The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a metropolitan research university that provides an accessible, quality education through flexible learning and unparalleled internship opportunities. At UA Little Rock, we prepare our more than 9,000 students to be innovators and responsible leaders in their fields. Committed to its metropolitan research university mission, UA Little Rock is a driving force in Little Rock’s thriving cultural community and a major component of the city and state’s growing profile as a regional leader in research, technology, economic development, and job creation.
Academics
UA Little Rock students get to learn from the best professors around in classes that are as engaging as they are rigorous. Coursework blends critical thinking with real-world experience, providing a springboard for internships and later careers in such in-demand fields as nursing, engineering, data quality, criminal justice, and education. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate programs and more than 40 graduate programs.
U.S. News and World Report has recognized the William H. Bowen School of Law’s legal writing program as one of the nation’s Top 10, the School of Business among the top tier business schools in the country, and the George W. Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math’s systems engineering program as one of the best in the South.
UA Little Rock nursing students have the advantage of one of the country’s top state-of-the-art simulation hospitals, known as SimCare. It’s a 22-bed, high-fidelity hospital, training students in all areas of care as they work with interactive manikins that simulate a variety of medical-surgical scenarios.
Applied Design, a UA Little Rock program to study contemporary studio craft such as ceramics, metalsmithing and jewelry, and furniture design and woodworking is the only degree program of its kind in the state and one of the very few accredited programs in this specialty.
The UA Little Rock School of Criminal Justice houses the largest criminal justice program in the state and offers the only Ph.D. criminal justice program in Arkansas.
Research
Whether it’s building a better tomato or looking into cancer treatments, students get an opportunity to work alongside faculty, putting their knowledge to use in UA Little Rock’s state-of-the-art research facilities. Additionally, they are tackling big data for businesses and curating historical collections for the world to see.
UA Little Rock is a regional leader in using and teaching advanced technology in areas such as nanotechnology, information quality, and emerging analytics.
The university is a leader in the preservation and dissemination of Arkansas history through the alignment of the Department of History, the Master of Arts in public history program, and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. Collecting emphasis includes civil rights, politics, the built environment, and LGBTQ+ voices.
Campus
The UA Little Rock community embodies the Trojan spirit, which can be seen in the numerous acts of giving and outreach that take place on campus and beyond. As we embark on our institution’s Centennial Campaign, we look forward to expanding transformational opportunities for our students and building on our partnerships to fuel economic growth and community well-being.
What Makes UA Little Rock a Metropolitan University?
It is more than just where the university is located. A metropolitan university has a diverse student body: students are on average older and diverse in ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic background. Because the makeup of a metropolitan university is different, the mission of such an institution is different as well. Metropolitan universities must educate their students, but they also have to teach them to be effective citizens and capable in their chosen professions.
Metropolitan universities also have to reach beyond the borders of the campus. They must serve the needs of the community in which they are located by developing partnerships with public and private enterprises. A metropolitan university is an integral part of its region, shaped by its community even as it works with its community to shape its joint future.