique research projects and travel domestically and internationally to examine trends in the media industry. They will graduate with a polished portfolio, resume and interviewing skills needed to launch a career in the communication industry of their choice.
Communication Fellows receive a $3,000 scholarship renewable annually based on academic performance and continued participation in the program. This is in addition to any Presidential or High Point Scholarship. www.highpoint.edu/communication/ communication-fellows/
The MA-CBL degree prepares graduate students, regardless of undergraduate degree, to succeed in tomorrow’s job market through focused learning centered around communication, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking that are vital in any career. Students develop business acumen around organizational performance, building and sustaining relationships, analytical problem solving, and persuasive communication strategies that create value for their organizations. To learn more visit www.highpoint.edu/cbl-masters.
Samantha Garrison, ’16, works as a senior manager of digital innovation at HBO in New York City. She is responsible for leading end-to-end development of brand marketing innovative campaigns, from narrative to creative ideation to development and execution of consumer experiences.
Riley Manion, ’23, is a production associate at Good Morning America, helping produce live entertainment segments. He started out as a production intern after graduating from HPU.
Grant Hines ’23, is a news desk assistant for NBC News, where he performs administrative, operational and editorial tasks for the NBC News Washington Bureau and MSNBC cable channel news. He also assists correspondents and anchors and produce news stories.
Emmy Beck-Aden, ’22 production coordinator for CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer in New York City. Before joining CNBC, she served as an East Coast Page at NBCUniversal where she served in production, business development, public relations and digital.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
HPU STUDENTS have access to world-renowned communicators and media pioneers, such as ABC News American Journalist and Author Byron Pitts, Boston Globe Sports Columnist Bob Ryan and Former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks Cynt Marshall.
The NQSC recognizes the importance of faculty and student relationships. Through close collaboration with faculty, students have the opportunity to produce radio programming, create news and sports programming for the on-campus television station, develop video games and simulations, and implement advertising and public relations campaigns for clients in the community. www.highpoint.edu/communication
Dr. Nahed Eltantawy, is the Interim Dean and Professor of Journalism at the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication at High Point University.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, her research focuses on media representations. She is a recipient of both the Fulbright Scholar Grant and the Fulbright Specialist Grant, including teaching journalism in Izmir, Turkey. As an educator and leader, Dr. Eltantawy is dedicated to preparing future communication professionals to navigate a global media landscape.
Amelia Guerrero, ’23, is a marketing specialist at Corning Incorporated. Her responsibilities include supporting the development and execution of marketing plans for key segments across the Americas region.
Dr. Sarah Vaala investigates media’s impact on youth and family health and decision-making, bringing pioneering research from academia and industry to her classroom.
With a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and post-doctoral work at Sesame Workshop’s Joan Ganz Cooney Center, she teaches research methods, health communication, and children’s media courses that challenge students to explore real-world challenges using scholarly tools of inquiry.
Professor Brian Heagney, Assistant Professor of Game Design, has been teaching at HPU since 2013, where he brings real-world expertise to the classroom. With a background in 2D and 3D design for simulations and gaming, he helps students hone their skills in HPU’s state-of-the-art Game Design Lab. Passionate about hands-on learning, Professor Heagney inspires students to push the boundaries of game design while exploring the latest technologies in the field.
Annie Borovskiy, ’24, works for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets as an inside sales representative. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management at HPU.
Thomas Hart, ’22, is an associate director at ESPN. Throughout his years at HPU, he spent countless hours working on many of the ESPN+ broadcasts. Commissioner.
Game Design students craft compelling interactive experiences. They are storytellers, critics, artists, and entrepreneurs who love playing, creating, and modifying games. Technologically savvy and artistically inclined, our students thrive in designing innovative games that engage and entertain. Additionally, our graduates have gone on to become game designers, level designers, and producers at AAA and indie game studios, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for successful careers in the gaming industry.
HPU is the ONLY university in North Carolina to earn this recognition!
Media Production majors develop professional skills using state-of-the-art equipment including our newly remodeled 4K TV studio, featuring a 24-foot video wall and advanced augmented reality and virtual production capabilities. Students work with cinema field cameras and 4K professional drones to create dynamic on-location content. Through hands-on experience producing narrative, informational, and entertainment content, students develop an entrepreneurial mindset, honing their abilities to innovate, make strategic decisions, and identify business opportunities. This comprehensive training prepares graduates to create compelling media that excels in today’s competitive landscape.
The Advertising, Public Relations, and Strategic Communication major blends traditional PR and advertising practices to help organizations achieve their goals. Students tackle organizational challenges in promotion, employee relations, and community engagement, using communication and social science theories to develop creative solutions. A standout feature of this major is the student-run HYPE Agency, where students apply their skills in real-world projects, currently collaborating with over 14 clients. This hands-on experience ensures graduates are ready to effectively communicate and drive success across various industries.
Students in our journalism major tell captivating stories for different audiences while gaining hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art TV studio, featuring a 24-foot 4K TV wall and advanced AR/VR production capabilities. Additionally, they participate in our weekly NewsPoint newscast, providing valuable exposure to live show environments. Naturally curious, they engage with leaders in politics, economics, sports, and entertainment, sharing these insights with readers, viewers, and listeners. Embracing new technologies, graduates find roles in newspapers, radio, television, and online media, leveraging their broad storytelling skills across various platforms.
The Social Media and Digital Communication major equips graduates with the skills needed to thrive in this rapidly evolving field. As social media transforms from a trend to a vital communication tool, businesses and entrepreneurs seek experts who can harness its power. Students develop expertise in written communication, video production, and graphic design—essential skills for the digital age. Additionally, they benefit from the student-run HYPE Agency, where they apply their social media skills to real-world projects, currently assisting over 14 clients. This hands-on experience ensures graduates are adept at creating and managing effective digital strategies in a variety of settings.
The Sports Media major lays a strong foundation for careers in sports communication. Students take advantage of our state-of-the-art TV studio, featuring a 24-foot 4K TV wall and advanced AR/VR production capabilities, to produce multimedia sports content. They engage in live pre-game shows and play-by-play experiences, honing their sports broadcasting techniques and storytelling through analysis and research. Participation in live event coverage and hands-on studio work prepares graduates for roles as on-air talent, producers, and behind-the-scenes professionals in radio, television, and online media.
The Sport Management major prepares students for dynamic careers in the sports industry. Combining communication and law courses with hands-on internships, students learn to navigate the business, financial, legal, and ethical aspects of sports. Opportunities for internships, club activities, industry conferences, and networking events enhance their knowledge and connections, readying them for roles in collegiate athletics, professional sports organizations, marketing agencies, and more.
1 OF 6 universities in the nation to be awarded a SEED grant in 2022!
$30+ MILLION for educator preparation awarded to HPU's Stout School of Education!
THE ONLY university in North Carolina to receive a SEED grant in 2022!
The Stout School of Education is nationally accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation and is ranked in the top 10% of educator preparation programs by the National Council of Teacher Quality.
