Degree & Graduation Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree | Associate’s Degree | Second Associate’s Degree | Second Bachelor’s Degree | Regulations | U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement

Degree Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

To receive a baccalaureate degree, a student must complete the following requirements:
[NOTE: Academic majors and colleges may specify additional and/or more restrictive requirements.]

120 hours of which 30 hours must be in residence and 45 must be upper-level (3000 level or above). A baccalaureate degree program may require more than 120 semester hours of college credit if prior approval has been granted by the Board of Trustees or it is a requirement of an independent licensing or accrediting body.

These required hours must include:

  • A minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point on all work attempted at the University.
  • A minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point on all work attempted in the academic major and a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point on all work attempted in the academic minor.
  • A core curriculum which must include a 3 hour course in U. S. history or U. S. government and a 3 hour course in College Algebra, College Math or higher level math course.
  • A major and a minor, a combined major-minor, a double major or a major and an associate degree transferred from another institution in a program not offered at UALR.
  • Completion of the appropriate second language requirement for students seeking a B.A., B.S.E., or B.S.W. degree.
Associate Degree Requirements

Except for certain programs as specified elsewhere in this catalog, all students receiving the associate degree (the AA or AS) must successfully complete 60 hours including the following 15 hours of core courses:

    RHET 1311 Composition I
    RHET 1312 Composition II
    SPCH 1300 Speech Communication
    HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877,
    or HIST 2312 U.S. History since 1877,
    or POLS 1310 American National Government
    MATH 1315 College Mathematics
    or MATH 1302 College Algebra

Graduation with an associate degree requires a C average (2.0 cumulative grade point average) on all work attempted at the University; completion of at least 20 hours above the freshman level, unless specified otherwise in the program; and completion of the final 15 hours (excluding credit by examination) in residence. Hours earned as credit by examination are counted as hours toward graduation but are not counted as hours in residence. See “Credit by Examination.â€

Courses completed for an associate degree at UALR will be counted toward the appropriate requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Second Associate Degree

An associate degree may be conferred as a second degree when the first degree is either a baccalaureate or another associate degree, subject to these provisions:

  1. The second associate degree must be in a different discipline from the first degree.
  2. Students must complete at least 15 credit hours in residence (excluding credit by examination) beyond their first degree.
  3. Only credit earned at UALR after completing the first degree will normally apply toward the second degree. However, students in their final semester of studies toward the first degree may complete the course load for that semester with courses applicable to the second degree. Students must file a written statement of their intent to seek a second degree with the Office of Records and Registration at the time of registration.
  4. A major must be completed. Courses completed within the previous degree that satisfy requirements for the second major may be accepted as satisfying course requirements, but not as hours toward the second degree. These hours do not count as part of the 30, except as specified in Item 3 above.
  5. The core curriculum component in the second associate degree is not required. However, if not taken as a part of another baccalaureate degree, a course in United States history or government (HIST 2311, HIST 2312, or POLS 1310) must be completed. See “U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement.â€
Second Baccalaureate Degree

A second baccalaureate degree may be conferred subject to these provisions:

  1. Students must complete at least 30 credit hours in residence (excluding Credit by Examination) beyond their first degree.
  2. Only credits earned at UALR after completion of the first degree will normally apply toward the second degree. However, a student in the final semester of studies toward the first degree may complete the course load for that semester with courses applicable to the second degree provided the student files a written statement of intent with the Office of Records and Registration at the time of registration.
  3. A major must be completed. Courses completed within the previous degree that satisfy requirements for the second major may be accepted as satisfying course requirements, but not as hours toward the second degree. These hours do not count as part of the 30, except as specified in Item 2 above.
  4. A minor is not required.
  5. If not taken as a part of another baccalaureate degree, a course in United States history or government (HIST 2311, HIST 2312, or POLS 1310) must be completed, see “U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement.â€

There is no second language proficiency requirement for students seeking second baccalaureate degrees.

Regulations

These provisions apply to baccalaureate degrees:*

  • Hours earned as credit by examination are counted as hours toward graduation but are not counted as hours in residence. See “Credit by Examination.â€
  • Two courses, up to eight hours, may count toward both major(s) and minor(s) requirements.
  • A student in the process of completing more than one major or minor may have one calendar year following graduation with one major to complete the additional declared major(s)/minor(s) if:
    • The student has a valid degree plan on file which specifies requirements for more than one major or minor
    • The student completes an application for graduation which indicates that a total of seven or fewer hours remain to complete the additional major(s)/minor(s)
  • A student may elect to graduate under the provisions of the UALR Undergraduate Catalog in effect during any semester in residence at UALR before qualifying for a degree. Students who interrupt their enrollment at UALR for more than five consecutive calendar years must use the catalog current at the time of readmission or later. A student transferring to UALR from regionally accredited four-year institutions, community colleges, or junior colleges with 13 or more hours of accepted credit may graduate under the provisions of a UALR Undergraduate Catalog in effect during any semester of the previous five years in which they were enrolled at the other institution. Note: At no time may a student follow the provisions of a UALR Undergraduate Catalog that is more than five years old at the time of the studentʹs entry into UALR.
  • A student enrolled at UALR who intends to enroll concurrently or as a transient student at another accredited institution should obtain advance approval and then complete a Special Exception Form to assure that courses taken at other institutions will be applied toward UALR graduation requirements.

A senior may participate in commencement exercises prior to the completion of all degree requirements if the student has:

  1. a cumulative 2.0 grade point on all work attempted at UALR
  2. a cumulative 2.0 grade point in the academic major and in the academic minor
  3. no more than nine hours remaining to complete degree requirements
  4. submitted a graduation application following prescribed procedures. See “Graduation.â€

*Academic majors and colleges may specify more restrictive requirements which supersede these regulations and are detailed in each department section of this catalog.

U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement

Arkansas law requires that all students who receive an associate or baccalaureate degree successfully complete a course in U.S. history or U.S. government.

This requirement can be met by HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877, HIST 2312 U.S. History Since 1877, or POLS 1310 American National Government. Other United States history or government courses may also meet this requirement. However, the student should check with an advisor in the Department of History or the Department of Political Science before choosing to meet the requirement with any other course.