Academic Advising Center

       A Detailed List of What You Should Bring:

·         Acceptance Letter:  You will need the login information given to you in this letter to complete part of your new student orientation.

·         Immunization records:  Health Services will need proof of immunization records.  Students can print this immunization form and take it to their doctor for verification of immunization.

·         Computerized Placement Test (CPT) Scores:  Many students score below 19 on the ACT in the areas of English, Math, and/or Reading, or they have no ACT scores at all. Students who lack ACT scores are required to take the CPT for placement purposes. All students, except those scoring above 19 in areas on the ACT will need to take the CPT placement test BEFORE your registration visit, and bring the scores with you.  Typically, UCA’s Testing Office is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, but please contact them before making plans. The three tests offered, English, Reading, and Mathematics, cost $10 each and might take approximately 30 minutes to complete each section.

·         College Transcript(s):  Many students have taken college classes while in high school.  To receive credit at UCA for these courses, and, most importantly, to receive proper course placement, you must bring an official copy of your college (not high school) transcript with you to your registration visit. If your college transcript has been sent to UCA, please verify in URSA that your credit has been posted to your advising transcript. For further information about how courses might transfer between state institutions, check out the Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS).         Back to list

·         Advanced Placement (AP) scores:  To receive credit and proper course placement, you must bring your AP scores with you to your registration visit.  If you have not received your AP scores yet, it will be your responsibility to have them sent to the Advising Center at UCA as soon as possible.  If you do not have your scores during your registration visit, you will be advised as though you have pending AP credit, and subsequent schedule modifications may be required before the fall semester begins. For UCA's specific policies related to AP credit, please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin Section (8.2).

·         College Level Examination Program (CLEP):  If you have already taken a CLEP test, please treat those scores the same as AP scores, described above.  For more information on taking a CLEP test through the UCA Testing Office, click here.  For UCA's specific policies related to CLEP credit, please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin Section (8.1).

·         IB (International Baccalaureate) credit: For UCA's specific policies related to IB credit, please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin Section (8.3).

·         Foreign Language Placement Results:  All students wishing to take a foreign language at UCA must first take a placement test if they have already taken courses in that language. This must be done BEFORE your registration visit so that you can bring a print-out of the results with you.  The placement test can be taken online at your convenience by clicking here.          Back to list

·         Course Placement Information:  Please note that all UCA students must take “WRTG 1310 – Introduction to College Writing”, as well as any required transitional classes (i.e. Intermediate Algebra, Transitional Reading/Writing) during their FIRST semester unless documentation is provided.  Documentation for Writing credit would include AP or CLEP scores or Transfer credit.  Documentation for transitional classes would include ACT scores above 19, CPT scores testing out of transitional classes, or college transcripts of completed coursework.  If documentation is not provided AT THE REGISTRATION VISIT, the students will be placed in College Writing 1310 or transitional classes without exception.  Similarly, students will not be able to advance beyond pre-requisite courses, such as advancing past College Algebra and Trigonometry to take Calculus I, without written proof of pre-requisite credit.  

·         Additional Course Assessments

o    Chemistry & Biology – Several majors require some chemistry and/or biology coursework.  To enroll in any major-related chemistry or biology course at UCA, a student must have had sufficient preparation in high school, or must first take a chemistry fundamentals (CHEM 1301) course which does not count for general education requirements.  To determine whether you have had sufficient high school preparation for CHEM 1450 or 1402 or BIOL 1440, please look at the Chemistry Skills Assessment.    

And Here is a List of Things You Should be Thinking About:

Ø  Learning Communities:  At UCA, freshmen have the opportunity to be a part of one of our learning communities, which are fantastic ways for you to really connect with campus and be part of a wonderful shared learning experience.  A learning community is a group of students who in some way have a common bond, and can learn together and from each other.  We have several different learning communities at UCA, and, if you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to find the one that is right for you:       Back to list

o    Residential Colleges – The communities create a living/learning experience centered around your residence hall.  Currently, there are three halls:  State, Hughes, and Short/Denny – each with its own theme.  Students in these residential colleges will take some of their courses right there in their own residence hall, and will also have the opportunity to take part in many other events and programs.  These fill up fast, so if you are interested apply here.  For more information, click here.  