All of our programs are designed to provide scholars authentic experiences that not only prepare them for the future of learning but enable them to co-create it. Faculty lean heavily on clinical experiences, simulations, experiential learning and problem-based learning to provide scholars with opportunities to think deeply and reflect upon their practice.
THE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS at High Point University have been approved by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation and the North Carolina State Board of Education. Based on data released from the most recent report of the North Carolina Educator Evaluation System, graduates of the HPU School of Education perform above the state average as beginning teachers for effectiveness in leadership, working with a variety of learners, knowing their content, facilitating learning in the classroom and contributing to the academic success of their students.
The Stout School of Education has developed a one-year, 10-12 credit student teaching experience that extends across the final two semesters of study. Using this model, students are afforded the opportunity to work in a classroom for an entire year, which allows them to assume more significant roles in the classroom earlier in student teaching. The student gradually takes on more responsibility in the classroom and eventually is responsible for teaching for the entire school day.
• Elementary Education
Health and Physical Education
Middle Grades Education
Special Education
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Dr. Claire Lambert, associate dean of the Stout School of Education, was a middle school English teacher and a school-based instructional coach before transitioning to higher education. Dr. Lambert is a member of the literacy faculty whose research interests include professional pathways of beginning teachers, writing identity negotiation and young adolescent writers. She is a frequent presenter at national conferences hosted by premier professional organizations such as the Literacy Research Association (LRA), American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE).
The 31,000-square-foot facility houses the Stout School of Education and the Department of Psychology in technologically advanced classrooms, computer labs and offices. It features a children’s resource library, methods labs that simulate an elementary classroom for literacy and STEM, and the Sheehy Specialized Curriculum Learning Lab. The LEED-certified building is also setting an example for modern-day energy conservation and green building standards.
Dr. Rick Overstreet, assistant professor of health and physical education, runs a Top Sports program for kids with physical and/or intellectual disabilities at HPU. He is an active member of SHAPE America, NCAAHPERDSM, the United States Center for Coaching Excellence, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and the National Outdoor Leadership School. Dr. Overstreet has had significant experience in athletic coaching in NCAA Division-I track and field/cross country at both Radford and High Point University.
The Education Fellows Program provides an integrated academic and experiential opportunity for students who demonstrate exemplary potential and a desire to impact the education profession. The four-year experience focuses on the themes of connection, engagement, challenge and leadership. It supports fellows as they work together in common courses to co-design innovative solutions to educational challenges that are manifested in schools and communities. Opportunities for undergraduate research, professional development and mentorship from faculty and experts within the field are key components of the EDU-Fellows program. Education Fellows receive a $3,000 scholarship renewable annually based on academic performance and continued participation in the program. This is in addition to any Presidential or High Point Scholarship. www.highpoint.edu/admissions/education-fellows
Dr. Tina Johnson, associate professor of leadership studies, ensures teachers and school leaders have the educational experiences to meet the rigors of schools. She serves as the Executive Director of the Siegfried Leadership Fellows program for undergraduates. Her goal is to impact HPU students with the knowledge and life skills needed to be successful in the field of education. Johnson retired from the Guilford County School system after serving for 22 years in the following positions: foreign language teacher, homeless services coordinator, instructional coach, and assistant principal.
Current students are eligible to apply in the junior year of undergraduate study for admission to the B.A. to M.Ed. program in either elementary education or special education: intellectual disabilities. These uninterrupted enrollment plans lead to a bachelor’s degree in elementary or special education and a master’s degree within a total of five years. Academically qualified students follow a prescribed plan of study, which includes enrollment in up to four specialized courses in their senior year that are applied to the graduate degree program upon completion of the undergraduate degree. This allows teacher candidates to complete approximately 25% of their graduate degree while doing undergraduate work. Most Master’s of Education candidates teach full time during their graduate year, allowing newly licensed teachers to have the support of professors they have worked with over the previous four years while engaging in the first year of teaching.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in health and physical education leads to licensure to teach health and physical education in grades K–12. Undergraduate courses focus on nutrition, health issues, motor development, and individual and team sports skill development and analyses. Emphasis is placed on the application of methodologies to the elementary and middle/secondary settings. The major in health and physical education requires 41 hours of coursework in educator preparation. Minors in health education and athletic coaching are also available.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in elementary education combines the most current body of knowledge with best teaching practices in K– 6 classrooms. Undergraduate courses focus on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Beginning freshman year, students enrolling in the elementary education program of study are afforded many opportunities to practice their skills in the surrounding school districts with which the Stout School of Education currently partners.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in middle grades education leads to licensure to teach social studies, language arts, science or mathematics to students in grades 6 to 9. Students opting to major in middle grades education will be required to choose one of the four discipline specializations and will take a minimum of 24 content hours of instruction in courses delivered through the departments of history, political science, English, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Undergraduate courses focus on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for each subject area, as well as instructional technology, instructional planning, literacy in the content areas and supporting a variety of learners. All students complete a semester-long intensive internship or student teaching experience in a local school.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in special education offers two licensure options to teach in the area of general curriculum or adapted curriculum K–12. Undergraduate courses focus on the teaching methodologies and practices needed to be effective in working with individuals with mild or moderate-severe disabilities in K–12 classrooms. Undergraduate courses focus on the policies and procedures governing the identification, placement and educational programming of special needs students, functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention and strategies for collaborating with general educators in inclusion classrooms. A minor in special
Discipline majors in secondary education (9–12) are available in biology, comprehensive science, English, social studies and mathematics. Students opting to pursue secondary education licensure will major in the academic department and follow the requirements for that major. Students wishing to pursue a teaching license in secondary education will complete the Minor in Secondary Education which includes the fulltime teaching experience during the final year. Students will be counseled primarily by the advisor within the major academic department and will be assigned a second advisor in the Stout School of Education. Successful candidates in the secondary licensure sequence will graduate with a degree in the content area and having satisfied all requirements for the Initial Teaching License.
Licensure to teach academically gifted students (K–12) is an add-on program requiring four courses (12 credit hours) which addresses the specific needs and characteristics of the gifted, trends and issues in gifted education, and strategies for differentiating instruction for accelerated learners. This licensure program is offered to teachers currently holding a North Carolina teaching license, as well as current undergraduate students pursuing an initial license through the Stout School of Education.
Students pursuing a Spanish education licensure (K–12) will major in Spanish through the Department of Modern Foreign Languages within the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences and follow the requirements for that major. Additional coursework in educator preparation will be required, which includes the semester-long student teaching experience. Students will be advised primarily by the advisor within the Modern Foreign Language Department and will be assigned a second advisor in the Stout School of Education. Successful candidates in the secondary licensure sequence will graduate with a degree in the content area and having satisfied all requirements for the Initial Teaching License.
In addition to coursework, field experiences and an intensive student teaching or internship program in a local school, Stout School of Education students practice the professional skills that will help them earn and maintain employment in the field of education. Students build key professional behaviors across multiple years, receiving feedback and setting goals with support of faculty, cooperating teachers in K-12 schools and HPU supervisors who work with candidates in the field. At the culmination of student teaching, candidates participate in career services workshops, a panel discussion with area school administrators, job fairs and a live mock interview with personalized feedback from a school administrator in a partner district.
