Campus closed for winter break

UA Little Rock is closed Dec. 20 – Jan. 1 for the winter holidays.

Questions about online programs

If you have any questions regarding our online degree or certificate programs, please use our request for information form or call 501-569-3003 and leave a voice message. We will look into your inquiry when we return to campus Jan. 2 and respond to messages in the order they were received.

Meanwhile, please explore our website — including our FAQs — for more information about UA Little Rock Online programs.

Spring deadlines

When you are ready to apply, please review your program admission requirements, and check out our Become a Student page for step-by-step information about enrolling in the Online Campus.

Undergraduate applications and credentials for Spring 2020 are due to the Office of Admissions by Jan. 12 for undergraduate students. Current students who are interested in declaring an online-only program are encouraged to request a campus change through their advisor by Jan. 17. Spring 2020 full-term classes begin Jan. 21.

Graduate School application deadlines vary from program to program. Please contact the program coordinator for the deadline dates.

More important dates can be found on the University’s official academic calendar.

Master of Social Work ranked among best, most affordable programs

The University of Arkansas Little Rock’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been recognized among the best and most affordable of 2019.

Courtesy of SocialWorkDegree.org
Courtesy of SocialWorkDegree.org

Socialworkdegree.org ranked UA Little Rock No. 25 on its list of the Best Online Master’s in Social Work Degrees. The website, a product of SR Education Group, also ranked UA Little Rock No. 6 on its lists of Most Affordable Online Master’s in Social Work.

The website considers only CSWE Accredited programs in its rankings. “Best” programs are ranked by the reported salaries of the program’s alumni. For the “most affordable” designation, the website lists universities that offer an online master’s degree in social work and ranks them according to their tuition rates.

The mission of UA Little Rock’s School of Social Work graduate program is to prepare graduates for leadership roles in clinical practice and management and community practice within the welfare system. This nationally accredited program can be completed in two to three years, which includes the completion of both course work and field internships.

UA Little Rock online health program ranked among nation’s best

Courtesy of Online Schools Report

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online public health program has been ranked among the best in the nation for 2019.

According to Online Schools Report, UA Little Rock ranked No. 8 on its list of the Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Health. To determine the best public health programs, Online Schools Report checks data such as median debt of graduates from the program, student satisfaction, how many degrees are offered within that program’s department, and the percentage of students that graduated from that department.

The Bachelor of Science in health education and promotion is designed to prepare students as health professionals in community health agencies, health maintenance organizations, as well as business and industry wellness programs. The 120-hour online degree program is also designed to assist the entry-level health educator in taking the National Health Education Credentialing examination.

Online MSW Ranked Among Best in the Country

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online Master of Social Work program has been ranked among the best in the nation. 

OnlineMasters.com ranked UA Little Rock as 25th on its list of the Best Online Master’s in Social Work Programs for 2019. The research identifies 45 top programs in the nation based on curriculum quality, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes.

The UA Little Rock Master of Social Work online degree program prepares social workers for advanced practice and leadership roles. The 60-hour program particularly focuses on clinical social work practice, where students will learn contemporary, evidence-informed practice approaches that can be used across a wide range of settings and with diverse individuals, families, and groups. This nationally accredited program can be completed in three years, which includes the completion of both course work and field internships.

In addition to insights gained from industry professionals, OnlineMasters.com leveraged an exclusive data set comprised of interviews and surveys from current students and alumni. The methodology incorporates the most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and statistical data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Most importantly, only programs from accredited nonprofit institutions were eligible.

“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for social workers is expected to increase by 16 percent over the next several years,” said Barbara Montgomery, program recognition manager. “This job growth is much faster than the average for all occupations, which means significant opportunities for new graduates.”

Students who pursue a master’s degree in social work can gain employment as a mental health counselor, school social worker, foster care therapist, human service assistant and more.

To access the complete ranking, please visit the website.

Spanish certificate helps meet demand for bilingual workers

Workplace Spanish Certificate – UA Little Rock Online

To meet the increasing demand for bilingualism in our diverse world, UA Little Rock now offers a Workplace Spanish certificate that you can earn 100% online, on your own schedule. Taught by our experienced and knowledgeable on-campus faculty, this program will help you gain a practical skill that can boost your career and allow you to reach Arkansas’s growing Spanish-speaking population.

“Are you bilingual?” “¿Hablas español?”

