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2003 – 2004 Undergraduate Catalog

Opportunities for Exceptional Students

Graduation Honors

The bachelor's degree with honors will be conferred upon candidates who graduate and earn a minimum cumulative grade point on all courses taken (both transfer courses and credit courses at UALR) as follows:

A minimum of 30 hours in residence at UALR is required to qualify for a degree with honors. A student qualifies for honors based on the grade point average on all hours, including repeated courses at UALR and including transfer hours whether or not accepted for credit.

All academic work, including transfer courses and repeated courses, is included in the final calculation for honors. Some courses from institutions outside of the U.S. are calculated in the admissions process on a pass/not pass basis. In order for a student to be considered for honors, all credentials from institutions outside of the U.S. must be evaluated to determine an A, B, or C equivalency.

The associate degree with honors will be conferred upon candidates who at graduation have earned a minimum cumulative grade point on all college work (both transfer and residence credit) of 3.70. The recipient must have met all requirements for graduation with an associate degree and must not have completed more than 83 credit hours.

A UALR student can be awarded graduation honors only once. Students who graduate from another college or university and pursue a second undergraduate degree at UALR are not eligible for honors.

University and departmental honors (but not awards) are posted on the academic transcript.

Departmental Honors

Several departments at UALR offer honors programs to exceptional students. Admission to an honors program is generally tied to the student's grade point average and year standing and may require nomination by a faculty member. Such programs are distinct from graduation with honors; in addition to meeting and maintaining a certain grade point average, qualifying students take a special curriculum in the major. Requirements may include advanced study, seminars, or a research project and presentation. Departmental honors are posted on the student's academic transcript at graduation.

The departments currently offering honors programs are:

Contact the individual departments for more information.

Donaghey Scholars Program

C. Earl Ramsey, director.

The Donaghey Scholars Program is UALR's Universitywide honors program. Its interdisciplinary curriculum promotes critical thinking and active learning. Scholars classes demand wide reading and extensive writing and lead to vigorous discussions and frequent independent study.

The Donaghey Scholars admissions process uses academic records, test scores, written essays, recommendations, and personal interviews to determine whether the student would benefit from admission to the program. Since space in the program is limited to a total of 80 students, admission is highly competitive. Each year's class is composed of incoming college freshmen, students transferring from other colleges, and UALR students who have been referred to the program by faculty members. Both traditional and nontraditional students are in the Scholars Program.

Students who are admitted to the program are granted a scholarship equal to the full in-state tuition, a stipend (currently $1800, $3050, or $4300 per semester), and a generous subsidy applied toward study abroad. Scholars who perform satisfactorily are assured of up to eight semesters of support.

Scholars classes are small, making it possible for faculty to get to know students and their interests. Informal advising is frequent. Formal advising in the Scholars Program is handled by the director for all scholars who have not declared a major. Because the Scholars Program has requirements spread over four years, the director remains informed of the scholar's progress in meeting these requirements, even when formal advising has been transferred to the department of the scholar's major area of study.

Scholars Program Requirements

Scholars Core Courses:

Other Requirements:

The Scholars Program has a specially designed interdisciplinary curriculum, which replaces the University's core curriculum requirements.

Students admitted to the Donaghey Scholars Program who meet all of the requirements of the Program, as well as all of the requirements in their major and minor fields, graduate as Donaghey Scholars.

Courses in Scholars Program (SCHL)

SCHL 1101, 1102 Scholars Colloquium I and II

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. Weekly discussions with faculty and community representatives and a time for advising, testing, and other organizational aspects of the program. One credit hour each semester.

SCHL 1300, 1301 Rhetoric and Communication I and II

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. Logic combined with oral and written communication; critical examination of ideas and facts in a rhetorical context; and effective communication. Three credit hours each semester.

SCHL 1320, 1321 Science and Society I and II

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. Science as a mode of thought and a method of inquiry; impact of scientific thought and scientific technological discoveries on humanity. Three credit hours each semester.

SCHL 2300, 2301, 3300 History of Ideas I, II, and III

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. This course examines three recurring themes: humanity's conceptions of and perceived relationships to the divine; humanity's conceptions of reality in general and perceived methods of knowing this reality; and humanity's conceptions of the roles people do and should play as individuals and as members of the social order. These themes are studied in both Western and nonWestern cultures, using the methods of history, philosophy, and the study of literature. This is a three-semester course; all three semesters must be taken. The normal sequence is II, III, I. Three credit hours each semester.

SCHL 2310, 2311 Individual and Society I and II

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. Individual and group relationships, combining views from political science, anthropology, psychology, literature, and history. Three credit hours each semester.

SCHL 3310, 3311 Individual and the Creative Arts I and II

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. An examination of the role of artistic endeavors in enriching human life, including material from art, architecture, music, dance, literature, and theatre. Students must attend and discuss concerts, plays, exhibits, and related events. Three credit hours each semester.

SCHL 3150, 3250, 3350 Scholars Seminar

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. Special courses on topics that vary from semester to semester. Scholars seminars will explore issues in depth from an interdisciplinary perspective. These seminars involve active modes of learning (such as reports, projects, or fieldwork); enrollment is normally limited to 15. Non-scholars students are admitted when space is available. One, two, or three credit hours.

SCHL 4399 Independent Study

Prerequisite: admission to the Scholars Program or consent of the program director. This course is designed for students engaged in research leading to the Scholars final project. Topic and thesis committee must be approved by the Scholars Policy Council. Three credit hours.

Honors Organizations

The national honor society of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines. Members are elected each year from among the upper 10 percent of the senior class and the upper 5 percent of the junior class. Provision is also made for the election of outstanding graduate students and distinguished faculty. The UALR chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was established in 1972.

There are also subject-oriented honors organizations at UALR. The construction management program sponsors the International Construction Management Honor Society, Sigma Lambda Chi, which provides construction management majors with scholastic achievement and leadership skills in professional and social activities. The sociology and anthropology department sponsors the honors sociology organization, Alpha Kappa Delta, which provides sociology and anthropology majors with a 3.00 grade point average or above access to professional and social activities. The physics department sponsors an active chapter of the physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma, and the political science department has a local chapter, Iota Mu, of the honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. Contact the individual departments to inquire about honors organizations.

