Degree Requirements

[1] Associate Degree

The University of Central Arkansas offers the Associate of Arts (AA) degree in General Education. The minimum requirement is 60 semester hours of unduplicated credit and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. For specific degree requirements, see General Education (AA Degree) in this bulletin.

[1.1] Residence Requirement

To earn an associate degree, a student must complete at least 15 semester credit hours of residence credit.

[2] Baccalaureate Degrees

The University of Central Arkansas offers ten baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Public Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Bachelor of General Studies.

[2.1] General Degree Requirements

[2.1.1] Total Credit Requirements

To graduate with a baccalaureate degree, a student must successfully complete all general and specific degree requirements and at least 120 semester hours of unduplicated credit. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is required for graduation. For purposes of grade point calculation, all course work attempted at the university, unless repeated for grade forgiveness, will be included in determining the cumulative grade point average (see the Academic Records section of this bulletin for how to calculate grade point average). A transfer student must satisfy this cumulative grade-point requirement on work taken at this university. Consult the college and departmental sections of this bulletin for specific degree requirements.

[2.1.2] UCA Core

To earn a baccalaureate degree, students must complete the UCA Core (see the UCA Core section of this bulletin for a full description with links to specific course information). Unless disallowed by the specific degree program, courses used toward the completion of the UCA Core may also count, if applicable, toward the completion of other requirements of the degree. UCA Core courses in the student’s major or minor field will count toward the student’s major or minor grade point average.

[2.1.3] Major and Minor

All degree-seeking students must declare at least one major and, if required by a specific program, at least one minor field. After completing 27 credit hours, students must have declared a major prior to future semester course registration. A student’s academic advisor may petition the Registrar to extend the deadline for declaring a major up to 60 credit hours. A course that is used to meet the total credit-hour requirements of a major may not also be used to meet minor requirements. To graduate, a grade point average of 2.0 or better is required in each major and minor field. For purposes of grade point calculation, all course work attempted in the major or minor field, unless repeated for grade forgiveness, will be included in determining the major or minor grade point average. The major or minor field refers to all required and elective courses that can be used to meet the requirements of the major or minor.

Related Course Requirements. A major or minor may require courses that are related to the major or minor field but do not count toward the total credit hours in the major or minor and are not used in calculating the major or minor grade point average. Related course requirements needed to complete a major may be used to satisfy the requirements of a minor and vice versa.

Consult the departmental sections of this bulletin for specific major and minor requirements. Changes made to adjust the student’s program within the scope of the departmental major or minor requirements need only the approval of the department chair. Adjustments in the student’s program beyond the scope of departmental requirements require the approval of the Academic Adjustments and Appeals Committee.

Prior to declaring a major, students are assigned to general advisors. Such students will follow a general program of liberal studies until the major is determined. Upon declaring a major or minor, students are assigned a major or minor advisor in the respective college, school, or department.

[2.1.4] Mathematics Pathways

All first -time, first-year students must enroll in at least one 1000-level MATH course in their first year, unless they have been awarded credit (e.g., AP, CLEP, IB, Concurrent) that completes their 1000-level math requirements.

All first -time, first-year students must enter one of the following Mathematics Pathways based on their declared major:

Students who have not yet declared a major should work with their academic advisor to identify the majors of greatest interest and enter the Mathematics Pathway that best prepares them for those majors.

Students that change to a major associated with a different mathematics pathway will not be required to complete the new pathway. However, students must still complete all MATH courses required by the major, including any necessary prerequisite coursework.

Transfer students who have already transferred a course accepted as credit for a 1000-level UCA MATH course are not required to enter a Mathematics Pathway, but must complete all MATH courses required by the major, including any necessary prerequisite coursework. Transfer students who do not transfer a course accepted as credit for a 1000-level UCA MATH course should enter the Mathematics Pathway associated with their declared major.

[2.1.5] Upper-Division Requirement

The credit offered for graduation must include at least forty semester hours of upper-division level (3000- and 4000-level) courses, including at least 12 semester hours of upper-division work in the major field and three hours of upper-division work in the minor field (if applicable).

Graduates of accredited, specialized, or professional health science programs, who possess a license in the field and who have had the equivalent of 40 hours of upper-division work will plan a program with the department involved. The plan must be approved by the department chair and the college dean.

