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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.

[1.1] UCA Core Requirements and Electives for the Associate of Arts Degree

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, COMM (formerly SPCH), ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HIST, MATH, MUS, PHIL, PHYS, PSCI, PSYC, SOC, SPAN, SPCH (now COMM), THEA, WRTG

Institutional Requirements/Approved Electives (0-7)
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 equivalent of two full years’ work (sixty semester hours) at the senior college level will be required for a baccalaureate degree, with one exception: students transferring to UCA under the terms of a negotiated associate-to-baccalaureate articulation-transfer agreement will fulfill this requirement by completing all requirements beyond the associate degree requirements at the senior college level. (See also “Admission to the University,” §7, Transfer of Credit.)

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 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 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.

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

Up to three majors or major concentrations within the same degree may be recorded when all departmental, ancillary, and unique 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 departmental, ancillary, and unique requirements are met for all specified minors.

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.

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.

[2.1.8] More than One Baccalaureate Degree Earned Simultaneously

Up to three baccalaureate degrees may be earned simultaneously when all departmental, ancillary, and unique requirements, including special degree requirements, are met for all specified degrees.

The student earning more than one degree simultaneously may use the UCA Core courses and applicable special degree requirements for all 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.

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

[2.1.9] 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:

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 or two courses in a laboratory science (e.g., 2 courses in biology, 2 courses in chemistry, etc.).

Exclusions:

  1. The following Mathematics courses cannot be used to fulfill the additional year of mathematics: UNIV 1340, MATH 3351, MATH 3352, MATH 3354, MATH 3364, MATH 3370, MATH 4310, MATH 4312, MATH 4314, and MATH 4335.
  2. UCA Core science courses, listed here, cannot be used to satisfy the additional year of science: BIOL 1400, BIOL 1401, BIOL 1402, CHEM 1400, GEOG 1400, PHYS 1400, PHYS 1401.

[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.