Academic Programs and Requirements

Degree Programs Offered at UALR

Doctor of Philosophy

Applied Science

Doctor of Education

Educational Administration
Higher Education

Juris Doctor

Education Specialist

Educational Administration
Reading

Master of Applied Psychology

Master of Arts

Art: History, Studio, or Education
Chemistry
College Student Affairs
Criminal Justice
Gerontology
Higher Education: Two-year College Teaching
Interpersonal and Organizational Communication
Journalism
Liberal Studies
Professional and Technical Writing
Public History
Rehabilitation of the Blind
Rehabilitation Counseling
Second Languages

Master of Business Administration

Master of Education

Adult Education
Counselor Education
Early Childhood Education
Educational Administration and Supervision
Learning Systems Technology
Middle Childhood Education
Reading Education
Secondary Education
Special Education
Teaching the Gifted and Talented

Master of Health Services Administration

Master of Public Administration

Master of Science

Applied Science
Biology
Chemistry
Communicative Disorders1
Computer Science
Integrated Science and Mathematics
Management Information Systems
Mathematical Sciences

Master of Social Work

Bachelor of Arts

Art History
Chemistry
Criminal Justice
English
French
German Studies
History
International Studies
Interpretation: ASL/English
Journalism
Liberal Arts
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Professional and Technical Writing
Psychology
Radio, Television, and Film
Sociology and Anthropology
Spanish
Speech Communication
Studio Art
Theatre Arts

Bachelor of Business Administration

Advertising/Public Relations
Economics
Finance
General Business
International Business
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing

Bachelor of Science

Accounting
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Construction Management
Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology
Environmental Health Sciences
Geology
Health Sciences
Health Professions
Information Science
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Physics
Speech Pathology
Systems Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Education

Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Middle Childhood Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Associate of Arts

General Studies
Interpretation: ASL/English
Law Enforcement

Associate of Science

Computer Programming
Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Nursing

Certificates

Conflict Mediation (post-baccalaureate)
Gerontology (post-baccalaureate)
Marriage and Family Counseling (post-masters)
Nonprofit Management (post-baccalaureate)
Rehabilitation Counseling (post-masters)

The Academic Program

The academic year includes two regular semesters in the fall and spring and a summer session of four terms. Some courses are also available during the interims between semesters.

The unit of credit is the semester hour. This unit is defined as credit earned for the completion of one hour per week in class for one semester. Two hours or more of laboratory work per week for one semester equal one semester hour of credit. UALR offers night (i.e., after 4:30pm) and weekend courses, both on campus and at various off-campus locations. Admission requirements, fees, and academic performance for night and weekend classes are the same as for day classes.

Continuing education courses are offered as a service to specific professional and vocational groups of the community. These are available on both a credit and non-credit basis.

Undergraduate Curriculum

The undergraduate educational experience at UALR is directed toward developing the following nine competencies: aesthetic experience, critical thinking, ethical and moral consciousness, historical consciousness, international awareness, mathematics, philosophy and methods of science, social and cultural awareness, and verbal literacy. All baccalaureate degrees, including the BA, BBA, BS, BSE, and BSW, include the following components:

  1. A core curriculum program of study
  2. A major, or area of concentration, as specified in the college and department sections of this catalog
  3. A minor, or area of secondary concentration, also specified in the college and department sections of this catalog (for exceptions to the requirement for a major and a minor, see Item 10 in the section "Baccalaureate Degree Requirements" that follows)
  4. For students seeking BA and BSE degrees: Successful demonstration of foreign language proficiency at the 2000 level, the equivalent to 9 hours of a foreign language at UALR. (1311, 1312, and 2311)
  5. For students seeking a BSW degree: Successful completion of the equivalent of the first 6 hours of a foreign language at UALR or demonstration of proficiency at that level

Each of these components is described more fully in the material that follows.

Core Requirements

A student seeking a baccalaureate degree must complete a total of 44 hours in core courses. Listed below are the required categories, the number of hours required in each category, and the specific courses that will fulfill that requirement. Students majoring in a program of study offered through the CyberCollege follow a different core. See "CyberCollege Core Requirements" on page 167.

Core Requirements for Bachelor Degrees

English/Communications (9 hours)

Math (3 hours)

Science (8 hours)

Fine Arts/Humanities (9 hours)

One of the following sequences (6 hours):
One course (3 hours) from the following:

Social Sciences (15 hours)

Competencies and Core Curriculum

The purpose of the core curriculum is to establish a foundation for the undergraduate academic experience and to ensure that students develop fundamental skills and a lifelong commitment and ability to learn. All courses stress active learning, reading and writing, and critical thinking. In addition, all courses are aimed at one or more of nine basic competencies.

Written and Oral Literacy

All three courses required (9 credit hours):

RHET 1311 Composition I

Practice in writing, with an emphasis on personal, expressive writing, as well as transactional writing. Focus on organizing and revising ideas and writing well organized, thoroughly developed papers that achieve the writer's purpose, meet the readers' needs, and develop the writer's voice. Final course grades are A, B, C, or no credit. Students must complete this course with a grade of C or greater to take Composition II. Three credit hours.

RHET 1312 Composition II

Prerequisite: RHET 1311 with a C or greater or equivalent. Those students required by state law to enroll in READ 0310 must successfully complete that course before enrolling in Composition II. Practice in writing, with an emphasis on academic forms. Focus on analysis, argumentation, and research and documentation writing. Final course grades are A, B, C, or no credit. Three credit hours.

SPCH 1300 Speech Communication

Helps students effectively deliver an oral presentation to an adult audience; listen to and critique objectively the oral presentations of others; effectively participate in one-to-one communication experiences using techniques of active listening, conflict resolution, and information gathering; effectively organize, participate in, and lead small groups as they problem-solve; and recognize and use effective oral language as a tool of sound reasoning. Student performance is emphasized along with lecture, discussion, and self-instructional study center exercises. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Three credit hours.

