Best institutions to study Appalachian Studies
A program of study that focuses on the history, sociology, culture, and economics of the Appalachian region of the United States.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 8 Appalachian Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0135, a specialization of Area Studies (CIP 05.01), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About Appalachian Studies programs
A program of study that focuses on the history, sociology, culture, and economics of the Appalachian region of the United States. Includes instruction in contemporary issues in Appalachia, political economy of Appalachia, community-based research, ethnomusicology, and oral and written languages of Appalachia.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Appalachian Studies program is an Area Studies program that delves into the history, sociology, culture, and economics of the Appalachian region of the United States. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring contemporary issues in Appalachia, community-based research, and the region's unique cultural expressions such as ethnomusicology and language.
Students in this program will develop essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics related to race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of the Appalachian region.
Credentials awarded
What Appalachian Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions63%
- Master's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution38%
Graduates over time
Appalachian Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 8 |
CIP 05.0135 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 2 institutions for Appalachian Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 71% | — |
| 2 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 4 | 53% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Appalachian Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Area Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 1 | 4 | University of Kentucky4 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 4 | East Tennessee State University4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Appalachian Studies program often pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0135
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Appalachian Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Area Studies specializations
The 36 other 6-digit CIP codes under Area Studies (CIP 05.01).
- American/CIP 05.0102
United States Studies/ Civilization 1,027 graduates / yr120 institutions - Regional Studies (U.S.CIP 05.0122partial data783 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Asian Studies/CIP 05.0103
Civilization 549 graduates / yr94 institutions - Area StudiesCIP 05.0199505 graduates / yr65 institutions
- East Asian StudiesCIP 05.0104446 graduates / yr62 institutions
- Latin American StudiesCIP 05.0107365 graduates / yr86 institutions
- Near and Middle Eastern StudiesCIP 05.0108261 graduates / yr46 institutions
- African StudiesCIP 05.0101171 graduates / yr45 institutions
- European Studies/CIP 05.0106
Civilization 161 graduates / yr27 institutions - Russian StudiesCIP 05.011081 graduates / yr30 institutions
- French StudiesCIP 05.012478 graduates / yr26 institutions
- RussianCIP 05.010569 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Latin American and Caribbean StudiesCIP 05.013466 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Japanese StudiesCIP 05.012756 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Italian StudiesCIP 05.012645 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Spanish and Iberian StudiesCIP 05.0130partial data43 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Western European StudiesCIP 05.0114partial data40 graduates / yr5 institutions
- German StudiesCIP 05.012537 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Chinese StudiesCIP 05.012329 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pacific Area/CIP 05.0109
Pacific Rim Studies partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions - Scandinavian StudiesCIP 05.0111partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- South Asian StudiesCIP 05.0112partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian StudiesCIP 05.0120limited data14 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Southeast Asian StudiesCIP 05.0113partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Slavic StudiesCIP 05.0118limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Korean StudiesCIP 05.0128limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Irish StudiesCIP 05.0133limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Canadian StudiesCIP 05.0115limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 8 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Balkans Studies05.0116
- Baltic Studies05.0117
- Caribbean Studies05.0119
- Commonwealth Studies05.0121
- Polish Studies05.0129
- Tibetan Studies05.0131
- Ukraine Studies05.0132
- Arctic Studies05.0136
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Appalachian Studies?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate or a Master's degree in Appalachian Studies.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication.
What kind of jobs can I get with this degree?+
Graduates often work as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers in postsecondary education.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Appalachian Studies?+
Appalachian Studies is CIP 05.0135 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Area Studies (CIP 05.01). NCES defines it as: A program of study that focuses on the history, sociology, culture, and economics of the Appalachian region of the United States. Includes instruction in contemporary issues in Appalachia, political economy of Appalachia, community-based research, ethnomusicology, and oral and written languages of Appalachia.
How many institutions offer Appalachian Studies programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Appalachian Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 8 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do Appalachian Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Appalachian Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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