• Exercise Science (B.S.)
• Health and Wellness (B.A.)
CSHS’S ADVANCED LABORATORIES
Dr. Dan Tarara is associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. He is the 2016 Meredith Clark Slane Distinguished Teaching-Service Award winner. His research interests and clinical expertise centers on upper-extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation in the overhand athlete. He has published manuscripts in international journals such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.
Congdon School of Health Sciences (CSHS) is home to several of the most advanced laboratory and research spaces in the world. The CSHS houses an incredible Human Anatomy Laboratory. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies houses the Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) and the Department of Physical Therapy houses both the Virtual Reality and Clinical Gait Analysis Laboratory (VRCGAL) and the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratory (HBAPL). Our clinical entity: Targeted Enhanced Athletic Movement (TEAM) translates the evidence produced by the HBAPL and by other scientists from around the globe into the clinical practice of injury prevention, athletic development and rehabilitation.
The CSHS has an inter-professional approach to education. Through excellence in teaching, scholarship, evidence-based clinical practice and community engagement, students will experience firsthand what it means to be a scholar and/or a patient-centered, compassionate health care professional, who is dedicated to life-long learning and an inter-professional approach to achieving optimal outcomes with the patients/clients in the communities they serve.
Our students are equipped for graduate programs and quantitative careers because, in addition to life skills, they have ample experience in problem-solving and deductive, analytical and statistical reasoning, plus computing and programming skills. With high-impact practices including faculty/ student research collaborations and presenting at major conferences, HPU is preparing health care professionals for the world as it is going to be.
Successful applicants to the Health Sciences Fellows program will have a declared major in the Department of Health and Human Performance. The program is highly selective and is limited to the top 40 incoming students that are majoring in either exercise science or health and wellness. Health Sciences Fellows will receive a $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP renewable annually based on academic performance and continued participation in the program.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Exercise science is a discipline dedicated to the study of the human body and its concomitant movement system. The academic focus of the program is necessarily interdisciplinary and, as such, is focused on the structural, functional, behavioral and sociocultural aspects of the human body.
The opportunities provided by the Department of Health and Human Performance are vast in a variety of fields such as athletic training, chiropractic medicine, corporate wellness, occupational therapy, personal training, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and strength and conditioning.
Health is a structural, functional and emotional state that is compatible with effective life as an individual and as a member of society. Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence. The academic focus of the program aligns with the pillars of lifestyle medicine across the lifespan including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connections and avoidance of risky substances.
The Bachelor of Arts in health and wellness will prepare students with the essential knowledge and skills to work within health care or the community to provide evidence-based support and leadership in the promotion of healthy behaviors with the goal of increasing health justice and decreasing health disparities. The major will also help prepare students for graduate school in public health, nutrition education or health management/ administration, among others.
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HPU’s health care programs offer innovative technologies and teaching methods. These programs have seen great success, achieved academic prestige and produced graduates who are filling crucial health care positions.
HPU nursing graduates will be safe, competent and professional nurse leaders and managers of care under the guidance of highly qualified faculty who are eager to share their knowledge and to guide future graduates into the nursing profession. HPU nursing graduates will not only be fully equipped for clinical practice and leadership but will also have premier life skills including business skills needed to lead and manage within variable health care industries. Students will have access to the latest technology, state-of-the-art resources, academic support and a learning environment that supports interprofessional learning and collaboration.
In order to best educate future professional nurse leaders and managers of care, the nursing program is designed to equip graduates with skills necessary to meet the complex health care needs of varied communities across the lifespan with a focus on Illness prevention, health promotion, and community engagement partnerships. Graduates will also be academically prepared as competitive applicants for future graduate-level programs as they continue with their personal and professional trajectories.
High Point University’s Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing is located in the Parkway Commons building. This facility is equipped with 50,000 square feet of state-ofthe art resources essential in preparing 21st century nursing graduates for the workforce. The Nursing Skills Lab has an abundance of manikins and simulators along with three high fidelity simulation suites to assure student preparation across the lifespan — maternal-newborn nursing/labor and delivery, pediatric nursing, and adult health nursing.
Dr. Racquel Ingram, RN, is the founding chair and dean of the Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing. She is an Amy V. Cockcroft Nurse Fellow in Nursing Leadership and brings 28 years of nursing experience, 26 years as a nurse educator with expertise in nursing curriculum and program development, and 22 years of nursing leadership. Dr. Ingram is serving a second 4-year term as chair of the North Carolina Board of Nursing where she oversees several committees. She also collaboratively participates in the regulation of nursing practice and policy implementation, in representation of nurse educators at both the BSN and graduate-degree levels.
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Prepare nurse generalists as safe and competent professional nurse leaders through education, scholarship, evidence-based practice and best practice models.
Equip nurse generalists with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities to plan, deliver, lead and manage personcentered care that focuses on illness prevention, health promotion and enhanced population health.
Kellie Brewer, ’24 Nurse at High Point Medical Center
“Prior to transferring to HPU, I attended a larger college where this level of individualized attention was lacking. The hands-on, personalized approach at HPU has made a significant difference in my educational experience, confirming that it was the right choice for me.”
Prepare nurse generalists to plan and coordinate quality, fiscally responsible care in collaboration with comprehensive members of the health care team for varied communities or populations across the lifespan.
Prepare nurse generalists as professionals with a commitment to lifelong learning, professional development, personal development and graduate education.
“HPU is filled with professors who love what they teach and want to see you succeed. The small class sizes and support from my professors gave me the perfect environment to grow into a confident student and leader. I’ve gained invaluable public speaking, interviewing and networking skills from immersive experiences I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
Students in the School of Nursing will have the opportunity to collaborate with these Congdon School of Health Sciences departments:
• Athletic Training
• Exercise Science
• Medical Sciences
• Physical Therapy • Physician Assistant Studies
Opportunity to also collaborate with HPU’s Dental School and Law School!
• Criminal Justice
• English
• French and Francophone Studies
• History
• Individualized Major
• International Relations
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Religion
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Spanish
Jacob Lancaster, ’20, majored in religion at HPU and benefited from faculty who cared about his success. During his senior year, he landed a full-tuition scholarship to attend Duke University’s divinity school. During his undergraduate experience, HPU faculty helped Lancaster land an internship at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. He also found a second home in HPU’s Chapel and with the Board of Stewards, a student group that helps shape the weekly worship services and organize service projects. Thanks to these HPU experiences, Lancaster is continuing his dream to become a Methodist pastor.
50+ study abroad programs for HPU students to live and learn about a variety of cultures!