Mathematics and Statistics

One of the following courses required (3 credit hours):

MATH 1302 College Algebra

Prerequisite: a grade of C or greater in MATH 0301, an equivalent transfer course, or a suitable score on a mathematics placement test (See "Credit by Examination" on page 36). Relations, functions, graphing, systems of linear equations and inequalities, matrices and determinants, roots of polynomials, logarithmic and exponential functions, sequences, series, mathematical induction and the binomial theorem. Three hours. Three credit hours.

MATH 1315 College Mathematics

Prerequisite: a grade of C or greater in MATH 0301, the equivalent, or a suitable score on a mathematics placement test (See "Credit by Examination" on page 36). Functions, analytic geometry, formulas and variation; set theory; logic; probability and statistics, combinatorics, populations, samples, normal distribution, mean, variance, and standard deviation. This course is as sophisticated as College Algebra and satisfies the state mandated requirement for the baccalaureate degree. Three credit hours.

Lab Sciences

Eight (8) hours required from the following courses:1

ANTH 1415 Physical Anthropology

A hands-on examination of the study of past and present human and nonhuman primates as biological organisms. Topics include human genetics, variation and osteology, nonhuman primate taxonomy and behavior, forensic anthropology and the human fossil record. Four credit hours.

ASTR 1101 Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory

Prerequisite or corequisite: ASTR 1301 or 1311. A laboratory course designed to accompany ASTR 1301. Projects involve a variety of activities in data acquisition and analysis which tie concepts discussed in the classroom to real-world experiences. Students do these projects in the open laboratory, the planetarium, and the observatory. One credit hour.

ASTR 1301 Introduction to Astronomy

An introductory astronomy course in which students learn about the process of science by studying the various methods by which we have learned our place in the cosmos. Students will study specific examples of the kinds of observations which can be made and the inferences drawn from them. Examples will emphasize how we have obtained our knowledge of the universe and the certainty of various parts of that knowledge. This course, together with the associated lab, ASTR 1101, will satisfy four hours of the science core curriculum requirement. Three credit hours.

BIOL 1400 Evolutionary and Environmental Biology

Evolutionary, ecological, and environmental interrelationships among organisms. Basic biological principles and modern technology form the basis for inquiry and debate. The impact of society upon global biodiversity is examined from competing viewpoints. The role of science in shaping society and the influence of society upon science are evaluated. Students learn through reading, writing, computer simulations, videos, field exercises, and through participation in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory. Four credit hours.

BIOL 1401 Science of Biology

The process of science, including observation, evaluation, and predictions, will be applied to the understanding of biological principles. The methods of science will be illustrated in the study of major biological concepts including the cell theory, energy transformation, inheritance, and the theory of evolution. Selected biological systems will be surveyed to compare life forms to examine current human related issues. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory. Four credit hours.

CHEM 1409 Chemistry and Society

A general education course for non-science majors which satisfies four hours of the lab science requirement in the University core curriculum. This course examines the impact of chemistry on today's world. Ideas about the atom, the nature of radioactive elements, chemical bonding, plastics, pollution, drugs, and pesticides are sample topics which will be covered from both a scientific and historical perspective. Satisfies four hours of the lab science requirements in the University core curriculum. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory per week. Four credit hours.

ERSC 1102 Physical Geology Laboratory

Prerequisite or corequisite: ERSC 1302. A laboratory course designed to accompany ERSC 1302. Students observe, gather and manipulate data, interpret data, and make field measurements using minerals, rocks, graphs, and maps. The laboratory meets for two hours per week. One credit hour.

ERSC 1103 Historical Geology Laboratory

Prerequisite or corequisite: ERSC 1303. A laboratory course designed to accompany ERSC 1303. Students are involved in geologic data gathering, manipulation, and interpretation along with field measurements and problem solving. Two hours laboratory. One credit hour.

ERSC 1302 Physical Geology

Introduction to the science of geology, the geological view of the human environment, how geologists learn about Planet Earth, and how society and geology interact. Active learning applied to natural processes shaping the earth's surface, producing the solid and fluid earth, and historical development of geological paradigms. Three hours lecture. Three credit hours.

ERSC 1303 Historical Geology

Introduction to the science of geology, how geologists have learned about the Earth using geologic time as a theme. Active learning applied to various measurements of time, the documentation of evolutionary changes presented by the geologic record, and the development of geologic paradigms used in interpreting this record. Three hours lecture. Three credit hours.

Arts

Six (6) hours required from one of the following two sequences:2

Sequence I
FNAR 2300 Introduction to Fine Arts I

Prerequisite: RHET 1311. A course for students majoring in or with special interest in the arts. The first of two courses designed to give students competence in aesthetic experience through integrated studies in arts, music, and theatre/dance. Introduction to the arts and the creative process, how to write about the arts, and vocabulary and descriptive terms used in them. Attendance at arts events is required. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Fulfills core requirement in aesthetics along with FNAR 2301. Three credit hours.

FNAR 2301 Introduction to Fine Arts II

Prerequisite: FNAR 2300. Recommended: HIST 1311 or 1312. A course for students majoring in or with special interest in the arts. The second of two courses designed to give students competence in aesthetic experience through integrated studies in arts, music, and theatre/dance. Introduction to the history of the various visual and performing arts and their interrelationships and to the study of eras and periods through their artistic creations. Further develops skills in describing and analyzing the arts. Attendance at arts events is required. Fulfills core requirement in aesthetics along with FNAR 2300. Three credit hours.

Sequence II
ARHS 2200 Introduction to Visual Art

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. Introduction to the creative process and history of art, vocabulary and descriptive terms used in the visual arts, and how to write about them. Attendance at arts events is required. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Fulfills core requirement in aesthetics along with MUHL 2200 and DRTH 2200. Two credit hours.