These questions are becoming more common both on job applications and in the workplace. Answering “yes” could connect you with new clients and patients, or even help you land your dream job.

To meet the increasing demand for bilingualism in our diverse world, UA Little Rock now offers a Workplace Spanish certificate that you can earn 100% online. Taught by our experienced and knowledgeable on-campus faculty, this program will help you gain practical skills that can boost your career and allow you to reach Arkansas’s growing Spanish-speaking community.

Learn a practical skill for any profession

Dr. Erin Finzer, associate professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of World Languages at UA Little Rock, said the purpose of the certificate is to give students a more practical use for the language.

“We built this (certificate) program, building on curriculum that we already had in place, and seeing that our students were really looking to Spanish, not so much for the literature and cultural studies background that they used to,” Finzer said, “but more for a practical Spanish for the professions.”

Denzel Jenkins, one of the students in the program, is planning to major in both Spanish and Mass Communication. He said he hopes to use his Spanish proficiency in his filmmaking career.

“I have a passion for film, so I want to make movies in various languages besides English,” Jenkins said.

Expand your reach in a diverse world

Arkansas’s Latino population grew 10 percent to an estimated 205,000 between 2010 and 2014, according to the Pew Research Center. Latinos now make up more than 7 percent of the state’s total population, and that number is expected to increase.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the national Hispanic and Latino population to be around 57 million in 2015.

Finzer said some career areas that would particularly benefit from the Workplace Spanish certificate include business, nursing, criminal justice, and construction management.

This interdisciplinary certificate is aimed at students who don’t have a lot of room for electives, Finzer said; it can be completed in as little as 15 credit hours, or less than a year.

As a result, the program isn’t meant for fluency but for basic proficiency.

“It doesn’t promise fluency in Spanish,” Finzer said, “but a strong working foundation in communication basics where students can navigate a diverse world.”

Boost your career

Employers across all industries are increasingly hiring workers who can speak multiple languages.

Research published in March 2017 by New American Economy shows that the demand for bilingual workers in the United States more than doubled, with about 240,000 job postings aimed at bilingual workers in 2010 increasing to 630,000 postings in 2015.

With the United States having the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, it’s no wonder why.

Learn more about this program:

Workplace Spanish certificate information
Sources
PEW Research Center, “Demographic profile of Hispanics in Arkansas, 2014
U.S. Census Bureau, “Sumter County, Fla., is Nation’s Oldest, Census Bureau Reports (Release Number: CB16-107)
New American Economy, “Not lost in translation: The growing importance of foreign language skills in the U.S. job market
The Guardian, “US now has more Spanish speakers than Spain – only Mexico has more

UA Little Rock ranks among state’s top online schools

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as one of the best online schools in the state by the Community for Accredited Online Schools at AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org.

UA Little Rock was listed at No. 2—just barely being edged-out of the No. 1 spot by The University of Arkansas–Fayetteville.

AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is a comprehensive accreditation resource for people trying to select a college. Its goal is to help students “make informed decisions about which college to attend an avoid being saddled with student loans and worthless degrees from ‘diploma mills.’”

The resource takes a number of factors into consideration when ranking online institutions. To be considered for ranking the institution has to be accredited at the institutional level; classified as a private nonprofit or public school; have a minimum of one online bachelor’s or master’s degree program for a 4-year school; and have a minimum of one online associate degree or certificate for a 2-year school.

Schools are examined by the cost, the variety of programs offered, graduation rates, and the student-teacher ratio. UA Little Rock was noted for its accelerated programs and online resources, such as, Blackboard support, library resources and databases, and the online writing lab.

UA Little Rock currently has 22 accredited degree and certificate programs, as well as 14 minor programs, available 100% online.

UA Little Rock’s online programs have been recognized in the past for their excellence by TheBestSchools.org.

UALR ranked among state’s ‘Best Online Colleges’

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been ranked among “The Best Online Colleges in Arkansas” by TheBestSchools.org.

Ranked at #2, UALR is recognized by the site for its extensive degree selection, its study abroad programs, and its variety of online degrees, such as master’s degrees in criminal justice and education.

TheBestSchools.org staff made its decision for best online colleges in Arkansas “based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs,” according to the website.

The site has several lists that include the best colleges and degree programs, the best tuition-free colleges, and the best entry-level jobs. It also provides student resources, including school accreditation information and a college and university cost index.

Source: thebestschools.org