May 28, 2026  
Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027 
    
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Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027

Accelerated Master’s Degree Elective Option Program Information

Master of Business Administration - Elective Option

Choose 12 credit hours of coursework from the following:

  • ACC 501 - Managerial Accounting Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 230  or ACC 231 )
  • ACC 522 - Governmental/Non-Profit Accounting Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • ACC 524 - International Accounting Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • ACC 530 - Advanced Tax Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • ACC 533 - Accounting Theory Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • ACC 537 - Advanced Auditing Applications Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • BUS 504 - Creativity & Innovation in Orgs Hours: 3
  • BUS 511 - Financial Management & Budgeting Hours: 3 (Pre: ACC 501)
  • BUS 513 - Marketing Strategy Hours: 3
  • BUS 514 - Human Behavior in Organizations Hours: 3
  • BUS 515 - Human Resource Management for Healthcare Administration Hours: 3
  • BUS 519 - Supply Chain & Operations Management Hours: 3
  • BUS 520 - Negotiation & Conflict Resolution Hours: 3
  • BUS 521 - Ethical & Legal Issues: Business  Hours: 3                 OR
  • BUS 522 - Ethical & Legal Issues: Healthcare Administration Hours: 3
  • BUS 526 - Leadership Development Hours: 3
  • BUS 530 - Managing the Multinational Organization Hours: 3
  • BUS 531 - Entrepreneurship/Intrapreneurship Hours: 3
  • BUS 532 - Business Information Systems Hours: 3
  • BUS 535 - Sustainability Management Hours: 3
  • BUS 536 - Business Intelligence & Analytics Hours: 3
  • BUS 537 - Project Management Hours: 3
  • BUS 538 - Business Networks and Systems Thinking Hours: 3
  • BUS 539 - Organizational Development & Change Hours: 3
  • BUS 540 - Data Analysis for Healthcare Management Hours: 3
  • BUS 542 - Business & Professional Communications Hours: 3
  • BUS 546 - Multicultural Mangement Hours: 3
  • BUS 547 - Global Studies Business Tour Hours: 3
  • BUS 550 - Introduction to USA Healthcare & Finance Hours: 3
  • BUS 583 - Special Topics in Business Hours: 3 (Must have approval of Academic Advisor prior to enrollment.)
  • ECO 502 - Managerial Economics Hours: 3

Master of Arts: Counseling (Clinical Mental Health or School) - Elective Option

Students interested in completing a degree in School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling must meet the all the criteria as outlined for graduate school admissions. Students should be aware that admission to the graduate school is not the same as admission into the Counseling Degree Program. Students must complete the following to be eligible to submit an application for candidacy in one of the Counseling Degree programs:

  1. The student must have taken and passed the introductory core courses with a grade of B or better. The core courses required for candidacy include: COU 505, 525, and 530.
  2. In addition to the academic requirements, each student must receive a satisfactory interpersonal dispositions evaluation from the faculty of the identified core courses. A sample of the interpersonal dispositions evaluation can be found in the Counseling Student Handbook.
  3. The student must also submit a clear background check and proof of liability insurance through the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Applications for candidacy in the Counseling programs are accepted and reviewed at the completion of the above stated requirements. Please see the Graduate Counseling Degree Handbook for more information on the Application for Candidacy.

Choose 12 credit hours from the following:

  • COU 505 - Counseling Theories Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • COU 520 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Hours: 3 (Clinical Mental Health Program Only)
  • COU 524 - Psychological & Educational Testing Hours: 3
  • COU 525 - Orientation & Ethical Practices Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • COU 535-  Diversity Issues for the Helping Professional Hours: 3
  • COU 545-  Career Counseling Hours: 3
  • COU 549 - Addictions Counseling Hours: 3
  • COU 560 - Marriage & Family Counseling Hours: 3
  • COU 583 - Designated Counseling Electives Hours: 3 (Must have approval of Academic Advisor prior to enrollment.)

Master of Science: Exercise Science - Elective Option

Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program toward the MS in Exercise Science degree may choose up to 12 hours from the following courses:

  • EXS 505 - Sports Nutrition Hours: 3
  • EXS 510 - Sport and Exercise Psychology Hours: 3
  • EXS 520 - Seminar in Exercise Science Hours: 3
  • EXS 5XX - Approved ES Electives Hours: 3 (Must have approval of ES Academic Advisor prior to enrollment.)

Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program toward the MS in Exercise Science degree who have successfully completed BIO 281 and BIO 282 may also choose from the following classes toward their allowable 12 hours:

  • EXS 515 - Human Movement and Biomechanics Hours: 3
  • EXS 525 - Exercise Physiology Hours: 3
  • EXS 530 - Evaluation and Prescription Hours: 3

Master of Arts: Human Services - Elective Option

Choose 12 credit hours from the following - note that some courses will only be available online:

  • COU 545 - Career Counseling Hours: 3 (Career Development Track Only)
  • COU 549 - Addictions Counseling Hours: 3 (Addictions Counseling Track Only)
  • HCS 505 - Theoretical Foundations & History of Human Services Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 510 - Human Systems Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 515 - Human Services Delivery Systems Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 520 - Information Management for Human Services Professionals Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 525 - Human Services Program Planning and Evaluation Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 530 - Interventions and Direct Delivery Human Services Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)
  • HCS 535 - Interpersonal Communications for Human Services Professionals Hours: 3 (Core Program Requirement)