MUHS 2200 Introduction to Music

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. Introduction to the creative process and history of music, vocabulary and descriptive terms used in the musical arts, and how to write about them. Attendance at arts events is required. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Fulfills core requirement in aesthetics along with ARHA 2200 and DRTH 2200. Two credit hours.

DRTH 2200 Introduction to Theatre and Dance

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. Introduction to the creative process and history of theatre and dance, vocabulary and descriptive terms used in these disciplines, and how to write about them. Attendance at arts events is required. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Fulfills core requirement in aesthetics along with ARHA 2200 and MUHL 2200. Two credit hours.

World Humanities

Three (3) hours required, chosen from the following courses:

ENGL 2337 World Literature

Prerequisite: completion of the first year writing requirement. Study of selected texts reflecting various Western and nonWestern literary heritages and traditions. Assigned works represent several national literatures, with at least one major text from each of four periods (antiquity, medieval, early modern, and the modern period) and from a minimum of three literary genres. Three credit hours.

ENGL 2338 World Literature Themes

Prerequisite: completion of the first year writing requirement. This class addresses the same competencies as ENGL 2337, but through exploration of a specific topic. Either 2337 or 2338 satisfies the core requirement, but they are distinctive courses and both may be taken for credit. Three credit hours.

PHIL 2320 Ethics and Society

Prerequisite: RHET 1311 recommended. Study of selected texts reflecting a variety of ethical systems from Western and nonWestern literary heritages and ethical traditions. Assigned works represent several national ethical literatures, with at least one major ethical text from each of four periods (antiquity, medieval, early modern, and the modern period). Three credit hours.

World History

Both courses required (6 credit hours):

HIST 1311 History of Civilization I

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. The history of the world's significant civilizations from their beginnings to approximately A.D. 1600: the development of integrated political, social, economic, religious, intellectual, and artistic traditions and institutions within each of those cultures; significant intercultural exchanges. Three credit hours.

HIST 1312 History of Civilization II

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. The history of the world's significant civilizations since approximately A.D. 1600: examination of the persistence of traditional civilizations and the changes in the world order due to the development of modern industrial society, modern science, and the nation state. Three credit hours.

U.S. Traditions

One of the following courses required (3 credit hours):

POLS 1310 American National Government

An introduction to the political institutions, processes, and patterns of the national government of the United States, focusing on the Congress, presidency, and courts, and on their interrelationships. Attention is given to suffrage and elections, political parties, interest groups, and public opinion. Significant issues and problems of national policy such as civil rights and civil liberties are considered. Three credit hours.

HIST 2311 US History to 1877

Description, analysis, and explanation of the major political, social, economic and diplomatic events through "Reconstruction." Special attention is devoted to the cross-cultural development of three civilizations, Native American, European, and African, within the geographical context of the North American continent. Major topics for study include European colonial empires; the American Revolution; the Constitution of 1787; evolution of a national government, federal in system and republican in form; social and economic theories and practices; relationship with foreign governments; and the American Civil War. Three credit hours.

HIST 2312 US History since 1877

Description, analysis, and explanation of the political, social, economic and diplomatic events to the present time. Special attention is devoted to the forces of modernity and the impact of cultural pluralism on traditional institutions. Major topics for study include industrialization; agrarianism; labor; immigration; reform movements; total and limited war; economic theory and practice; and the US's role in world affairs. Three credit hours.

Individuals, Cultures, and Societies

Two of the following courses required (6 credit hours):

ANTH 2316 Cultural Anthropology

Prerequisite: RHET 1311 recommended. Examines the concept of culture, cultural processes, and anthropological theories. Topics include subsistence strategies, politics, religion, gender, ethnicity, economics, marriage, stratification, and socialization. Case studies from both small-scale and large-scale societies. Three credit hours.

CRJU 2300 Introduction to Criminal Justice

An exploration of the historical development, current operation, and future trends of criminal justice. Emphasis on contemporary problems in the definition of law, the enforcement of law, strategies of policing, judicial systems, sentencing strategies, and correctional practices. Content includes not only practices in the United States, but also other cultures and their systems of justice. Three credit hours.

ECON 2301 Survey of Economics

The wants of individuals and societies are unlimited, while the resources for satisfying these wants are limited. Consequently, choices have to be made. Economics is the science of choice. Survey of Economics introduces students to the ability to use theories or models to make sense out of the real world and devise policy solutions to economic problems. Both individual and firm choices (microeconomics) and society choices (macroeconomics) are examined. The role of markets in summarizing choices and allocating resources is introduced. ECON 2301 will not satisfy the University Core Curriculum requirements if ECON 2322 and ECON 2323 are taken for graduation credit. Three credit hours.

GNST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies

Recommended: RHET 1311. A cross-cultural, interdisciplinary analysis of gender. Includes examination of gender identity, social roles, and cultural symbolism in politics, economics, family, health, socialization, religion, and language. Three credit hours.

GEOG 2312 Cultural Geography

Recommended: RHET 1311. The nature, distribution, and development of various cultural systems as they interact with each other and with their environment. A study is made of spatial patterns in the elements of culture, including population, religion, language, political ideology, economic activities, and settlement. Examination of the processes that have changed the natural landscape to a cultural landscape. Three credit hours.

JOUR/RTVF 2330 Mass Media and Society

Survey of relationships involving mass media, culture, and various other interconnected systems, both nationally and globally. Includes discussion of functions, freedoms, and responsibilities of mass media, and effects on individuals and social groups. Topics will include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and other media. Three credit hours.

POLS 2301 Introduction to Political Science

Introduction to social science concepts as applied to political analysis. Analysis of individuals, groups, and society, particularly the study of social, economic, and political structures and behavior. Introduction to the discipline of political science as a social science, including enduring questions about politics, nature of political analysis, major theoretical and empirical approaches, and critiques of the discipline. Three credit hours.

PSYC 2300 Psychology and the Human Experience

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. This course focuses on the development of the individual in the context of physical and social environments. Topics include the scientific method as it applies to studying the individual, the relationship between brain and behavior, social and personality development, theories of motivation, maladaptive behavior, social cognition and interaction, and the effects of membership in different groups on the development of the individual. Students will learn through writing, reading, discussing, listening, and participating in critical thinking and problem-solving activities. Three credit hours.

