University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72035
www.uca.edu

The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the second largest university by enrollment in the state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most respected for its programs in Education, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. It is also the home of the UCA Honors College as well as four Residential Colleges.

Enrollment

UCA has a Fall 2008 enrollment of 12,974, the largest in its history, and an increase of 2.8 percent over its enrollment one year earlier, which was 12,619.

In the September 19, 2007 edition of The Echo (campus newspaper), the fall 2007 enrollment was listed at 12,619. In fall 2006, 12,330 students were enrolled at UCA. UCA's enrollment has increased by over 28% in the past five years and 14% over the past four years. In fall 2002, UCA had an enrollment of approximately 8,500.

Academics

The University has 6 distinct colleges offering over 75 majors. These colleges are: The College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Fine Arts and Communications, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The university is famous for its innovative Honors College, which has received national recognition for its excellence. Small classes, distinguished faculty, TAG and URGE grants for students, high ACT and SAT scores, and outstanding medical and graduate school admission rates are hallmarks of the College. The Carnegie Foundation said the UCA Honors College was "One of the most widely imitated programs in the country," and former U.S. Secretary of Education Terrell Bell described the Honors College as being "An Ivy League education at a bargain basement price."

In 2006, U.S. News & World Report ranked UCA 61st in the South in academic excellence. This marks the first year that UCA has been ranked. UCA was the only public Arkansas university in that category.

In the 2009 Edition of U.S. News & World Report America's Best Colleges, UCA was ranked 54th in Master's Universities South. UCA was also ranked 23rd in the Top Public Schools in Master's Universities South

The Colleges

The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR, comprises six colleges. In addition to the programs offered at the colleges, it has a study abroad program. Students may, for example, study Literature in Italy and UK, healthcare in China or Sociology in Africa. Credits earned at several foreign universities may be credited towards a degree at UCA.

The courtyard outside of Irby Hall.College of Fine Arts and Communication The College of Fine Arts and Communication offers five fields of study for a degree. Available disciplines include music, public relations, communications, art and writing. Many of the college's degrees enable graduates to work or teach in their chosen profession. The college offers both bachelor and graduate programs.

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics This college offers eight fields of study in physical and natural sciences as well as six pre-professional programs. Undergraduate programs include those in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, general science, mathematics, physics, and secondary science education. Pre-professional programs include pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-medicine, pre-engineering, pre-pharmacy, and pre-veterinary science. The college offers both bachelor and master's degrees.

College of Business Business students attending the University of Central Arkansas can pursue an associate, graduate, bachelor or MBA degree through this college. Major fields of study include accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, and marketing.

College of Health and Behavioral Sciences This college offers bachelor and graduate degrees in health, education, psychology, counseling, military science, nursing, therapy and speech pathology. ROTC students at the University of Central Arkansas attend this college for training as a commissioned officer. Courses are also available in fitness and exercise.

College of Liberal Arts There are seven fields of study available at the College of Liberal Arts. The college offers graduate and bachelor degrees. Available fields of study include philosophy, foreign language, political science, geography and history.

College of Education The College of Education offers University of Central Arkansas students Ph.D., bachelor and master's degree programs. These programs provide the skills required to work in teaching, educational administration and curriculum development.

Residential Colleges

There are currently four residential colleges at UCA, Hughes Hall(1997), State Residential College (1999), Minton (2005) and Short/Denney (2006).

Residential colleges are more than just places to live. They are co-educational learning communities in which students and their professors interact closely with one another. By living in the same residence hall as a faculty member, and taking classes with other college members, residential college students form academic connections which enrich the entire educational experience.

Any student admitted to UCA is eligible to apply for admission to the Residential Colleges. The program is open to students in all majors and programs. Students generally enter a residential learning community the first semester of their freshman year.

The UCA Residential College Program is a community of learners that was implemented in 1997 to educate the whole student. To do this, the program provides each student with opportunities to develop her or his academic, professional, and societal lives.

