In accordance with Act 1014 of the 2005 Arkansas Legislature, the University of Central Arkansas publishes a sample degree plan for each baccalaureate degree it offers. The plans outline a recommended course sequence and schedule for each semester of the degree program. All plans demonstrate how a first-time freshman beginning in the fall semester can complete the degree in four years. The sample degree plans include, but are not limited to, programs participating in the Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program (see below).
These plans provide one of several possible routes towards the intended degree. You should meet with an academic advisor every semester to consider available course offerings in relation to graduation requirements, to confirm academic progress toward graduation, and to update your plan of study. Remember that changes of major or minor, repeating courses, or any other disruption in your plan of study may be unavoidable but may also delay timely completion of your degree. Ask your advisor about UCA’s powerful program-planning application Degree Works.
The Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program
UCA offers eligible first-time students sample degree plans to complete most of the university’s undergraduate degrees in eight semesters. Eligible students are automatically enrolled in the program and are guaranteed to graduate upon completing eight consecutive semesters (fall and spring) if they follow the sample plan. All Eight-Semester Sample Degree Plans are approved by the chair of the department or director of the school offering the program and the dean of the college in which the program resides.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate and continue in UCA’s Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program, you must
- Enter the University of Central Arkansas as a first-time undergraduate student in the fall semester without any college credit.
- Choose a major that offers an Eight-Semester Sample Degree Plan.
- Follow the schedule of classes in your Eight-Semester Sample Degree Plan throughout your eight semesters, deviating only as approved by your official academic advisor (see 7 below).
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Satisfy all prerequisites for the courses listed in your Eight-Semester Sample Degree Plan prior to enrollment in courses for which they are required.
- Have your course schedule approved by your official advisor each semester and enroll during your designated registration period.
- Accept any available section of a required course—or an alternative course sequence approved by your academic advisor—that can be accommodated in your class schedule.
- Remain in your declared major and successfully complete all courses and other degree requirements as scheduled, including a minor if required.
Sample Degree Plans by Program
Sample degree plans are available for all undergraduate programs listed below. Plans designated “8-semester” are approved Eight-Semester Sample Degree Plans (see above). All other plans are designated “4-year” and may require summer coursework, admission to selective programs, and/or progression requirements that do not guarantee graduation in eight semesters.
| DEGREE | PROGRAM/OPTION TITLE | SDP |
|---|---|---|
| BBA | Accounting | 8-semester |
| BS | Addiction Studies, Prevention | 8-semester |
| BS | Addiction Studies, Treatment | 8-semester |
| BS | Anthropology | 8-semester |
| BS | Applied Data Analytics | 8-semester |
| BA | Art, Art Education | 4-year |
| BA | Art, Art History | 8-semester |
| BA | Art, Fine Art | 8-semester |
| BFA | Art, Studio Art | 4-year |
| BS | Biology | 8-semester |
| BS | Chemistry | 8-semester |
| BS | Chemistry, ACS Certified: Standard | 8-semester |
| BS | Chemistry, ACS Certified: Biochemistry | 8-semester |
| BA | Communication | 8-semester |
| BS | Communication | 8-semester |
| BS | Communication Sciences and Disorders | 8-semester |
| BS | Community Nutrition | 8-semester |
| BS | Computer Engineering | 8-semester |
| BBA | Computer Information Systems | 8-semester |
| BS | Computer Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Computer Science, Data Science | 8-semester |
| BA | Creative Writing | 8-semester |
| BS | Criminology | 8-semester |
| BS | Cybersecurity, Cyberphysical Security | 8-semester |
| BS | Cybersecurity, Management of Cybersecurity | 8-semester |
| BS | Cybersecurity, Strategic Policy | 8-semester |
| BS | Cybersecurity Management | 8-semester |
| BS | Data Science, Business | 8-semester |
| BS | Data Science, Computer Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Data Science, Statistics | 8-semester |
| BS | Dietetics | 4-year |
| BS | Economics | 8-semester |
| BS | Economics, Pre-Law | 8-semester |
| BA | Economics, International Trade | 8-semester |
| BBA | Economics, International Trade | 8-semester |
| BSE | Elementary Education (K-6) | 4-year |
| BS | Engineering Physics (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Engineering Physics (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BA | English | 8-semester |
| BA | English, with Teaching Licensure | 4-year |
| BS | Environmental Science, Biology | 8-semester |
| BS | Environmental Science, Chemistry | 8-semester |
| BS | Environmental Science, Planning & Administration | 8-semester |
| BS | Exercise Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Exercise Science, Pre-Athletic Training | 8-semester |
| BS | Family & Consumer Sciences | 8-semester |
| BSE | Family & Consumer Sciences Education | 4-year |