As the liberal arts heart of High Point University, the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences houses the foundational disciplines of human knowledge. Our students develop habits and skills in critical reflection, ethical deliberation, and aesthetic appreciation that equip them for lifelong learning and success in a wide range of professions. Our fascinating classes and cutting-edge degree programs give students the opportunity to discover and explore more than one major or to supplement their primary course of study with an interdisciplinary minor. The school’s study abroad, undergraduate research, and service learning programs combine to furnish students with the knowledge and life skills they need to explore the world, grow themselves, and create positive change!
MISSION:
Together, Humanities and Behavioral Sciences faculty and students work to bring practicality, imagination, and depth to how we think, feel, and act.
Humanities and Behavioral Sciences faculty unite a variety of disciplines that generate new research, scholarship and creative expression concerned with how and why shared human experiences matter.
That work forms the basis of our innovative teaching and mentorship and of our commitment to discovering durable, practical ways to create and share knowledge about ourselves and others. Our methods instill curiosity, awareness, and resilience as core habits. These habits are foundational to the creative problem-solving, logical reasoning and clear communication necessary for finding significance and success within a strong ethical framework, now and in a dynamic future.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
The Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at High Point University is committed to preparing students to be effective communicators within our global community and fostering awareness of cultural differences. Majors in French/Francophone studies and Spanish are offered, as well as minors in Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish, plus several levels of instruction in other languages. The department works closely with programs across the university, offering the language courses required for completion of the international business major and K–12 certification, as well as language courses to complement majors in international relations.
The sociology and anthropology major at High Point University provides students with a global understanding of human behavior. Through coursework and hands-on learning experiences, students apply sociological and anthropological theories and methodologies to critically assess situations, beliefs, policies and practices. The program’s emphasis on practical application means that students also learn how to identify solutions to social problems and facilitate positive change at both the organizational and societal levels.
In this picture, you see High Point University students who toured historically and culturally significant sites in Scotland as part of a “Maymester” literature course. The class regularly visits Edinburgh, Abbotsford, Ashton Lane Glasgow, Peebles, Melrose, Alloway and Dumfries and enjoys lectures by renowned scholars of Scottish literature at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Other global education experiences are taking students to China, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Peru and Guatemala. The list is only limited by the size of the planet and the imagination.
POPULAR MINOR: FORENSIC SCIENCE
POPULAR MINOR: JEWISH STUDIES
High Point University’s major in religion fosters reflective engagement with some of the world’s most powerful texts, practices, institutions, and ideas. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in religion prepares students to pose important questions and empowers them with the critical thinking skills to succeed in a variety of professions and vocations. Students become global citizens by learning how religion shapes human behavior, politics, policies, and economies around the world. Hands-on experiences include internships, research, service-learning, and study abroad courses. The curriculum is organized into three areas: biblical studies, theology/ history, and world religions.
High Point University’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in criminal justice enables students to explore fundamental questions about human behavior, the nature of crime and the rationales for punishment, treatment and rehabilitation. The program combines engaging classroom lectures with opportunities for students to apply textbook principles to scenarios typically faced by criminal justice professionals. Hands-on opportunities include mock crime scene investigations and mock trials. Students are challenged to explore strategies for addressing complex social problems such as violence, drugs, gangs, sexual assault, juvenile delinquency and terrorism. The curriculum includes coursework in human behavior, social policies, forensics, counseling, trials, rehabilitation, research and management. These opportunities prepare graduates for a wide range of justice-related careers, including federal investigations and homeland security, state and city police work, legal careers, forensics, social work, and law or graduate school.
The history major at High Point University prepares students for a changing world by helping them understand their place within the broader human experience. Students develop essential skills in research, analysis, writing and communications that will enrich not only their minds but also prepare them for virtually any career, from business and the law to academia. History students learn to think critically, analyze complex issues and discover meaningful insights.
Twenty-first century professions demand a more sophisticated understanding of texts and the contexts that produce them. High Point University’s Department of English prepares students to become creative thinkers and communicators who can thrive in a global information economy. Students may major in English or choose a minor in literature, creative writing, or public and professional writing. All classes emphasize the research and evaluation of information, ethical practice and the human connection achieved through reading and writing.
High Point University’s interdisciplinary major in international relations helps students develop a deep and nuanced understanding of the cultural, economic and political forces that shape relations among different regions and nations. The program combines perspectives of four disciplines: economics, foreign languages, history and political science. Majors develop one or more areas of expertise and are invited to pursue original research and internship opportunities with a variety of international organizations, institutions or agencies.
The Individualized Major Program allows selected students to plan an individualized educational program that stands apart from the established majors currently available. Undergraduate students may propose a program and offer appropriate and proper documentation to the Committee on Individualized Majors, which will determine acceptance on the submitted program’s merits. If accepted, the student will be assigned an advisor and assisted in working out a contracted individualized major. Any major program for which a proper pattern of studies exists at High Point University will be considered.
Political science majors develop the transferable research, writing and analytical skills necessary to excel in a changing world. Coursework includes seminars that examine how political scientists analyze and propose solutions to social, economic and political problems. Other courses engage students with many facets of American and international politics. Senior political science majors complete an in-depth research project in an advanced seminar. Additional opportunities include off campus study in the U.S. and abroad, internships, service learning, and work as research assistants on HPU and government-funded projects.
By studying philosophy at High Point University, students learn the critical thinking skills required to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and develop a deeper understanding of the world, preparing them for careers in law, business, the sciences, education, and beyond. Students have requirements in critical thinking, history of philosophy, and ethics in courses on topics such as philosophy of science, political philosophy, applied ethics, logic, and more. Senior philosophy majors participate in an advanced-level seminar led by a faculty on their area of expertise, where students conduct in-depth research, sharpen their analytical skills, and apply philosophical concepts to real-world issues.
POPULAR MINOR: LEGAL STUDIES
Students in High Point University’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program in psychology have the opportunity to develop a solid foundation in the discipline, with both introductory and in-depth exploration into subfields of psychology including biopsychology, human development, abnormal psychology, perception, cognition, social and personality. With a strong emphasis on research methodology, psychology majors learn to synthesize information, think critically and adapt to the changing demands of research and experimentation. Students also have the opportunity to pursue research-focused mentorship with faculty and complete internships.
POPULAR MINORS: NEUROSCIENCE & CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
High Point University’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy is housed with the Congdon School of Health Sciences in a 224,000-square-foot state-of-the-art complex. Students appreciate the space that includes advanced biomedical research areas and standardized client space that records students’ interactions with simulated patients.
THE FRED WILSON SCHOOL OF PHARMACY fosters the acquisition of knowledge and skills enabling students to design and manage medication therapies. The education students receive positions them to launch their careers in a variety of practice settings or pursue advanced clinical or academic training. Students are able to earn their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) after six rigorous years of education—two years of pre-professional and four years of professional school. High Point University’s Pharmacy Pre-Professional Track is designed to prepare you for acceptance into the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. With your success as our top priority, this track provides opportunities to engage in academic and hands-on experiences that will help build your confidence and knowledge while simultaneously expanding your academic skill set.
High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603-3499, Phone: 312.664.3575, Fax: 866.228.2631, Website: www.acpe-accredit.org.
