Degree Spotlight: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Posted on by Christopher Bailey

 

Degree Spotlight B A in Sociology

Dr. Adriana Lopez provides an overview of the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at UA Little Rock.

The UA Little Rock Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is a completely online program that focuses on the study of our behavior as social beings. The B.A. in Sociology program develops and deepens a student’s understanding of social factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, and social class.

“Sociology is this fascinating way of looking at society from different perspectives,” said Adriana Lopez, associate professor of sociology at UA Little Rock. “What sociology is going to teach our students is most of the concerns we worry about are shared by a lot of people.”

The 120-hour online program promotes the knowledge of key social factors and research design through courses such as minority groups, environmental sociology, and women in changing society.

Ramirez said the goal of the program is to teach students how to understand social structures, research methods, and the implementation of social policies.

Adriana Lopez/ eLearning Chris Bailey

“What we try to do in the sociology program is to get students to think about their place in society and how society shapes their options, likes, and attitudes,” Lopez said.

Because the B.A in Sociology degree covers a wide range of topics within the humanities, earning a sociology degree can be an advantage in numerous industries. Students who have earned a sociology degree are often well-positioned to pursue a career in human service administration, counseling, public office, or education.

Lopez explained sociology is a far-reaching and varying field that interacts with other disciplines like anthropology, political science, philosophy, and psychology, providing students a wide range of professional possibilities.

For more information on the B.A. in Sociology online program email: Kxlewis@ualr.edu

Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC)

Posted on by Christopher Bailey

At your Fingertips: Mathematics Assistance Center

Mathematics Assistance Center MAC

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If you are a student preparing for a math test or need tutoring to improve an overall grade, the UA Little Rock Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC) may be able to help. Located in rooms 409 and 478 of the Engineering Technology Applied Sciences (ETAS) building, the MAC is a place for students to study, do homework, or receive help from one of the tutors on staff.

In the past, the MAC has primarily offered students face-to-face assistance. However, after a trial run during the fall 2019 semester, the MAC now offers online assistance to students as well.

“We just started that this semester,” said Denise LeGrand, MAC Coordinator. “If students go to Blackboard and search for the ‘math assistance’ organization, they can go in there and we [assist] through Collaborate.”

Student working in MAC/ UA Little Rock Online Christopher Bailey

While an appointment is not necessary for on-campus assistance, LeGrand suggests online students make an appointment to give tutors a “heads-up” on the problem they are needing help with.

Tutoring is available for all online college math courses, according to LeGrand. The appointment form and hours of availability can be found on the MAC website.

Students who may have a difficult time explaining a particular math problem online can simply take photos or screenshot the problem and upload it along with the appointment form, according to LeGrand.

Another resource offered by the MAC is a website that allows students to take practice exams, download study guides, or work on a specific skill.

“We have a website we use called Edready which lets students review college math courses and take practice tests, and that’s all free for students,” LeGrand said.

For more information on the UA Little Rock MAC go to https://ualr.edu/mathematics/home/mathlab/  or call 501-371-7667.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

Posted on by Christopher Bailey

At Your Fingertips: Disability Resource Center

Disability Resource Center

UA Little Rock’s Disability Resource works to ensure accessibility to all students.

The UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center (DRC) collaborates with faculty and staff to ensure that physical, curricular, and web environments are accessible to as many students as possible.

“Say you have somebody who is blind or low visioned. If they can’t see the text, then it’s not accessible,” said Reed Claiborne, Director of the UA Little Rock DRC. “We try to focus on what the barriers are, versus what a student’s diagnoses are.”

Reed Claiborne DRC Director/ Photo Chris Bailey

Having been with the department for 12 years, Claiborne explains the focus of the department has shifted to reframing disability. Reframing in this context involves shifting the focus toward the design of the environment and the removal of barriers that prevent accessibility, according to Claiborne.

“By and large, the people that come to this office look like you and me; they just have hidden disabilities,” Claiborne said. “Whether a student is blind, low visioned, or temporarily having issues with vision, our job is to ensure the document is formatted properly for everyone with vision problems.”

Universal Design

In the DRC, the idea of reframing disability begins with the faculty.

“If an instructor has made sure materials are in an accessible format online, everyone will have access to the document regardless of their disability,” Claiborne said.

Many of the services offered in the DRC pertain to not only students but faculty members as well. The DRC will assist faculty members with captioning videos, braille materials, and converting books to audio or digital format.

All of the services and accommodations provided by the UA Little Rock DRC fall under the concept of “universal design.” Claiborne explains universal design as making sure preparation of curriculum, materials, and environments are accessible by not just a few, but all that need it. For example, automatic door openers benefit individuals using walkers and wheelchairs, as well as people carrying groceries or babies.

DRC Looking Ahead

As UA Little Rock’s enrollment of people with disabilities increases, the DRC is dedicated to furthering the resources currently being offered.

“Some of the things we’ve started to do is broaden the assistive technology that is out there,” Claiborne said. “We are testing an audio note-taking program that may help people who struggle with taking notes or reading notes from a notetaker.”

The audio notetaking program has been in use for 3 semesters and has been beneficial for a lot of students, according to Claiborne.

For more information regarding the DRC or accommodations needed, please contact

501-569-3143 or email disability@ualr.edu.