The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online Applied Communication program has been ranked among the best in the country.

Higher education information and resource provider Best Communications Degrees highlighted UA Little Rock on its list of the Top 20 best online bachelor’s degree programs in communications.

“Our editors noted that University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers a nationally ranked online bachelor’s in communications at a reduced fixed rate for digital students, regardless of residency status,” said Jamie Weitl, communications manager at Best Communications Degrees.

Rankings were based on tuition value, national profile of the program, student-faculty ratio, curriculum, professional experience of faculty members, and specialized services tailored for online learners.

The 120-credit-hour Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communication program teaches students how to use a positive communication framework to ethically lead by analyzing messages, developing messages, anticipating communication barriers, accomplishing communicative goals, embracing difference, and influencing discourse.

“The faculty came up with these program goals after much brainstorming and a needs assessment from the industry, which shows that employers look for skills in graduates such as the ability to make presentations, communicate effectively, ethically influence others, and create and edit reports based on research,” Program Advisor Dr. Avinash Thombre said.   

In addition to approximately 60 main campus students, 40 students are now enrolled in the online program that began in 2015. Graduates often find employment in jobs like public relations officer, copywriter, human resources manager, corporate trainer, conflict mediator, information officers, and development and fundraising directors.

“I have talked to several students who try to seek quality education as they try to balance their family and work life,” Thombre said. “We work with students on a one-to-one basis, understanding their career goals and advising them to get into classes which will help them hone skills in intercultural communication, conflict management, organizational communication, and group communication.”

For more information about the online degree, contact Thombre at axthombre@ualr.edu, or Chair Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter at axchathamca@ualr.edu, or the department office at 501.569.3158.