RELS 2305 Religious World Views

Prerequisite: RHET 1311 recommended. Examines the global patterns of contemporary world religions as symbol systems and expressions of discrete, coherent world views. Three credit hours.

SOCI 2300 Introduction to Sociology

Recommended prerequisite: RHET 1311. Introduction to sociological concepts. Analysis of society, particularly the study of human organization. An overview of the theories and methods utilized in the discipline is provided and will be used as a framework for critical analysis. Students will learn to investigate group and societal connections in major social institutions-religion, family, politics, economics, education. Three credit hours.

State Minimum Core Curriculum

As a public institution, UALR participates in the State Minimum Core Curriculum, which allows students to transfer freely up to 35 hours of general education or core courses among Arkansas institutions. Students transferring to or from UALR and another publicly supported Arkansas college or university should check with their advisors to assure proper transfer of core courses.

Students entering the University with an associate of arts degree from an Arkansas college or university meet UALR's core curriculum requirements. Specific majors may have additional requirements.

Academic and Graduation Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

These general provisions apply to all students earning a baccalaureate degree. Students are responsible for keeping themselves informed regarding their degree plans. This includes official communications issued to faculty and students and all regulations, policies, changes, and requirements affecting a student's status at UALR as stated in this catalog.

  1. The minimum number of hours required for graduation is 124, of which 30 hours must be taken in residence.
  2. A student's final 30 hours of work toward a degree, including at least 9 hours of work in the major field, must be taken in residence at UALR except by permission of the dean of the college or school in which the student is majoring. If residence requirements have already been met, seniors may earn up to 12 of their last hours at another institution. No more than 6 of these 12 hours may be by correspondence. Hours earned through the Credit by Examination Program can be counted as hours toward graduation but not as hours in residence.
  3. A minimum of 45 hours of upper-level work is required.
  4. Students may count two courses, up to eight hours, toward both major and minor requirements. However, limitations may exist in some programs. Students should check with their advisors.
  5. A minimum of a C average (a 2.00 cumulative grade point) is required on all work attempted at the University, in the academic major, and in the academic minor.
  6. Seniors completing the course requirements for graduation in summer school may participate in the May commencement exercises, provided they have a 2.00 grade point, will not need more than two courses or seven credit hours in summer school, and have applied for summer graduation. These candidates may receive any special honors and awards for which they are eligible.
  7. Students in the process of completing more than one major may have one calendar year following graduation with one major to complete the additional declared major(s) if:
    1. The student has a valid degree plan on file which specifies requirements for more than one major.
    2. The student comopletes an application for graduation which indicates that a total of seven or fewer hours remain to complete the additional major(s).
  8. Students may elect to graduate under the provisions of the UALR Undergraduate Catalog in effect during any semester they are in residence at UALR before they qualify for a degree. Students who interrupt their enrollment at UALR for more than five consecutive calendar years may not follow the provisions of any Undergraduate Catalog before the one in effect at the time they re-enroll. Students transferring to UALR from regionally accredited four-year institutions, community colleges, or junior colleges, with 13 or more hours accepted credit may elect to graduate under the provisions of a UALR Undergraduate Catalog in effect during any semester within the last five years they are enrolled in the aforementioned institutions. In no case may such a student follow the provisions of a UALR Undergraduate Catalog more than five years old at the time of his or her entry into UALR. A college or school may, with approval through the usual curriculum process, institute a more restrictive requirement.
  9. Transfer students must earn a minimum of 30 consecutive hours in residence, not including credit by examination.
  10. A maximum of 15 credit hours by correspondence study may be applied toward an undergraduate degree. To qualify for UALR credit, a correspondence course must be approved in writing by the department in which the equivalent course is being offered. Applicability of correspondence courses to a specific major or minor must be approved, in writing, by the department in which the major or minor is being offered. The Office of Records and Registration must approve each such enrollment. See "Course Load and Enrollment Limits" on page 36.
  11. Students enrolled at UALR must obtain approval-preferably in advance-from their advisors and complete a Special Exception Form in order to assure that courses taken at other institutions will be applied toward UALR graduation requirements. The Special Exception Form can be obtained from the Office of Records and Registration.
  12. Major and minor emphases are required for all degree programs unless otherwise specified. The requirements may be fulfilled as follows:
    • A major and a minor.
    • A combined major-minor.
    • A major and an associate degree, transferred from another institution, in a program not offered at UALR. This option must be approved by the major department chair and college dean.
    • A double major. Students completing two majors must specify on their graduation application whether they want their majors listed on one diploma or on separate diplomas.3
  13. A student's program of studies for completing an academic major or minor must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and college or school dean. In addition, students seeking teacher certification must have the approval of the dean of the College of Education. See "Degree Plan" on page 38.
  14. A maximum of four credit hours in leisure science courses may be applied toward a degree.
  15. A formal application for graduation must be filed at the Office of Records and Registration.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A second baccalaureate degree may be conferred subject to these provisions:

  1. Students must complete at least 30 credit hours in residence (excluding credit by examination) beyond their first degree.
  2. Only credits earned at UALR after completion of the first degree will normally apply toward the second degree. However, a student in the final semester of studies toward the first degree may complete the course load for that semester with courses applicable to the second degree provided the student files a written statement of intent with the Office of Records and Registration at the time of registration.
  3. A major must be completed. Courses completed within the previous degree that satisfy requirements for the second major may be accepted as satisfying course requirements, but not as hours toward the second degree. These hours do not count as part of the 30, except as specified in Item 2 above.
  4. A minor is not required.
  5. If not taken as a part of another baccalaureate degree, a course in United States history or government (HIST 2311, HIST 2312, or POLS 1310) must be completed, See "U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement" on page 34.
  6. There is no foreign language proficiency requirement for students seeking second baccalaureate degrees.