[2.1.6] General Electives

A general elective is defined as a course that does not constitute a part of the student’s major or minor fields and is not being used by the student to satisfy a UCA Core or specific degree requirement. General electives may be selected by the student, in consultation with an advisor, to complete the total credit requirements for graduation. These courses should be chosen carefully either to strengthen major and minor programs through study in related fields or to satisfy personal or career interests. No more than four hours of physical education activity courses may count toward graduation.

[2.1.7] Residence Requirements

“Residence credit” is academic credit earned from the University of Central Arkansas in any format (on-the-ground or online), excluding credit by examination. Credit earned during a University of Central Arkansas Study Abroad program or through a Study Away consortium and delivered at another institution or location is residence credit.

To earn a bachelor’s degree, a student must complete at least 30 semester credit hours of residence credit including at least 15 hours in the major field and, when applicable, nine in the minor field.

Of the last 32 semester credit hours offered for graduation, at least 24 must be completed in residence at the university. This provision does not reduce the minimum residence requirement stated above.

[2.1.8] Earning a Second Degree

A second baccalaureate degree may be earned by a student, after the completion of all the requirements for a first degree and the satisfaction of all specific requirements of the second degree. An associate degree may be earned by a student who has completed the requirements of a baccalaureate degree or another associate degree. Any second degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of residence credit following the awarding of the first degree.

[2.1.9] More than One Major, Major Concentration, or Minor

Up to three majors or major concentrations within the same degree may be recorded when all general and specific degree requirements are met for all specified majors or major concentrations. Unless specifically prohibited by the department in the Undergraduate Bulletin, work that meets the requirements of one major or major concentration is applicable to the same requirements of another major or major concentration. However, the number of additional credit hours required for each additional major or major concentration must exceed the number required for a minor in that same area. If the additional major or major concentration does not have a minor in the same area, the minimum number of additional credit hours required is 21.

The student completing more than one major or major concentration shall not be required to present a minor, but may do so if desired.

Up to three minors within the same degree may be recorded when all requirements are met for all specified minors. Unless specifically prohibited by the department, work that meets the requirements of one minor is applicable to the same requirements of another minor. However, the minimum number of additional credit hours required for each additional minor is 12.

To upgrade the student program to a more recent bulletin, all requirements of the new bulletin for all majors and/or minors must be satisfied.

The requirements of each major and/or minor may be completed simultaneously or sequentially. However, once all general and specific degree requirements of one major or major concentration are met, students may be ineligible to receive federal financial aid to complete the degree requirements of a minor or another major or major concentration. Students should carefully plan the sequence of all coursework in consultation with their academic advisor and financial aid counselor.

A minor or another major or major concentration may not be awarded after the degree for the primary major has been awarded.

No more than three majors or three minors may be recorded.

[2.1.10] More than One Baccalaureate Degree Earned Simultaneously

Up to three baccalaureate degrees may be earned simultaneously when all general and specific degree requirements are met for all specified degrees.

Unless specifically prohibited by the department, work that meets the requirements of one degree is applicable to the same requirements of another degree. However, the number of additional credit hours required for the major of the other degree must exceed the number required for a minor in that same area. If the major of the other degree does not have a minor in the same area, the minimum number of additional credit hours required is 21.

The student earning more than one degree simultaneously shall not be required to present a minor, but may do so if desired.

The requirements of each degree may be complete simultaneously or sequentially. However, each degree shall be awarded in the same term. Students may be ineligible to receive federal financial aid to complete another degree simultaneously. Students should consult their academic advisor and financial aid counselor before beginning additional coursework.

No more than three degrees may be earned simultaneously. No more than three majors or three minors may be recorded across all degrees.

[2.1.11] Assessment

A student is expected to participate in all assessment activities required by the university.

[2.1.12] Commencement

The university holds commencement ceremonies at the end of the spring semester in May and at the end of the fall semester in December. Only students completing all degree requirements are eligible to apply for graduation.

Undergraduate students submit their application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar. All students pay a graduation application fee. The academic calendar lists the deadline dates by which the application for graduation must be made.

If attendance at the commencement ceremony is not possible, the degree will be awarded in absentia.

[2.2] Specific Degree Requirements

Each baccalaureate degree may also have specific requirements unique to that degree program. The specific requirements for undergraduate degrees are specified in the relevant college and department or school sections of this bulletin. For an alphabetical list of academic programs, including degree information where relevant, see the Academic Programs index page.