o    SAM Commuter College – Will you be commuting to UCA?  Well we didn’t forget about you.  The SAM program is similar to a residential college only for off-campus students.  It provides courses exclusively for SAM students, taught in a central location on campus, as well as programs geared specifically towards the needs of commuter students.  For more information, click here.

o    Course Clusters – Another way to be part of a learning community at UCA is to sign up for a course cluster.  These are courses that have been grouped together so that the same cohort of students is enrolled in each of the clustered classes.  In this way, you will have the opportunity to really get to know some of your classmates and form study groups. 

o    University College – Students who need extra support in making the jump from high school to college will benefit from their membership in the University College.  This provides an orientation course, several helpful presentations, small class size, and plenty of one-on-one opportunities with faculty, advisors, and tutors.  Admission to this learning community is selective, based on high school GPA and ACT scores, and includes (but is not limited to) most students who will be taking transitional courses.  If you will be a member of the University College, your advisor will notify you during your registration visit.        Back to list

o    Honors College – This highly selective community is designed to create a liberal arts college experience within the larger public university.  Students will take one Honors Core class a semester, each of which will have its own theme.  They will also have the opportunity to live in the Honors Village, study abroad, and to write a formal thesis at the undergraduate level.  If you have been selected for the Honors College, you should be notified before your registration visit.

Ø  First Year Experience Course - This course will prepare you for success in the university and in life by introducing you to the aims and activities of higher education as well as your rights and responsibilities as a student and a member of a global, diverse society. You will advance your knowledge, both theoretical and practical; your intellectual skills will grow and be asked to think seriously about your attitudes and values. You’ll explore why you’re at UCA and what UCA has to offer you now and for your future. Universities across the nation are now requiring students to take an FYE course because studies show FYE students have better grade performance, higher learning results, and increased graduation rates. UCA students are strongly encouraged to take this course as an elective.  Notify your advisor during the registration visit if you would like to take this course.  For more information, click here.

Ø  Majors –  For a list of all UCA Majors and Minors, click here.  The Model Plans of Study and the Undergraduate Bulletin are vital tools to help you in exploring various majors.  Please inform your advisor of all majors that you are considering, regardless of whether you will be declaring yet or not. At UCA, all students have the benefit of waiting to declare their major.  Students uncertain about a major may remain "Undeclared" or "QUEST". The designation of “QUEST” is for any "undeclared" student who is still making the decision of what to major in, and these students will receive the support of professional advisors who specialize in helping students without majors.

Ø  Eight  Semester Contracts – If you do choose to declare a major, you may have the opportunity to enter into an eight semester agreement with UCA, under which both you and the university would be required to take certain, specified steps that would ensure that you graduate in eight semesters.  Some degrees are not eligible.  To see whether a particular UCA degree is eligible, look for the “PCP8S” designation in the far right hand column of the Model Plans of Study page. To view an example of the eight semester agreement, click here. To view the Arkansas law from which the eight semester agreement program originated, click here.           Back to list

Ø  Scholarships – Your advisor will not be aware of the requirements for any scholarships you might have.  You may have one or more UCA scholarships (such as a music scholarship, academic scholarship, etc.) or you may have an outside scholarship (such as the Arkansas Academic Challenge or a privately funded book scholarship).  It will be up to you to understand the requirements of your particular scholarship(s) and make sure that you are enrolled in the necessary number of credit hours.

Ø  Music Majors and Courses – Any student wishing to major in music needs to make contact with the Music Department as soon as possible in order to ensure correct course placement.  Any non-major student who wishes to take a music course will be allowed to take University Chorus or Marching Band without auditioning.  Any student wanting to take a music ensemble course other than these two must audition BEFORE they can register for the course.  Contact the Music Department for more information about auditioning.  

Ø  Transitional Classes – If a student scores below a 19 in certain areas of the ACT, he or she will be required to take a transitional class in that subject area during his or her first semester at UCA unless the student has tested out through the CPT or provide documentation of completion of the transitional course(s).  These classes are not for college credit, but are mandatory in order to continue enrollment.  An 18 or below in reading results in the transitional class “UNIV 1301 Transitional Reading.”  An 18 or below in writing results in “UNIV 1300 Transitional Reading,” and an 18 or below in math results in either “UNIV 1330 Beginning Algebra” or “UNIV 1340 Intermediate Algebra.”  The student does have the option of taking the Computerized Placement Test as an additional method of course placement BEFORE their registration visit.                          Back to list