Associate Degree Requirements

Except for certain programs as specified elsewhere in this catalog, all students receiving the associate degree (the AA or AS) must successfully complete at least 62 hours including the following 15 hours of core courses:

Graduation with an associate degree requires a C average (2.00 cumulative grade point average) on all work attempted at the University; completion of at least 20 hours above the freshman level, unless specified otherwise in the program; and completion of the final 15 hours (excluding credit by examination) in residence. A maximum of six credit hours by correspondence study may be applied toward an associate degree. The provision on credit by examination given in the section on core curriculum also applies to associate degrees.

Courses completed for an associate degree at UALR will be counted toward the appropriate requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Second Associate Degree

An associate degree may be conferred as a second degree when the first degree is either a baccalaureate or another associate degree, subject to these provisions:

  1. The second associate degree must be in a different discipline from the first degree.
  2. Students must complete at least 15 credit hours in residence (excluding credit by examination) beyond their first degree.
  3. Only credit earned at UALR after completing the first degree will normally apply toward the second degree. However, students in their final semester of studies toward the first degree may complete the course load for that semester with courses applicable to the second degree. Students must file a written statement of their intent to seek a second degree with the Office of Records and Registration at the time of registration.
  4. A major must be completed. Courses completed within the previous degree that satisfy requirements for the second major may be accepted as satisfying course requirements, but not as hours toward the second degree. These hours do not count as part of the 30, except as specified in Item 3 above.
  5. The core curriculum component in the second associate degree is not required. However, the state requirement for the United States history or government course does apply if the student has not successfully completed such a course as part of another degree program.

Developmental Courses

The developmental courses at UALR are MATH 0300 Elementary Algebra, MATH 0301 Intermediate Algebra, RHET 0310 Composition Fundamentals, and READ 0310 College Reading. UALR's admission policy requires that all developmental courses be completed during a student's first 42 hours of course work.

Students may not take any developmental course at UALR more than twice. A student is considered to have taken a developmental course if he or she receives a grade of NC or W for the course. Students who have failed to pass a particular developmental course twice should speak to their advisors or the department offering the course to explore other options for covering the material. A student is not considered to have taken a developmental course if he or she has been granted academic clemency since that time.

Developmental Courses and GPAs

Grades from developmental courses will not be computed into a student's official grade point average (GPA). Credit hours earned from developmental courses do not count towards the minimum required for the student's degree.

Course Eligibility, Requirements, and Developmental Course Options

Rising Junior Exam

The "Rising Junior Exam," officially called the Arkansas Assessment of General Education (AAGE), is designed to assess students' learning in the general education core. State law requires all baccalaureate students at publicly funded colleges in Arkansas to take the AAGE when they have completed between 45 and 60 college-level hours. College-level hours include all accepted transfer hours but do not include developmental hours. Students who completed 60 college-level hours before January 1, 1995 are exempt from the AAGE.

Students should take the exam as close to the 60-hour point as possible, as completion of more of the general education core requirements will likely result in a higher score. Students who have reached the 60-hour point must take the exam in order to proceed to their junior year.

The Office of Testing Services makes every effort to notify sophomores when they are eligible to take the Rising Junior Exam. Eligible students who have not been notified should contact Testing Services. It is the responsibility of each student to make whatever arrangements are necessary to be present for the exam as scheduled.

Arrangements will be made for students with disabilities who need special accommodations. Such students should notify the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research when they submit their registration.

For additional details, contact the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research, (501) 569-3198.

U.S. Traditions: United States History or Government Requirement

Arkansas law requires that all students who receive an associate or baccalaureate degree successfully complete a course in U.S. history or U.S. government.

This requirement can be met by HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877, HIST 2312 U.S. History Since 1877, or POLS 1310 American National Government. Other United States history or government courses may also meet this requirement. However, the student should check with an advisor in the Department of History or the Department of Political Science before choosing to meet the requirement with any other course.

Second Language Requirement

BA and BSE Students

Students seeking a BA or BSE degree are required to complete a 2000-level second language course or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as measured by a competency test. Languages which may be used to meet the second language requirement include French, German, Spanish, American Sign Language, and other languages as approved and arranged through the Division of International and Second Language Studies. Students may meet the requirement in one of the following ways:

BSW Students

Students seeking a BSW degree are required to complete the elementary I and II levels of a second language sequence of courses (Foreign Language 1311 and 1312 or Interpretation 1320 and 1321) or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as measured by a competency test. Languages which may be used to meet the second language requirement included French, German, Spanish, and American Sign Language. Students may meet the requirement in one of the following ways:

Demonstrating Proficiency in a Second Language to Satisfy the Requirements for BA, BSE, and BSW Degrees

Students who wish to meet second language requirements by demonstrating proficiency should take either the CAPE test or the American Sign Language Proficiency test before enrolling in UALR language courses. These tests are also used to determine placement in the appropriate language courses.

The following students do not need to take the test before enrolling in a language course:

Second language course waivers may be granted to students with verified disabilities, after examination by a special committee. Students seeking such a waiver should contact the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, (501) 569-3204.

French, German, or Spanish

Students must take a computerized, multiple-choice test (the F-CAPE, the G-CAPE, or the S-CAPE) coordinated by the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research.

To demonstrate proficiency in a language other than French, German, or Spanish, students should contact the Division of International and Second Language Studies, Stabler Hall 201, (501) 569-3272.

American Sign Language (ASL)

Students must take a two-part test administered by the Department of Counseling, Adult, and Rehabilitation Education's (CARE) interpreter education program. The first part of the test is a written multiple choice exam. The second part is an interview with program faculty conducted in American Sign Language. Results of both the written test and interview are shared with the student at the end of the interview. Students should contact the Department of CARE for an appointment.

Academic Policies

Academic Adjustment Policy

In compliance with federal regulations, it is the policy of UALR to respond to student requests for course accommodation, substitution, and other adjustments because of a documented disability on an individual basis and in a manner that does not result in discrimination. Where requests are complex and not easily handled through the regular course substitution procedures, an established committee will review the case and make a determination.

