Students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will have an easy transition should they decide to transfer to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to pursue study in an allied health specialty.

UA Little Rock and UAMS recently signed a series of 2+2 agreements that clearly outline pathways for students who earn the Associate of Arts in General Studies at UA Little Rock to then transfer to UAMS to complete a Bachelor of Science degree.

Transfer options are available in seven degree program areas:

• B.S. in Ophthalmic Medical Technology
• B.S. in Radiologic Imaging Sciences
• B.S. in Cytotechnology (1 year)
• B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences (1 year) – and online
• B.S. in Respiratory Care
• B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences
• B.S. in Dental Hygiene

While UA Little Rock has articulation agreements with other UAMS colleges, the 2+2 agreements with the College of Health Professions are new. The agreements have the potential for saving students time and money because students will know exactly which courses are needed.

“The goal of 2+2 is to provide clarity about degree requirements in an easy-to-understand format, so students know exactly what courses they need to complete at UA Little Rock, how they will transfer to UAMS, and the professional coursework required for completion of their program of choice,” said Phyllis Fields, associate dean for student affairs in the UAMS College of Health Professions. “This provides a clear pathway that will aid the student in planning while hopefully reducing time and cost associated with earning the degree.”

All of the UAMS degree options are full-time programs in high-demand fields. Dental hygienists, for example, easily find work. In Arkansas, 85 percent of state’s dental hygienists are UAMS graduates, Fields said.

The cytotechnology program can be completed in one year at UAMS, and graduates are in demand nationwide. They work in non-direct patient care in hospitals and private labs and play a vital role in the discovery and detection of cancer, pre-cancerous cell changes and diseases using a microscope.

The Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences program also can be completed in one year and is an online only program.

Employment in allied health overall is projected to grow, with 2.4 million additional jobs expected between 2016 and 2026, Field said.

“We are glad to partner with UAMS in preparing practitioners for these high demand fields,” said Sarah Beth Estes, interim dean of  UA Little Rock’s College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. “These agreements allow students to obtain a good foundation in the liberal arts while also efficiently achieving the prerequisites required to enter allied health programs.”

Students in the 2+2 program must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the Associate of Arts in General Studies program at UA Little Rock and gain admission to UAMS. Advisors between the two institutions will work together with students.

To learn more, visit the Trojan Academic Advising and Support Center.