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University of Central Arkansas
Undergraduate Bulletin 2006 - 2008

Undergraduate Bulletin
Document Number 2.03

Admission to the University

[1] Introduction

The Office of Admissions at the University of Central Arkansas serves as the contact for all new domestic undergraduate students to the university. Interested students are introduced to the university through Bear Facts Days, college planning programs, high school visits and campus tours. The office also processes all domestic undergraduate applications for admission and notifies students of their admission status.

Inquiries about admission to undergraduate study at the university should be addressed to the Admissions Office. This office receives and processes all applications and supporting documentation for admission to UCA. The Office of Admissions notifies applicants of their admission status.

All materials submitted for admission become the property of the university.

Falsification of any record, including the Application for Admission, is cause for immediate dismissal.

[2] First-Time Freshman Admission

The University of Central Arkansas welcomes all applications for admission. Entering freshman applications are evaluated on the basis of academic achievement, as evidenced by high school grade point average, standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), and rank in high school graduating class and other high school achievements. The number of entering freshmen may be limited by the resources available to the university to provide quality academic programs according to standards established by the Board of Trustees.

A first-time freshman is defined as any student who has not previously enrolled in a college or university.

[3] Readmission for Former UCA Students Not Currently Enrolled

Readmission for former UCA students who have not been in attendance for one semester is required. An application for readmission form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar and should be returned to that office with all required information. An official transcript of all colleges and/or universities attended since the last enrollment at UCA must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar by the appropriate institutional official (e.g., registrar).

[4] College Preparation Core

Act 1290 (1997 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas) states that anyone who graduates from an Arkansas high school after May 1, 1999, must complete the college core curriculum in order to qualify for unconditional admission to public colleges and universities. This is in addition to any other requirement(s) for unconditional admission established by an individual institution. Students must successfully complete the required hours of core academic subjects (2.0 GPA) and any remedial course work within the first 30 semester hours.

[5] Early Admission

[5.1] Full-Time

The student who desires to accelerate a formal education may apply for admission to the university at the end of the junior year in high school.

In addition to regular admission criteria, a student seeking early admission will have completed a minimum of six semesters of secondary school work, earned a B or better average, have an ACT composite score of at least 25, or equivalent scores on the SAT or ASSET exams, and be recommended by the high school principal.

[5.2] Part-Time, Concurrent with High School Enrollment

High school students enrolled in UCA concurrent credit courses are admitted to the university as part-time pre-baccalaureate students. Once they have received their high school diploma or GED, those students wishing to attend UCA will go through the regular admissions process to be admitted to the university.

Criteria for admission under this program are currently under review.

[5.3] Summer Study for High School Students

A student between the junior and senior year in high school is eligible to apply to attend summer school at the University of Central Arkansas. This special program provides an opportunity for the capable student to find rewarding learning experiences and benefit from an early start in the college career. Once admitted, such a student attends regular college courses and earns college credit applicable to a degree.

Upon the successful completion of the special summer program, the student may elect to return to high school for the senior year, or apply for the early admission plan that substitutes the freshman year in college for the fourth year in secondary school. All of the requirements of the early admission program need to be satisfied before the student is admitted early.

In addition to regular admission criteria, admission to the summer program is predicated upon the following special requirements: completion of six semesters of secondary school work; a grade average of B; and recommendation of the high school principal or counselor.

[6] Admission on an Adult-Special Basis

The adult-special classification applies to persons over twenty-one years of age who desire to take undergraduate courses for no credit. The adult-special classification approval for participation requires the consent of the instructor before the student is admitted. Satisfactory completion of the course is recorded on a permanent record maintained by the university, but no grades are issued. The adult-special student pays full registration fees.

[7] Admission as a Transfer Student

A student who has attended another college or university and has never attended UCA must apply for admission as a transfer student and will not be considered a first-time freshman, even though no credits were earned at the previous institution. Falsification of any record, including the Application for Admission, is cause for immediate dismissal.

An official transcript must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the appropriate institutional official (e.g., registrar). For placement in college writing and mathematics, ACT, SAT, or ASSET scores are required. All requirements related to the Arkansas Assessment of General Education must be met when applicable.

A transfer student is required to have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA on all previous course work attempted at previous institutions. After enrollment at UCA, the GPA accumulated in residence at the university shall be the cumulative grade point average.

[8] Transfer of Credit

Students entering the university who have attended a college or university accredited by an appropriate regional accrediting agency, such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, will receive credit on an evaluation of a transcript of their records submitted. Transfer credit is designated by the level on which it is earned. Normally only credits with A, B, and C grades are transferable. The University will, however, accept for transfer a maximum of six hours of credit with D grades, subject to the following conditions:

Anyone transferring to the university will be required to earn at least fifteen hours credit in the major and nine hours credit in the minor in residence prior to graduation. This regulation is binding even though the student has sufficient hours of credit otherwise to meet requirements of the major and minor. All standards with respect to transfer credit are binding and are not, therefore, subject to appeal.

There is no limit on the number of credit hours that may be transferred to the university; however, a maximum of sixty semester hours (exclusive of four activity hours in physical education) transferred from a two-year institution may be applicable toward a baccalaureate degree. The equivalent of two full years' work (sixty semester hours) at the senior college level will be required for a baccalaureate degree.