Students who wish to request academic adjustments because of a disability should consult the academic adjustment procedures, which are printed in the UALR Student Handbook, or contact Disability Support Services at (501) 569-3143.

Academic Advising

Academic advising at UALR is based upon a review of a student's entire record for purposes of placement in required course work that leads to the completion of the student's desired major.

Advising is mandatory for all students each semester and must be done well in advance of published registration dates. Provisional and temporary students are not eligible for academic advisement until all required admission credentials are submitted and evaluated by the Office of Records and Registration. After this evaluation has occurred, academic advising will be required each semester.

Undeclared majors will be advised by advisors in University College's Office of Academic Advising until they are accepted into the college of their major. Each college has established entrance requirements for majors.

Academic Clemency

Any undergraduate student who has previously attended UALR or its predecessor institutions (Little Rock Junior College or Little Rock University) and whose attendance at UALR has been interrupted for a period of at least two years may qualify to request academic clemency providing he or she meets all of the criteria specified below. Under this policy a student may apply to have grades and credits earned at UALR previous to the separation removed from his or her grade point average. Approval of a request for clemency requires the signature of the student's advisor and the provost.

After re-entering UALR following a separation of at least two years, a student may request academic clemency at the Office of Records and Registration. The student shall specify the term(s) for which clemency is desired. The request will be forwarded, along with appropriate permanent record information, to the student's advisor for approval. The advisor shall forward the request to the provost.

Clemency shall cover all credits earned during the term(s) for which clemency is requested. A student who requests and receives academic clemency is ineligible to graduate with honors.

The student's complete record will remain on the transcript with the added notation of academic clemency received. The student's grade point average and hours completed will be recalculated from the date that academic clemency is received.

Any petition for academic clemency must be requested and granted prior to the awarding of a degree. Once the degree is awarded, the record is closed and the academic clemency policy cannot be invoked.

Academic clemency may be approved only once.

For purposes of degree requirements, a student who receives clemency must follow the provisions of the Undergraduate Catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Academic Probation and Suspension Policy

Students will be placed on academic probation at the end of a term if their current term or cumulative grade point average (GPA) drops below a 2.00 GPA. Students on academic probation are limited to a maximum of 13 credit hours each semester. Students will continue on academic probation as long as their current term or cumulative GPA continues to remain below a 2.00 GPA. Students needing fewer than 18 credit hours for graduation may request an exemption for the credit hours restriction to the students' academic advisor or department chairperson. Denial of this request may be appealed to the dean of the college and the provost. Students will be removed from academic probation when both their current term and cumulative GPAs are 2.00 or above. If after two successive terms of academic probation the student's current term and cumulative GPAs are below 2.00, the student will be academically suspended for one semester (either fall or spring term).

Students admitted with academic deficiencies will be limited to a maximum of 13 credit hours each semester. When such a student achieves a current term and cumulative GPA of 2.00 the limitation in hours is removed. If the student fails to obtain the required current term or cumulative GPA then the student is placed on academic probation. Such students will not be subject to academic suspension until the end of the third semester unless they were admitted on a single semester contract basis.

Students who have finished their academic suspension are required to reapply through the Office of Records and Registration. These students will be re-admitted on academic probation, limited to 13 credit hours per semester while on probation, and placed in a single semester probation status. This status requires that the student achieve a current term GPA of 2.00 or better each term until the student's cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher. Failure to achieve a term GPA of 2.00 or better while in a single semester probationary status will result in academic suspension for one academic year (two semesters, fall and spring). Students in a single semester probationary status who are suspended at the end of the spring semester or at the end of a summer term will be eligible for re-admission no earlier than Summer 2 of the following year.

Transfer students on academic probation or suspension their last semester or term and who are eligible to return to their previous institution may be admitted to UALR. If admitted, they will be placed on academic probation, limited to a maximum of 13 credit hours per semester while on probation, and placed in a single semester probationary status. Failure to achieve the 2.00 GPA or better will result in academic suspension for one academic year.

Advanced Academic Tests

One of the standard national graduate admissions tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination, the Miller Analogies Test, the Graduate Management Admission Test, or the Law School Admissions Test, is strongly recommended, and often required, for the student who anticipates doing graduate or professional work at UALR or at another institution after receiving a baccalaureate degree. Informative brochures, registration forms, and testing dates are available from the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research.

Also, each student in a baccalaureate teacher education program must take the Praxis Series (Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers, formerly called the National Teacher Examinations) during the final semester or during the student teaching semester. Each examination is administered according to a nationally arranged schedule. Information bulletins, registration forms, and testing dates are available from the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research.

Attendance

Each faculty member has the prerogative of setting specific attendance requirements for classes. In some courses, active student participation is an integral part of the course, and the instructor may base a portion of the students' grades on attendance and participation. In general, students are expected to attend class regularly. Students who miss class are responsible for finding out about the material covered, homework assignments, and any announcements or examinations. Students may be administratively withdrawn from a class by the instructor for excessive absences during the semester.

Chancellor's and Dean's List

Names of students whose academic performances have been superior are recorded on the Chancellor's and the Dean's Lists. This recognition is also noted on the student's grade report and on official transcripts. This status will be granted at the end of each semester in which the following qualifications have been met:

Chancellor's List:
Dean's List:

Changes in Enrollment

The academic calendar lists deadlines for dropping or adding a class or section. This schedule is binding for all students. Adding or dropping a course, including transferring from one section to another or changing credit status in a course may be accomplished through the automated telephone or computer registration system within the published time limits.

Continuing Education Unit

For certain non-credit educational activities, UALR awards the Continuing Education Unit (CEU). One CEU is awarded for every 10 contact hours of instruction. A CEU is not applicable toward a degree nor can it be converted to regular academic credit.

Cooperative Education

UALR Cooperative Education integrates a student's academic study with work experience. The work experience lasts 16 weeks during the fall and spring semesters and 10 weeks during the summer semester. The student is involved in a supervised, paid, and credit-bearing internship related to his/her area of study. For more information, call the Office of Cooperative Education at (501) 569-3584.