Master of Arts: Leadership - Elective Option

Choose 12 credit hours from the following - note that some courses may only be available online:

  • BUS 514 - Human Behavior in Organizations Hours: 3
  • BUS 542 - Business & Professional Communication Hours: 3
  • LED 505 - Theories of Leadership & Administration Hours: 3
  • LED 525 - Legal and Ethical Issues of Leadership Hours: 3

Master of Public Health - Elective Option

To receive credit towards the MPH degree, undergraduate Accelerated Master’s students must choose the graduate section of cross-listed  (or dual-listed) courses, which will also count towards their undergraduate degree. Choose up to 12 credit hours from the following:

  • MPH 510 - Foundations of Public Health Hours: 3
  • MPH 521 - Epidemiology Hours: 3
  • MPH 523 - Public Helath Leadership and Management Hours: 3
  • MPH 525 - Public Health Policy Hours: 3
  • MPH 528 - Community Engagement Hours: 3
  • MPH 535 - Program Planning and Implementation Hours: 3
  • MPH 540 - Program Evaluation and Measurement (must take MPH 535 as a pre-requisite first) Hours: 3
  • MPH 555 - Health Communication Hours: 3
  • MPH 560 - Environmental Health Hours: 3
  • MPH 575- Public Health Nutrition Hours: 3
  • MPH 576 - Drug Use and Abuse Hours: 3
  • MPH 577 - Human Sexuality Hours: 3
  • MPH 578 - Global Health Hours: 3
  • MPH 579 - Application of Theories Hours: 3
  • MPH 583 - Special Topics Hours: 3

Master of Arts: Teaching - Elective Option

Students from the following majors are eligible to enter directly into the MAT program without additional content area testing:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • History
  • Biology

Students from all other majors will undergo a transcript review for content related to the subject for which they intend to teach. In most cases, students will be required to successfully complete the Praxis II examination for this content area to verify content area knowledge required for federal highly qualified status. Required Praxis II examinations for high school content areas can be found at http://www.ets.org/praxis/nc/requirements/.

In addition to the general admissions rules for the Accelerated Master’s Degree programs, all candidates must show basic skills proficiency through the provision of standardized examination scores. This is a state licensure requirement for all candidates pursuing teacher certification. Passing scores must be received prior to beginning MAT coursework. Acceptable examinations include:

  • Praxis: Core Academic Skills for Educators (Reading, Writing & Mathematics)
  • GRE
  • MAT

COURSES AVAILABLE

  • EDU 617 - Methods for Integrating Technology Hours: 3
  • EDU 618 - Differentiation Hours: 3

Master of Fine Arts: Creative Writing - Elective Option

Choose 12 hours from the following - note that courses not available online are only offered the Center for Graduate Studies in Asheville:

  • ENG 505 - Literary Studies Seminar Hours: 3
  • WRI 520 - Workshop in Writing Fiction Hours: 3
  • WRI 521 - Workshop in WritingCreative Nonfiction Hours: 3
  • WRI 522 - Workshop in Writing Poetry Hours: 3
  • WRI 525 - Thematic Workshop in Creative Writing Hours: 3
  • WRI 548- Topics in Narrative Healthcare Hours: 3

LTSS Specific Program Admission Materials and Allowed Courses

  • Students from any undergraduate major are invited to apply to the LTSS articulation program. The pre-enrollment group must be limited to 15% of the total seminary students in any degree program per ATS standards on non-baccalaureate students in seminary classes.
  • Lutheran students will be “reported” to their synods so they can begin the year-long discernment process that most candidacy committees are requesting now. The students would then be ready for full enrollment with candidacy requirements met upon graduation from LRU.

Students may take up to two seminary courses each semester of the senior year for a total of 12 credit hours of articulation to the seminary (equivalent to one semester of courses). The articulated courses will count as undergraduate credit units based on the determination of the undergraduate department.

In addition to the 12 hours of articulation credits, students also can take advantage of the seminary’s Advanced Standing Policy. Religion majors (and others who elect religion courses as electives) may apply corollary courses from the religion major (in which they make an A) as Tier 1 advanced standing credit to LTSS upon admission. Religion majors will particularly benefit from the combination of Articulation and Advanced Standing Policies and may accumulate as much as 85% of the first year of seminary (MDiv) through the combination of the two. The total number of credit hours available through articulation and advanced standing is limited by ATS standards to 25% of the total degree requirements (for the MDiv degree 23 hours and for the MAR or MACM degree, 14 hours).

The seminary will teach two courses each fall and two each spring from the following list. The delivery model will be either online, hybrid, or in Hickory. Four courses will be taught each academic year from among the list of these six:

  • BIB 511 - Survey of Old Testament Hours: 3
  • CED 500 - Faith Formation in the Parish Hours: 3
  • MIN 505 - Foundations in Pastoral Care Hours: 3
  • MIN 510 - Foundation in Christian Worship Hours: 3
  • MIN 520 - Foundation in Christian Mission Hours: 3
  • THL 500 - Introduction to Theological Thinking Hours: 3