University of Central Arkansas

[1] Statement of Purpose

The Graduate School at the University of Central Arkansas offers programs in professional and technical fields, liberal and fine arts, and basic sciences. Through graduate education, the University seeks to produce individuals with advanced knowledge and skills who appreciate learning and who can address issues creatively through inquiry and critical analysis.

The Graduate School has as its central purposes

• To provide support for graduate programs through the leadership of the Dean of the Graduate School and the Graduate Council, representing the graduate faculty;
• To ensure the quality of graduate programs through support for program self-assessment and through regular program review;
• To meet the needs of qualified students by providing access to graduate programs and opportunities for continued professional and personal development; and
• To stimulate and support creative, scholarly, and research activity through the University Research Council and the Office of Sponsored Programs.

[2] Graduate Degrees and Programs

The University of Central Arkansas offers coursework leading to a graduate certificate and two types of graduate degrees--professional degrees and research degrees--at three levels--master's, specialist's, and doctoral. A professional degree gives the student a specific set of skills needed to practice a particular profession or to enhance skills in an existing career. The research degree provides experience in research and scholarship.

[2.1] Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is designed to prepare students to become scholars and leaders. The scholar not only discovers, integrates, and applies knowledge but also communicates and disseminates it. PhD graduates have the ability to make significant contributions to scholarship in their disciplines. A leader guides and sets examples for others. Students in a PhD program are required to grasp complex intellectual issues in addition to the highly technical standards necessary for research and scholarship. The scholar becomes a leader by looking for connections, bridging theory and practice, considering implications of research, and fitting research into all professional roles.

PhD degree program graduates will demonstrate

• Skill in the conduct of original research, providing evidence of an understanding of research designs and the ability to formulate hypotheses, plan methodologies, gather data (quantitatively and qualitatively), draw conclusions, and effectively communicate research findings;
• Commitment to engage in scholarship after graduation and to discover new knowledge and develop theoretical principles that advance the understanding of their chosen disciplines;
• Breadth of knowledge of their disciplines and the research literature;
• Ability to teach at beginning and advanced levels of instruction;
• Leadership traits that guide their professions in identifying and resolving important questions and problems.

[2.2] Master's, Specialist's, and Professional Doctoral Degrees

The master's, specialist's, and professional doctoral degrees are awarded to students who achieve and demonstrate a level of academic and/or professional accomplishment and subject mastery substantially beyond that required for the baccalaureate degree. Graduates from master's, specialist’s and/or professional doctoral programs will demonstrate:

• Ability to think logically and consistently as well as to integrate and synthesize knowledge;
• Understanding of methods to access knowledge and information within their discipline;
• Ability to write in a clear, consistent, and logical manner;
• Understanding of the interrelationships between their disciplines and others; and
• Awareness of how to deal with ethical dilemmas within their professions and apply knowledge about their disciplines to real-life situations.

In addition to the above, graduates of the programs leading to the educational specialist or professional doctorate will demonstrate:

• Ability and skill to fill advanced clinical and educational roles;
• Ability to contribute to the scholarship of practice; and
• Ability to provide leadership and service related to their professions and society.

[2.3] Graduate Certificate Programs

In addition to its degree programs, the Graduate School offers graduate certificate programs, focused collections of courses (12-18 hours) which, when completed, afford the student a record of coherent academic accomplishment in a given discipline or set of related disciplines. Graduate certificate programs are designed by the university to enhance marketability of its graduate students and programs, to provide a service to the community at large through a short-term graduate program, and to provide expanded opportunities for students wishing to further their education for personal or career advancement.

[3] List of Degrees and Programs

The University of Central Arkansas offers work leading to the following graduate degrees and programs:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Communication Science and Disorders
Leadership Studies
Physical Therapy
School Psychology

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Educational Specialist (EdS)

Educational Leadership

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Master of Arts (MA)

English
History
Mathematics Education
Spanish

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Digital Filmmaking

Master of Geographic Information Systems

Master of Music (MM)

Master of Science (MS)

Applied Computing
Applied Mathematics

Biology
College Student Personnel Services and Administration
Community and Economic Development
Community Service Counseling
Counseling Psychology
Family and Consumer Sciences
Health Sciences
Instructional Technologies
Kinesiology
Library Media and Information Technologies
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
School Counseling

School Leadership, Management, and Administration
School Psychology
Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Science in Education (MSE)

Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning
Reading
Special Education (Collaborative Instructional Specialist, Ages 0-8; Collaborative Instructional Specialist, Grades 4-12)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Nurse Practitioner

Graduate Certificate Programs

Diverse Literatures
Geographic Information Systems

MSN Post Master's Certificate

[4] Graduate Faculty Profile

Two hundred and twenty nine (229) members of UCA's faculty (fewer than half) currently hold graduate faculty status. These faculty received their terminal degrees from more than 85 different institutions of higher education, with most of the major universities represented. Ninety-seven percent hold doctoral degrees. They offer a rich diversity in instructional and research knowledge. Additional instructors, some from off campus, are given limited graduate faculty status to teach specific graduate courses for which they are qualified.