Course Load and Enrollment Limits

UALR must define enrollment statuses by mandate of the U.S. Department of Education. These definitions are used to determine eligibility for financial aid and scholarships, and are used consistently throughout the campus.

Undergraduate summer semester enrollment hours include hours from all summer terms. The full-time, three-quarter, and half-time enrollments are the same as fall or spring semesters. Course load definitions for graduate students are different and can be found in the UALR Graduate Catalog.

A student may not enroll for more than 18 credit hours in a regular semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer) without prior permission of the person who approves his or her degree plan. In the case of undeclared majors, permission must be obtained from the Office of Academic Advising. The 18-hour limit includes all work for academic credit, including residence, correspondence, and extension work.

Courses Taken by UALR Students
at Other Colleges and Universities

Students may choose to enroll at another academic institution while attending UALR. In order to assure that the credit received elsewhere meets UALR degree program requirements, students must complete the Special Exception Form available in the Office of Records and Registration. Students are strongly urged to complete this form before taking the course.

Credit by Examination

UALR offers students the opportunity to obtain credit through examination in certain courses. There are currently four sources of examination credit:

All tests conform to these general regulations:

Departmental tests and CLEP subject examinations are administered at UALR. Excelsior College Examinations are computer-based tests administered at Prometric Testing Centers. Any prospective, currently enrolled, or continuing student may take these tests.

Students who take CLEP or Excelsior College Examinations should have official score reports sent directly to the UALR Office of Testing Services for evaluation. Credit obtained through examination is recorded as approved hours on the student's official, permanent record without grade or grade points after the student has been enrolled at UALR for one semester.

Additional information may be obtained from Testing Services by calling (501) 569-3198 or at the web site: http://www.ualr.edu/testing/.

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Course Eligibility, Exemption, or Credit by Advanced Placement (AP) Score1

AP Test

Minimum Score

Eligibility, Exemption, or Credit and UALR Course(s) awarded

Art

Art History

3

Exempt from

ARHA 2310 Survey of the History of Art I2

4

Credit for

ARHA 2310 Survey of the History of Art I
ARHA 2311 Survey of the History of Art II3

5

Credit for

ARHA 2310 Survey of the History of Art I
ARHA 2311 Survey of the History of Art II

Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio

3

Exempt from

ARST 1310 Basic Drawing

4

Credit for

ARST 1310 Basic Drawing

5

Credit for

ARST 1310 Basic Drawing and 3 elective hours

Studio Art: General Portfolio

3

Exempt from

ARST 1315 Two-Dimensional Design

4

Credit for

ARST 1315 Two-Dimensional Design

5

Credit for

ARST 1315 Two-Dimensional Design and 3 elective hours

Biology

Biology

3

Credit for

BIOL 1401 Science of Biology

Environmental Science

3

Credit for

ENHS 2320 Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences

Chemistry

3

Exempt from

Eligible to enroll in

CHEM 1300 Preparation for General Chemistry

CHEM 1402 General Chemistry I

4

Credit for

CHEM 1400 Fundamental Chemistry I

or CHEM 1402 General Chemistry I

5

Credit for

CHEM 1400 Fundamental Chemistry I

or CHEM 1402 General Chemistry I

and CHEM 1403 General Chemistry II

Computer Science

Computer Science A

3

Contact Testing Services

Computer Science AB

3

Contact Testing Services

Economics

Macroeconomics

3

Credit for

ECON 2323 Principles of Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

3

Credit for

ECON 2322 Principles of Microeconomics

English

Language and Composition

3

Credit for

RHET 1311 Composition I

Literature and Composition

3

Eligible to enroll in

RHET 1320 Honors Composition

4

Credit for

Exempt from

ENGL 2335 Introduction to Literature

RHET 1311 Composition I

Foreign Languages

French Language

3

Credit for

FREN 1311 Elementary French I

FREN 1312 Elementary French II

FREN 2311 Intermediate French I

French Literature

3

Credit for

FREN 3332 Introduction to French Literature

German Language

3

Credit for

GERM 1311 Elementary German I

GERM 1312 Elementary German II

GERM 2311 Intermediate German I

Latin Literature

6

Credit for

CLNG 2301 Intermediate Classical Language I

CLNG 2302 Intermediate Classical Language II

Latin Vergil

6

Credit for

CLNG 1311 Elementary Biblical Hebrew

CLNG 1312 Biblical Hebrew Reading

Spanish Language

3

Credit for

SPAN 1311 Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 1312 Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 2311 Intermediate Spanish I

Spanish Literature

3

Credit for

SPAN 3332 Introduction to Spanish Literature

Geography

Human Geography

3

Credit for

GEOG 2312 Cultural Geography

History

European History

3

Credit for

HIST 1311 History of Civilization I

HIST 1312 History of Civilization II

U.S. History

3

Credit for

HIST 2311 U.S. History to 1877

HIST 2312 U.S. History since 1877

World History

3

Credit for

HIST 1311 History of Civilization I

HIST 1312 History of Civilization II

Mathematics

Calculus AB

2

Eligible to enroll in

MATH 1305 Calculus II4

3

Credit for

MATH 1304 Calculus I

Calculus BC

2

Eligible to enroll in

MATH 1305 Calculus II4

3

Credit for

Eligible to enroll in

MATH 1304 Calculus I

MATH 1305 Calculus II

MATH 1452 Engineering Calculus II

Calculus BC "AB Subscore"

2

Eligible to enroll in

MATH 1305 Calculus II4

3

Credit for

MATH 1304 Calculus I

Statistics

3

Credit for

STAT 4350 Statistical Methods

Music

Music Theory

3

Credit for

MUTH 1310 Music Fundamentals

Physics

Physics B

3

Credit for

PHYS 1321 Elementary Physics I

PHYS 1322 Elementary Physics II

Physics C Mechanics

3

Credit for

PHYS 2321 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

Physics C Electricity and Magnetism

3

Credit for

PHYS 2322 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

Political Science

Comparative Government and Politics

3

Credit for

POLS 2301 Introduction to Political Science