| BA | Film | 8-semester |
| BBA | Finance | 8-semester |
| BBA | General Business | 8-semester |
| BS | General Science, Option A | 8-semester |
| BS | General Science, Option B | 8-semester |
| BS | Geography | 8-semester |
| BS | Geography, Geospatial Technology Concentration | 8-semester |
| BS | Health Promotion | 8-semester |
| BS | Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Minor | 8-semester |
| BS | Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Health Pre-Professional (Occupational Therapy) | 8-semester |
| BS | Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Health Pre-Professional (Physical Therapy) | 8-semester |
| BA | History | 8-semester |
| BS | History | 8-semester |
| BS | Information Systems | 8-semester |
| BBA | Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 8-semester |
| BBA | Insurance and Risk Management, General | 8-semester |
| BBA | Insurance and Risk Management, Personal Financial Planning | 8-semester |
| BA | Interior Design | 8-semester |
| BS | Interior Design | 8-semester |
| BA | International Studies | 8-semester |
| BA | Journalism, Broadcast Journalism | 8-semester |
| BA | Journalism, Online Journalism | 8-semester |
| BA | Journalism, Print Journalism | 8-semester |
| BA | Linguistics, Track 1: Language | 8-semester |
| BA | Linguistics, Track 2: TESOL | 8-semester |
| BA | Linguistics, Track 3: Computer Science | 8-semester |
| BA | Linguistics, Track 4: General Linguistics | 8-semester |
| BBA | Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 8-semester |
| BBA | Management | 8-semester |
| BBA | Management, Human Resource Management | 8-semester |
| BBA | Marketing | 8-semester |
| BS | Mathematics, Applied Math | 8-semester |
| BS | Mathematics, Data Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Mathematics, Mathematics Education | 4-year |
| BS | Mathematics, Pure Math | 8-semester |
| BS | Medical Laboratory Science | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Language Arts + Mathematics | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Language Arts + Science | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Language Arts + Social Studies | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Mathematics + Science | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Mathematics + Social Studies | 4-year |
| BSE | Middle Level Education, Science + Social Studies | 4-year |
| BA | Modern Languages, Chinese | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, Chinese - Business | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, Chinese - Teacher Education (K–12) | 4-year |
| BA | Modern Languages, French | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, French - Business | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, French - Teacher Education (K–12) | 4-year |
| BA | Modern Languages, Spanish | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, Spanish - Business | 8-semester |
| BA | Modern Languages, Spanish - Teacher Education (K–12) | 4-year |
| BA | Music | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Composition | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Performance - Instrumental | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Performance - Jazz & Studio Music / Instrumental | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Performance - Jazz & Studio Music / Vocal | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Performance - Piano | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Performance - Vocal | 4-year |
| BM | Music, Piano Pedagogy | 4-year |
| BME | Music Education, K-12 - Instrumental / String | 4-year |
| BME | Music Education, K-12 - Instrumental / Woodwind, Brass, Percussion | 4-year |
| BME | Music Education, K-12 - Piano / Vocal | 4-year |
| BME | Music Education, K-12 - Piano / Instrumental | 4-year |
| BME | Music Education, K-12 - Vocal | 4-year |
| BS | Nuclear Medicine Technology | 4-year |
| BSN | Nursing | 4-year |
| BSN | Nursing, Bridge2BSN | 4-year |
| BS | Nutrition Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Philosophy | 8-semester |
| BSE | Physical Education Teacher Education | 4-year |
| BS | Physics (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Biological Physics (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Biological Physics (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Chemical Physics (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Chemical Physics (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Mathematical Physics (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Mathematical Physics (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Physical Science (Calculus Ready) | 8-semester |
| BS | Physics, Physical Science (Calculus-Prep Start) | 8-semester |
| BA | Political Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Political Science | 8-semester |
| BS | Psychology | 8-semester |
| BPA | Public Administration | 8-semester |
| BA | Public Relations, Analytical Competence | 8-semester |
| BA | Public Relations, Global Competence | 8-semester |
| BS | Radiography - Baptist | 4-year |
| BS | Radiography - St. Vincent | 4-year |
| BA | Religious Studies | 8-semester |
| BSE | Social Studies, History | 4-year |
| BS | Sociology | 8-semester |
| BSE | Special Education | 4-year |
| BA | Theatre | 8-semester |
| BA | Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design - Professional and Technical Writing | 8-semester |
| BA | Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design - Writing Studies | 8-semester |