HPU’s School of Pharmacy has taken a unique integrative approach in the design of the professional curriculum. The blending of basic and clinical sciences and the applicationbased learning experiences are designed to consolidate information into patient-oriented actions that will create a rich learning environment for students. The close collaboration of faculty throughout the curriculum results in basic pharmaceutical science material (i.e. medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and pharmaceutics) being taught in parallel with corresponding clinical content and joined together throughout the curriculum by application-based courses. This curricular design and faculty collaboration drives the integration of the basic pharmaceutical sciences and the applied clinical sciences, helping students assimilate all aspects of their training into patient care plans. Curricular electives will be provided in the form of certificate programs designed to create deep knowledge expertise of selected disease states while teaching a process of learning that can be used throughout the student’s professional career.
To be a premier school of pharmacy advancing education and research that prepares compassionate and inspired health care leaders for the local and global community.
There are varied opportunities in the profession of pharmacy including:
• Community Practice
• Hospital and Institutional Practice
• Managed Care Pharmacy
• Medical and Scientific Publishing
• Academic Pharmacy
• Long-Term Care or Consulting Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Government Agencies
• Hospice and Home Care
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Trade or Professional Associations
• Uniformed (Public Health) Services
• Clinical Outpatient Disease Management
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice
To provide an extraordinary pharmacy education through the integration of biomedical and clinical sciences that enables future pharmacists to excel in a dynamic health care environment as a member of the health care team.
1. A six-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree: two years pre-pharmacy and four years professional curriculum
2. Strong foundation in the basic sciences supported and integrated with the clinical curriculum
3. Opportunities for hands-on research in substance use disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, oncology and pharmaceutics
4. Instruction via simulated live patient encounters
5. Unprecedented access to innovators and entrepreneurs in residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University
6. Focused NAPLEX and MPJE preparation resources and practice exams are provided free of charge to all students
7. Exceptional opportunities for clinical rotations throughout the program
8. Longitudinal patient experiences beginning in the second semester
9. Collaborative interdisciplinary training with physician assistant and physical therapy students
10. Specialty certificate training in common diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, long-acting injectables and contraception as well as immunization training
11. Instructional emphasis on patient and inter-professional communication
12. Emphasis on innovative problem-solving skills
13. Low student-to-faculty ratio
14. No impersonal video conference courses
HPU’s Pharmacy program is a six-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The program only requires two pre-pharmacy years to apply for the professional program leading to licensure. It is not necessary to have completed a baccalaureate degree because students have the prerequisite knowledge to be successful in HPU’s pharmacy program and the profession of pharmacy after these two years of prepharmacy coursework. Since students are not required to complete a four-year degree to be eligible to apply, they save tuition and living expenses for two years and gain two extra years of pharmacist earning potential.
With your success as our top priority, HPU’s Pharm.D. program provides opportunities for you to engage in academic and hands-on experiences that will help build your knowledge and skills while simultaneously accumulating a wealth of patient care experience. Students learn from both discovery scientists and clinicians, recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields, as you become the medication therapy expert.
Current high school seniors who enroll as undergraduates at HPU and designate a major of pre-pharmacy are eligible for the FWSOP Guaranteed Admission Program. If all FWSOP Guaranteed Admissions Program Requirements are met, HPU undergraduate students with a designated major of Pre-Pharmacy will matriculate to the FWSOP without competing via general admissions and their deposit fee will be waived. Transfer students who are working toward completing the required pre-requisites may still apply via the general admissions process using the PharmCAS application to the FWSOP but are not eligible for the HPU Pre-Pharmacy major Guaranteed Admission Program
FWSOP Guaranteed Admission Program Requirements:
• Enrollment in the HPU pre-pharmacy major as a high school senior
• Successful completion of the approved 65 credit hour course plan during two years of undergraduate studies with guidance from the HPU Pre-Pharmacy Major Success Coach and FWSOP Advisor. If college coursework from high school is eligible then course substitutions may be used with approval.
• Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA at HPU with no grade below a “C-”.
• Required membership in the HPU Pre-Pharmacy Club. Students are strongly encouraged to hold a leadership role.
• Complete an electronic application using PharmCAS and submit it by November 1st of the year prior to beginning the pharmacy program (additional prerequisites may still be in progress).
• Engage in professional behavior at all times. Any institutional or legal sanction will result in dismissal from the Guaranteed Admission Program.
The School of Pharmacy includes medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and pharmaceutics laboratories with state-of-the-art molecular biological equipment and analytical instrumentation, cell culture and microscopy facilities as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. Unique teaching spaces include an unmatched Pharmacy Skills lab and a standardized client suite where students’ interactions with patients are recorded to allow for critiquing.
Centrifugal sieve: Students will use this to prepare powder blends to compress into tablets.
Powder blender: Mixes powders intimately to provide product content uniformity.
High-shear granulator: Where the granulation takes place by mixing water with powders to provide larger granules.
Fluid bed dryer: Dries wet granulation by blowing hot dry air up through the powder bed.
Tablet press: Compresses the powder mixtures and granulations into pharmaceutical tablet dosage forms.
Tablet film coater: This applies a film coat to compressed tablets to either protect or provide elegance to tablet dosage forms.
DIFFERENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE PHARM.D. PROGRAM AT HPU
• The smallest class size in the state of North Carolina by design
• A personalized, faculty-focused experience where you’re truly valued
High performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC’s): Three HPLC machines will be used to evaluate content of drug in the tablet solution.
Balances and scales: Used to weigh smaller to larger amounts of drug and ingredients in preparing tablets and capsules.
Lab scale freeze dryer: Freeze dries the solutions of drugs and sugars, removing water to render the drug completely dry without heat.
RotoVap: Chemical solution dryer that removes solvent by heat and vacuum to isolate drug crystals.
Miscellaneous test equipment: Students will use these pieces of equipment to evaluate the quality of the products they’ve made. They include a Carver hydraulic press, tablet friabilator, tablet disintegration tester and tablet dissolution apparatus.
• All in-person classes with no satellite campuses
• Centrally located in the Triad Region of North Carolina, with ready access to several large academic medical centers
• An intentionally designed curriculum that equips graduates with the transferable life skills employers most highly value in new pharmacy graduates
• Opportunity to obtain specialty certificate training in selected disease states such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease
• Standardized live patient interactions beginning in the first semester prepare students for patient care
• Interdisciplinary, collaborative team approach to health care
• Opportunities to conduct biomedical research in funded laboratories with nationally and internationally recognized scientists
• One month licensing board preparatory course the semester before graduation
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Physics
From field research on fire history in forests to studying the physical adaptations of plants and the molecular microbiology of infectious diseases, HPU biology majors explore a dynamic array of courses and experiences. One-on-one interactions with outstanding faculty, summer research experiences and internships are only a few of the opportunities available to students pursuing a degree in biology at HPU.
Why should I major in biology at HPU?
• Jobs in health care consistently rank among the highest in-demand jobs in the U.S. Our health science track can prepare you with the coursework needed for these professional programs.
