[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.
[1.1] UCA Core Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree
Information updated November 25, 2014
Lower-Division UCA Core (38 hours)
Completion of the lower-division UCA Core satisfies the Arkansas State Minimum Core general education requirement (35 hours) plus three elective hours.
Directed Electives (15 – 22 hours)
Electives not taken in fulfillment of the UCA Core, chosen from lower-division courses with the following course prefixes: ANTH, ART, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HIST, MATH, MUS, PHIL, PHYS, PSCI, PSYC, SOC, SPAN, SPCH, THEA, WRTG.
Institutional Requirements/Approved Electives (0 – 7 hours)
Electives chosen in consultation with the student;s academic advisor.
[1.2] Residency Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree
The credit offered for an Associate’s degree must include at least 15 hours earned in residence at UCA.
[2] Baccalaureate Degrees
The University of Central Arkansas offers eight baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Professional Studies, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Education.
[2.1] General Degree Requirements
[2.1.1] Total Credit Requirements
To be eligible for graduation with a baccalaureate degree, a student must file a program of study approved by the major and minor advisors that contains at least 120 semester hours of unduplicated credit (at least 40 hours must be upper-division), or more if the curriculum requires it. A grade point average of 2.0 or better is required in each of the major and minor fields and cumulatively. For purposes of grade point calculation, all course work attempted in the major or minor field will be included in determining the major or minor grade point average. A transfer student must satisfy all these grade-point requirements on work taken at this university. Consult the departmental section of this catalog for specific degree requirements.
[2.1.2] Major and Minor
All degree-seeking students must declare a major and at least one minor field, subject to modifications noted for specific programs. 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 requirements of a major may not also be used to meet minor requirements. Departmental faculty of the student’s declared minor and major are advisors. 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. Major and minor requirements are set forth in the departmental sections of this bulletin.
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.
[2.1.3] Senior College 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.
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.
[2.1.4] Electives
Elective courses may be selected by the student, upon the approval of the advisor, to complete the total credit requirements for graduation. These courses should be chosen carefully either for the purpose of correcting deficiencies in the student’s educational background or to strengthen major and minor programs through study in related fields. An elective is defined as a course that does not constitute a part of the major or minor field and is not being used to satisfy a UCA Core requirement. No more than four hours of physical education activity courses may count toward graduation.
[2.1.5] Residence
A student may not receive a degree without the completion of the equivalent of nine months of full-time work taken in residence at the university, during which time the student must have completed at least 30 semester hours of residence credit.
The credit offered for a bachelor’s degree must include at least 15 hours earned in residence in the major field and nine in the minor field.
Of the last 30 semester 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.
Not more than one-fourth of the credit offered for graduation may be work done through Extended Study (correspondence).
[2.1.6] 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 the special 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.
[2.1.7] Two Majors
Two majors may be recorded when all departmental, ancillary, and unique requirements within the same degree are met for both specified majors. If there is a generic relationship, work in the primary major is applicable to the secondary major. However, the number of additional credit hours required for the secondary major must exceed the number required for a minor in that same area.
The student completing a double major shall not be required to present a minor, but may do so if desired.
To upgrade the student program to a more recent bulletin, all requirements of the new bulletin for both majors must be satisfied.
The secondary major may be completed simultaneously or sequentially.
The secondary major may not be awarded after the degree for the primary major has been awarded.
No more than two majors or two minors may be recorded.
[2.1.8] Two Baccalaureate Degrees Earned Simultaneously
Two baccalaureate degrees may be earned simultaneously when all departmental, ancillary, and unique requirements are met for both of the specified degrees.
The student earning two degrees simultaneously may use the UCA Core courses and applicable special degree requirements for both degrees.
Courses used to meet requirements for the majors and minors associated with two degrees earned simultaneously must be unique in all instances.
The following change is effective December 16, 2014
The student earning two degrees simultaneously shall not be required to present a minor, but may do so if desired.
[2.1.9] Assessment
A student is expected to participate in all assessment activities required by the university.
[2.1.10] Commencement
The university holds commencement ceremonies at the end of the spring semester in May, at the end of the summer session in August, 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] Special Degree Requirements
Baccalaureate requirements of the university provide a measure of standardization in the awarding of degrees. Yet each baccalaureate degree is distinct in its special requirements. Candidates for any degree who expect to complete the teacher education program leading to certification must also satisfy requirements listed under the Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
[2.2.1] Bachelor of Arts
In addition to the other requirements for graduation, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of three hours in a foreign language on the 2000-level or above. A student with no previous experience with a foreign language normally will enroll in 1310. Students with prior experience in a language are strongly encouraged to take the departmental placement test before enrolling in their first course. Note: Guided/Extended Study (i.e., correspondence) courses will not be accepted as transfer credit in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement.
Students who have not previously received undergraduate credit in a given foreign language at a college or university may receive credit by examination in that language. Such credit is limited to a maximum of six hours in one language or twelve hours within the department and is granted by fulfilling the following criteria:
- Achievement of a satisfactory score on a placement examination administered by the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
- Satisfactory completion, with a minimum grade of B, of the next foreign language course above the level for which credit by examination is to be awarded.
In cases of unusually thorough preparation, or in the case of international students, exemption may be sought from the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
[2.2.2] Bachelor of Business Administration
In addition to the other requirements for graduation, the student who plans to earn the Bachelor of Business Administration degree must complete the requirements in business foundation and core courses as specified in the College of Business section of this bulletin.
[2.2.3] Bachelor of Fine Arts
The requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree are specified in the Department of Art section of this bulletin.
[2.2.4] Bachelor of Music
The requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree are specified in the Department of Music section of this bulletin.
[2.2.5] Bachelor of Science
In addition to other requirements for graduation and the UCA Core requirements in mathematics and science, the Bachelor of Science degree requires completion of one year of mathematics (excluding UNIV 1340, MATH 3351, and MATH 4310) or two courses in a laboratory science (e.g., 2 courses in biology, 2 courses in chemistry, etc.). UCA Core science courses (e.g., BIOL 1400, CHEM 1400, and PHYS 1400) cannot be used to satisfy the additional year of science.
[2.2.6] Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing are specified in the Department of Nursing section of this bulletin.
[2.2.7] Bachelor of Science in Education
Candidates for the BSE degree must complete a major in a certifiable teaching field. Requirements for admission to the teacher education program, admission to directed teaching, licensure, and other requirements are specified in the College of Education section of this bulletin.