Academically, the RC college program expects their graduates to: know themselves as discerning thinkers who are able to evaluate and interpret complex information from a variety of sources, have a strong commitment to making learning a life-long process, express themselves thoughtfully and with meaning in a variety of contexts

The courtyard outside of the Student Center. Professionally, the RC college program expects their: work well in teams, including those of varied composition; building consensus and working with dissension; utilize learned technological skills in ways which further and enhance their careers; act creatively, ethically, and with initiative.

Socially, the RC college program expects their: demonstrate a sense of commitment to local and global concerns; contribute their time, talents, and efforts in service to the community; recognize themselves as part of a diverse and ever-changing world.

Because "the end depends upon the beginning," the UCA Residential College Program dedicates its faculty and resources to making the transitions from high school to college and college-to-career both meaningful and successful. By offering a space for conversations about things that matter, we build the communalities and connections so essential to our education and our society.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

Accounting MAcc
Advanced Studies in Teaching & Learning MSE
Applied Computing MS
Applied Mathematics MS
Biology MS
Business Administration MBA
Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN
College Student Personnel Services & Administration MS
Communication Sciences Disorders PhD
Community & Economic Development MS
Community Service Counseling MS
Counseling Psychology MS
Digital Filmmaking MFA
Diverse Literatures Certificate GC
Educational Leadership EdS
English MA
Family & Consumer Sciences MS
Geographic Information Systems MGIS
Geographic Information Systems Certificate GC
Health Sciences MS
Health Systems MS
History MA
Instructional Technologies MS
Kinesiology MS
Leadership Studies PhD
Library Media & Information Technologies MS
Master of Arts in Teaching MAT
Mathematics Education MA
Music-Choral Conduction MM
Music-Instrumental Conduction MM
Music-Performance MM
Music- Theory MM
Music Education MM
Nurse Practitioner MSN
Nursing Post Master Certificate GC
Occupational Therapy MS
Physical Therapy DPT, PhD
Reading MSE
School Counseling MS
School Leadership, Management, & Administration MS
School Psychology MS, PhD
Spanish MA
Special Education (Collaborative Instruction Specialist, Ages 0-8; Collaborative
Instructional Specialist, Grades 4-12) MSE
Speech-Language Pathology MS
Training Systems MS

Undergraduate Programs

Accounting
Anthropology
Art - Studio Art, Art Education, Art History
Biology
Business and Marketing Technology Education
Chemistry
Chinese
Computer Science
Economics
Early Childhood and Special Education
Education
English
Environmental Science
Family and Consumer Sciences - Nutrition/Food Sciences, Textiles/Clothing, Child/Family Life, Consumer Education/Resource Management, FACS Education, Interior Design, General FACS
Digital Filmmaking
Finance
French
First Year Seminars
Geography
German
Health Education
Health Science
History - United States History, World History, Special Topics
Honors College - Honors Core, Minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Interior Design
Intensive English Program
Interdisciplinary Studies
Insurance and Risk Management
Japanese
Kinesiology and Physical Education
Physical Education Activity
Latin
Mathematics
Mass Communication
Medical Technology
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Middle/Secondary Education
Military Science and Leadership - Basic, Advanced
Music - History and Literature, Pedagogy, Piano Classes, Special Courses, Theory
Music - Applied Lessons, individual instruction
Music - Ensemble, group instruction
Nuclear Medicine Technology
Nursing
Nutrition and Food Services
Occupational Therapy
Philosophy
Physics - Courses for Non-Physics Majors, Courses for Physics Majors
Public Relations
Political Science
Psychology
Physical Therapy
Quantitative Methods
Radiography
Religion
Russian
Science Education
Sociology
Spanish
Speech Communication
Speech-Language Pathology
Theatre
University College Courses
World Languages Offered in English
Writing

Estimated Costs

Registration cost= $173.50 per credit hour*

Out-of-State registration totals $2602.50 per semester or $5205.00 per academic year*

** Plus applicable fees