• Coronavirus/Covid-19. Cancer. Climate Change. Through biology, you can be part of the solution to some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• In the midst of our planet’s sixth major mass extinction, the demand for citizens equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve current and future ecological and environmental challenges is greater than ever.
• Biology sharpens critical thinking and analytical skills, which are applicable to a variety of professional positions, even outside of the sciences.
• Our most motivated majors can participate in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Alliance experience in first-year laboratory courses. Students isolate viruses from soil, obtain their genetic data, and present or publish their findings to the scientific community.
The mission of High Point University’s Wanek School of Natural Sciences is to foster in students the knowledge, talent and leadership skills that will allow them to make significant contributions to our understanding of the natural world; to help solve problems related to the changing earth, human health and the environment; and to distinguish themselves in their professions as creative, ethical leaders who are socially engaged, historically informed and who value a variety of thought.
With a spirit of exploration and engagement through rigorous laboratory research, chemistry majors are anchored in experiential learning opportunities that help them explore and create a new knowledge of molecular-scale phenomena.
Within a community of more than 450 scientist scholars from five different disciplines, our faculty are internationally recognized for their scientific expertise, published research and innovative approaches to undergraduate education.
Why should I major in chemistry at HPU?
• Chemistry majors will be relied upon to resolve many problems of the world such as green energy, eco-friendly food production, waste management and recycling.
• Chemists are responsible for many of the life-saving drugs currently available.
• Chemistry connects physical, life and applied sciences thus preparing you for a variety of career paths. Often considered the central science, chemistry is essential for understanding biology, geology, physics and astrophysics.
• Chemistry as an undergraduate major allows you to explore many research projects before confirming your graduate or professional school path.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Undergraduate research with faculty is highly valued in our school. Some examples of faculty research areas include:
• Astronomy and the standard cosmological model
• Aging and related conditions
• Antibiotic and anti-bacterial biofilm strategies
• Biomedical and musical acoustics
• Developmental genetics and phenotype plasticity in butterflies and fruit flies
• Drug discovery and the microbiology of infectious diseases
• Environmental influences on concussions and dementia
• Injury and repair of the nervous system
• Molecular mechanisms of embryonic development in zebrafish
• Nuclear fission
• Plant physiological adaptations to environmental stress
Students doing research with faculty in the natural sciences have the opportunity to present their research at on-campus symposia or off-campus at conferences across the U.S. Our students are consistently presenting at the annual meetings of the American Chemical Society and the Association of Southeastern Biologists, as well as the Society for Neuroscience and the American Physical Society.
HPU’s Department of Chemistry earned the ACS (American Chemical Society) certification approval for their Bachelor of Science in chemistry degree by the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Professional Training.
This certification recognizes that HPU’s chemistry program provides academic excellence to students, growing their intellectual, experimental and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals.
The B.S. degree in biochemistry incorporates math, physics, biology and chemistry, offering breadth as well as depth in preparation for advanced study in medicine, the health sciences and biomolecular processes.
Biochemistry majors are encouraged to engage within and beyond the sciences to develop critical thinking and the ability to access and analyze information and ideas across disciplines. They often apply for undergraduate research programs or internships.
Students have presented research at the ACS Meeting, SERMACS, Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium, and participated in the National Science Foundation sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduate Summer Internships.
Dr. Meghan Blackledge and Dr. Heather Miller, both associate professors of chemistry, were awarded HPU’s first patent, a significant milestone in the university’s research trajectory. This patent describes the use of loratadine, the active ingredient in Claritin, to block the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This area of research is one of many in which HPU undergraduate students have the opportunity to work with faculty.
The neuroscience program provides students with interdisciplinary curricular options that range from the generalized to the specialized and that prepare them for a wide variety of post-baccalaureate goals within their field (e.g., careers in biomedical research; professional programs in the health sciences, such as medical school). Within our curricula, special emphasis is placed on science as a process, supported by a conceptual understanding of basic principles in neuroscience. To this end, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities are abundant, both within classrooms and teaching laboratories and through original research.
The careers available to a student with a B.S. in neuroscience overlap significantly with careers available to students with either a biology or psychology degree. Below are some examples of career opportunities for students graduating with a BS in neuroscience.
Behavioral Neuroscience Track
• Psychometrist
• EEG Technologist
• Public Policy
• Residential Counselor
• Clinical Research Assistant
• Special Education Assistant
• Patient Care Assistant
• Law Enforcement
• Advertising/Marketing
Neurobiology Track
• Laboratory Technician
• Medical Health Care Manager
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Technician
• Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
• Sales Engineer
• Natural Sciences Manager
Both Tracks
• Pharmaceutical Sales
• Science Writer
• Science Support
• Nonprofit Work
• Health Educator
• Forensic Science Technician
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist
• Lab Animal Care Technician
Physics is the study of the universe, from fundamental particles to galaxies and beyond. Its language is mathematics, its domain is the universe and its applications are as varied as science itself. A primary goal of physics is to discover the underlying laws that govern matter and its interactions. HPU’s Department of Physics believes that students should approach their university education as scientists—by posing interesting questions and exploring new answers. Classes, lab experiences and undergraduate research projects with faculty equip physics majors with a strong understanding of fundamental physics.
In their first or second year, physics majors take an introductory course in undergraduate research where they complete an independent research project with a faculty member. Additionally, every physics course includes at least two of the following experiential learning components in which students apply what they are learning, develop critical thinking skills and demonstrate problem solving: experimental physics in the laboratory, computer programming and computational modeling, or a culminating project that is experimental, computational, or theoretical.
If you are looking to enter the workforce right after graduation, your degree will open up a range of possibilities. Physics graduates work in such assorted fields as engineering, computer or information systems, medical technology, technical writing, finance and education. If you choose graduate school, an undergraduate degree in physics is excellent preparation for graduate studies in a number of fields including astronomy, earth and atmospheric science, biophysics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and nuclear engineering, to name just a few. With strong problem-solving skills and theoretical understanding, experience in designing and carrying out experiments, and extensive application of computational modeling and computer programming, our graduates are prepared for a variety of careers and graduate programs.
The Natural Sciences Fellows Program will enrich the academic experiences of students who show exceptional promise by providing them with unique, personalized, professional development training that prepares them to be leaders in their field. Key elements of the program include one-onone coaching on professionalism with award-winning faculty mentors; backstage access to networking opportunities with world-renowned scientific researchers, inventors and physicians; priority access to research opportunities within the natural sciences and leadership roles as peer mentors within their undergraduate programs and as innovators within the broader scientific community.
As a result of participation in this unique program, Natural Sciences Fellows will distinguish themselves from their peers as they enter the workforce or graduate/professional programs as poised, confident leaders who have mastered both the hard and soft skills that ensure success in their profession.
Students pursuing an undergraduate natural science degree have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on an eight-week summer research project. Students live on the HPU campus, interact with other students (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience and physics majors) in the program and have the opportunity to present the results of their work at the end of the program during a summer symposium. The Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS) is organized by the Wanek School of Natural Sciences in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works.
The Wanek School of Natural Sciences is a $65 million, 128,000-square-foot facility that features four stories of innovative lab and classroom space, as well as the Culp Planetarium. The 6,000-square-foot planetarium and lecture space includes 125 seats and a 50-foot dome with a 4K projection screen and a state-of-the-art surround sound system. The facility is equipped with programming to teach astronomy, earth science, anatomy and a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lessons for university students, as well as elementary, middle and high school-age groups in the community.
The Caine Conservatory provides 15,000 square feet of space for students and faculty to conduct botanical research and propagate plants for the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Gardens. A classroom, working greenhouse, the Butterfly Cafe and planting display space are housed in the facility.
The Wanek School of Natural Sciences, Culp Planetarium and Caine Conservatory are part of High Point University’s $250 million Innovation Corridor. Since 2005, HPU has invested $250 million in STEM programs, faculty and facilities. The result is a half-mile stretch of campus that HPU’s scientists call home. The Innovation Corridor is one of the university’s single largest investments and reflects HPU’s commitment to preparing students for the world as it’s going to be.
• Actuarial Science
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity
• Data Analytics and Statistics
• Data Science
• Electrical Engineering
• General Engineering
• Mathematical Economics
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronic Engineering
The Webb School of Engineering serves as an anchor for HPU’s Innovation Corridor, which represents a $250 million investment in faculty, technology and facilities that foster the university’s STEM programs. Recently renovated to transform classrooms into spaces equipped for experiential learning, it’s typical to find students utilizing the Maker Space working on class assignments or experimenting with the state-of-the-art equipment, from 3D printers to computer-controlled routers, working in the cybersecurity lab to practice thwarting cyber threats or working on class assignments and faculty-student research in the math learning lab.
Deliver world-class educational opportunities to students in computing, engineering and mathematical sciences.
The Webb School of Engineering is dedicated to providing an extraordinary education with accomplished faculty in engineering, computing and mathematics through the delivery of an innovative, hands-on and competitive curriculum that prepares graduates for a rewarding career or admission into graduate school. The Webb School of Engineering is committed to:
• Providing an academically rich environment that encourages intellectual curiosity
• Developing technical competence within a liberal arts framework
• Fostering independent thought and critical thinking to solve modern engineering, computing and mathematical problems in an ethical, socially-responsible and sustainable manner
Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and HPU's Innovator in Residence, met with engineering and robotic students to share his innovative experiences and the importance of life skills and values. He also reviewed designs for a lunar rover presented by the robotic team's president.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Department of Computer Science
Dr. Michael Oudshoorn, Chair
Dr. Sarah Caudill, Assistant Professor
Dr. Luis Cueva Parra, Associate Professor
Dr. Mike Dalton, Assistant Professor
Dr. Kedrian James, Assistant Professor
Ms. Shawna Summers, Instructor
Dr. Lloyd Williams, Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Claire McCullough, PE, Chair and Professor
Dr. Doug Isenberg, Associate Professor
Dr. Sean Johnson, Assistant Professor
Dr. Eve Klopf, Associate Professor
Dr. Shirley Nicholas, Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Brian Bernard, Chair and Associate Professor
Dr. Jenny Sharpe, Chair and Professor
Ms. Julia Christman, Instructor
Dr. Edward Fuselier, Associate Professor
Dr. Niloofar Ghorbani, Associate Professor
Ms. Melissa Glass, Instructor
Dr. Adam Graham-Squire, Associate Professor
Dr. Robert Harger, Professor
Dr. Jakub Michel, Assistant Professor
Dr. Dustin Nicols, Assistant Professor
Mrs. Patricia O’Connor, Instructor
Dr. Karen O’Hara, Associate Professor
Dr. Adam Pennel, Assistant Professor
Dr. Omar Saldarriaga-Ortiz, Assistant Professor
Mr. Tremaine Skeen, Instructor
Dr. Pujita Sapra, Assistant Professor
Dr. Brielle Spencer-Tyree, Assistant Professor
The actuarial science major at High Point University was specifically designed in consultation with local actuaries to give students the best possible preparation for an actuarial career. Courses in finance, economics and statistics have been accepted by the Society of Actuaries as satisfying its VEE requirements in corporate finance, micro- and macroeconomics, and applied statistics.
The goal of the program is to produce graduates who have passed the first two actuarial exams (probability and financial mathematics), completed the Society of Actuaries VEE requirements and have developed through their coursework the skills to succeed in the actuarial profession. Through classroom studies and internships, students are equipped with the skills necessary for the ever-changing global marketplace.
A Bachelor of Science in computer engineering prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware, embedded systems, software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks. A computer engineering graduate is able to design and implement a computer system for general purpose or embedded computing. Students learn to incorporate best practices and state-of-the-art solutions into a variety of computing problems in an ethical and socially-responsible manner. This includes systems which have both hardware and software components, whose design requires a well-defined interface between the two, and the evaluation of the associated trade-offs. Graduates will have strong communication skills and are capable of communicating with a range of audiences, as well as the ability to work as a productive member of an interdisciplinary team.
The primary goal of the computer science major is to develop the aptitudes and analytical skills required for the use and understanding of computer science. The curriculum is designed to allow exceptional students to excel in their area of interest. The professors strive to guide the students in discovery and learning of new ideas, rather than just presenting carefully structured theories. Applications are used throughout to illustrate and create new material. Most topics are developed by means of interplay between applications, problem-solving and theory. Early courses are designed to appeal to a broad audience of university students, while higher-level courses are more focused.
The primary goal of the cybersecurity major is to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities required in the cybersecurity workforce. The coursework is grounded in computer science and students first gain a thorough understanding of the technical underpinnings of the discipline. After learning information security basics, students will move into areas such as cryptography, operating systems, networks, penetration testing, malware and reverse engineering. A state-of-the-art laboratory allows students to gain hands-on experience with modern software tools on a variety of virtual machines. Co-curricular activities such as cyber competitions allow students to enhance and refine their skill sets.
The ability to collaborate in order to help others find answers to their questions lies at the heart of data analytics. Data analytics informs fact-based decision-making by combining advancements in technology, mathematical and statistical reasoning, and machine learning methodologies to identify patterns and make predictions using large existing data sets. An effective data analyst not only has the ability to discover structure within the data but also excels at communicating ideas and results to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge. At HPU, our analytics students take courses in statistics, mathematics and computer science. The data analytics and statistics skills learned in our program are applied to jobs in industry, government, banks, academia and as consultants.
A Bachelor of Science in Data Science is a specialized degree that equips students with skills in mathematics, statistics, programming, and data analysis to extract insights and solve complex problems using large datasets. The curriculum focuses on areas such as machine learning, data visualization, database management, and predictive analytics, preparing graduates to interpret data and drive decision-making across industries. The demand for data scientists is projected to grow rapidly, with increasing reliance on data-driven strategies in business, healthcare, technology, finance, and government. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting job growth for data scientists to increase by 35% from 2022 to 2032. Data scientists can work in roles such as data analyst, machine learning engineer, business intelligence specialist, or artificial intelligence developer in industries ranging from tech companies and healthcare organizations to financial institutions and research labs.
A Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering is a professional degree program that prepares students for careers in electrical engineering. The degree provides students with the necessary technical managerial, science and mathematical skills to enter the workforce in the design, application, installation, manufacturing, operation and maintenance of a wide range of electrical systems including, but not limited to, communications systems, control systems, power engineering, RF circuit design, semiconductor fabrication and characterization, and more. Students gain hands-on experience throughout the program and learn the foundational electronics, mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing necessary to solve real-world problems in an ethical and socially responsible manner. Graduates will have strong communication skills and are capable of communicating with a range of audiences, as well as the ability to work as a productive member of an interdisciplinary team.
A Bachelor of Science in General Engineering is a multidisciplinary degree that provides a broad foundation in engineering principles across multiple fields, including mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer engineering. This degree emphasizes problem-solving, systems thinking, and the ability to work across a variety of engineering disciplines, making it ideal for students interested in a versatile career path. The demand for general engineers is steady, as their wide-ranging skill set is valuable in adapting to various industries and roles. Graduates can work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, energy, technology, and consulting, as well as in project management and systems integration roles. The growth in demand for general engineers aligns with advancements in technology and the need for professionals who can tackle interdisciplinary challenges, particularly in fields like renewable energy, infrastructure development, and automation.
The mathematics major promotes excellence in critical thinking and mathematical reasoning through creative inquiry and problem solving, creating an environment that allows students to discover the beauty and power of mathematics and its applications. The mathematics major prepares graduates for graduate school and careers as a mathematician. Students apply learned mathematical knowledge to jobs in industry, academia, K-12 or as consultants. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow 31% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Top employers of mathematicians are the federal government and scientific research and development companies.
Economics is no longer as simple as “supply and demand.” Economics is becoming an increasingly technical field that now makes use of almost every area of mathematics. A solid background in mathematics will give those wishing to excel in economics-related professions a distinct advantage over the competition.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences at HPU offers a B.S. in mathematical economics for students wishing to study the deep interplay between mathematics and economic theory. Techniques mastered in mathematics, statistics and economics courses provide the tools necessary to gain a rich understanding of economic models and the confidence to apply mathematics to real-world applications.
A Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is a versatile degree that focuses on designing, analyzing, and improving mechanical systems and processes. Students gain expertise in areas like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, robotics, and materials science, preparing them to solve real-world engineering challenges. The demand for mechanical engineers is projected to grow steadily, driven by advancements in automation, renewable energy, and manufacturing technologies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for mechanical engineers is expected to grow by about 4% through 2032. Mechanical engineers can work in a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, robotics, manufacturing, biomedical devices, and consulting, making it one of the most adaptable and soughtafter engineering careers.
A Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering is an interdisciplinary degree that combines principles of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and control systems to design and develop smart, automated, and efficient technologies. This field emphasizes creating systems like robotics, autonomous vehicles, smart factories, and advanced manufacturing processes. With the growing integration of automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics across industries, the demand for mechatronic engineers is expected to grow significantly, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, industrial automation, and renewable energy. According to industry trends, jobs in mechatronics are projected to grow at a faster-than-average pace, particularly in sectors like aerospace, automotive, healthcare, industrial automation, and renewable energy. Mechatronic engineers are highly sought after in cutting-edge fields, working in roles that bridge traditional engineering disciplines to create innovative solutions.
HAVE YOU MET THESE
Regardless of their major, all HPU students have the chance to learn from and interact with these industry game changers.
Steve Wozniak
Apple Computer Co-Founder Innovator in Residence
Russell Weiner Domino’s CEO Corporate Executive in Residence
Dee Ann Turner
Former Vice President for Talent at Chick-fil-A Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence
Dr. John C. Maxwell
Bestselling Author and Internationally Renowned Leadership Expert Executive Coach in Residence
William “Bill” E. Kennard
Chairman of AT&T’s Board of Directors and Former U.S. Ambassador Global Leader in Residence
Dean Cain
Famed Actor, Producer, Television Presenter and Football Player Actor in Residence
Bob Ryan
Famed Boston Globe Sportswriter Sports Reporter in Residence
Ellen Zane
CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center Health Care Executive in Residence
Teena Piccione
Former Global Transformation & Operations Executive at Google Data Expert in Residence
Sue Downes
CEO and Co-Founder of MyEyeDr. Health Care Expert in Residence
Cynt Marshall
Former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and Former Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T Sports Executive in Residence
Marc Randolph
Netflix Co-Founder Entrepreneur in Residence
Byron Pitts Co-Anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” Journalist in Residence
Joe Michaels
22-year Former Director of the NBC “TODAY” Show Broadcaster in Residence
This is just a glimpse at the list of industry titans who are attracted to HPU’s campus to mentor students.
To see the full and ever-evolving list of innovators, scan the QR code here:
Steve Wozniak visits campus several times each year, attending classes, holding small group discussions, giving advice and guiding engineering school students in special projects.
“For a computer science major, meeting Steve Wozniak was really helpful and beneficial to see his insight into how computer science and technology are helping society. HPU opens the door to a lot of people who could really help connect you with your career.”
— Caitlin Black, ’25
BRYON PITTS, CO-ANCHOR OF ABC’S “NIGHTLINE” MENTORS STUDENTS ON THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Focusing on the art of storytelling and emphasizing the importance of clear communication, Bryon can regularly be found inside HPU’s state-of-the-art TV studio forming lasting relationships with students.
“During my time at HPU, I got the chance to talk one-on-one with Byron Pitts, co-anchor of ‘Nightline’ on ABC and HPU’s Journalist in Residence. Besides being from Baltimore, I kid you not, this man is just like me! From how he evaluates (reads) people to a story he told about how every job he has had, he has leveraged to prepare himself for the news industry. We practice the same behaviors to get what we want. Including intentionality which has garnered us both success in our career paths.”
— Grant Hines, ’23, News Desk Assistant for NBC News
FORMER CHICK-FIL-A V.P. ADVISES HPU STUDENTS ON ACING THE INTERVIEW
Dee Ann Turner, Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence, spoke to several student groups discussing three things she wished she had known before entering the world of work. She emphasized to students the three truths to crushing their careersmastering relationships, navigating landmines and self-development.
“HPU will frequently bring in innovators to campus and allow students to have light lunches with them. So far, I have had the privilege to attend two of these lunches (with Cynt Marshall and Dee Ann Turner). These lunches have truly taught me so many professional etiquette skills when having a professional lunch or dinner.”
— Paris Glover, ’26
The executive leadership of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, including Former CEO Cynt Marshall (pictured center), HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence, has hosted groups of HPU sport management students for a unique externship at the team’s headquarters multiple times over the last several years. With each externship experience, students have the opportunity to connect with and learn from NBA leaders during the hustle and bustle of game day. They shadow staff to learn how to work together to produce an experience that fans love while implementing values-based leadership throughout their organization.