Acceptance of credits and subsequent establishment of standing are provisional until completion of one semester of satisfactory work in residence at UCA.

The university publishes "Transfer Credit Guidelines," which specifies UCA course equivalents for courses taught at each of the Arkansas public community and technical colleges.

[9] Associate of Arts Degree Articulation Agreement

The University of Central Arkansas participates in an agreement with two-year institutions of higher education in Arkansas to assist students holding an Associate of Arts degree.

Satisfactory completion of an Associate of Arts degree designed for transfer will be accepted as satisfying the general education requirements of UCA. A student who holds an Associate of Arts degree with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average will be accepted for transfer with junior classification subject to the following conditions:

  1. The Associate of Arts degree must include the following courses (SCH = semester credit hour[s]):
    English Composition (Writing): 6 SCH
    Arts and Humanities: 9 SCH (including 3 semester hours survey of literature)
    Speech: 3 SCH
    College Algebra (or above): 3 SCH
    Natural Science (Lab/Bio/Phys Sci): 8 SCH
    Social Sciences: 15 SCH (must include 3 semester hours of US history or government and 3 semester hours in Western Civilization. The remaining 9 hours must include 3 semester hours in 2 of the following areas: psychology, sociology, economics, geography, political science, or anthropology)
    Health/Physical Education: 2 SCH
    TOTAL: 46 SCH
  2. Remedial course grades will not be computed in the cumulative grade point average for purposes of admission to a four-year institution.
  3. Courses taken to satisfy AA degree requirements must be transferable to the four-year institution.
  4. Degree and program requirements (catalog rights) for students who transfer from a two-year institution to a four-year institution under this agreement will be determined in the same manner as if their initial enrollment had been at the four-year institution; and
  5. Participating institutions will provide all other participating colleges and universities with current copies of catalogs/curricular requirements as they are published.
  6. Calculation of overall GPA for purposes of graduation and awarding of hours is left to the discretion of the institution granting the degree or award.

[10] State Minimum Core Curriculum

In accordance with Act 98 of 1989, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the following core curriculum. Students who successfully complete these courses at UCA may transfer the credit to any state college in Arkansas.

[10.1] English/Communications

Six (6) hours required

ENGL 1310 Composition I or
WRTG 1310 Introduction to College Writing or
HONC 1310 Honors Core I

ENGL 1320 Composition II or
WRTG 1320 Academic Writing or
HONC 1320 Honors Core II

[10.2] Mathematics

Three (3) hours required

MATH 1360 Mathematics for Society or
MATH 1390 College Algebra or
A higher-level mathematics course

[10.3] Science

Eight (8) hours required

Four (4) hours from the following:

BIOL 1400 Biology for General Education
BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I

Four (4) hours from the following:

CHEM 1400 Chemistry in Society
CHEM 1450 College Chemistry I
CHEM 1402 Physiological Chemistry I
PHYS 1400 Physical Science for General Education
PHYS 1401 Descriptive Astronomy
PHYS 1405 Applied Physics
PHYS 1410 College Physics I
PHYS 1441 University Physics I

[10.4] Fine Arts/Humanities

Six (6) hours required

Three (3) hours from the following:

ART 2300 Art Appreciation
MUS 2300 Music Appreciation
SPTA 2300 Theatre Appreciation (now THEA 2300)
HONC 2320 Honors Core IV

Three (3) hours from the following:

ENGL 2305 World Literature I
ENGL 2306 World Literature II
ENGL 2370 Introduction to Fiction
ENGL 2380 Introduction to Poetry
ENGL 2390 Introduction to Drama
FLAN 2315 Cultural Traditions
FYFS 1301 First Year Seminar: Studies in Humanities
FYFS 1310 First Year Seminar: Studies in World Cultural Traditions
HONC 1310 Honors Core I
HONC 2310 Honors Core III
PHIL 1301 Philosophy for Living
PHIL 2305 Critical Thinking
PHIL 2325 Contemporary Moral Problems
PHIL 2360 Gender, Race, and Class: Philosophical Issues
RELG 1320 World Religions

[10.5] Social Sciences

Twelve (12) hours required

Three (3) hours from the following:

HIST 2301 American Nation I
HIST 2302 American Nation II
PSCI 1330 US Government and Politics

Three (3) hours from the following:

HIST 1310 World History I
HIST 1320 World History II

Six (6) hours from the following:

ECON 1310 Modern Political Economy
ECON 2310 Global Environment of Business
GEOG 1305 Principles of Geography
HONC 1320 Honors Core II
PSCI 1330 US Government and Politics
PSCI 2300 Introduction to International Relations
PSYC 1300 General Psychology
SOC 1300 Principles of Sociology
SOC 1302 Anthropology

[11] Admission of International Students

All inquiries about international admission should be addressed to International Programs, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, Arkansas 72035, USA, fax (501) 450-5095, or e-mail oip@mail.uca.edu.

To apply for admission as an undergraduate, international applicants must submit the following:



  1. Application for Undergraduate Admission.
  2. Non-refundable application fee of US $40.00 drawn from a US bank, or an international money order.
  3. Original or certified copies of all secondary school, college, and university transcripts, with a certified English translation of each.

    Freshman Applicants:
    Applicants who have completed secondary school and are applying for freshman (first year) admission must meet one of the following criteria:

    1. Secondary school cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale; or
    2. Rank in upper 40% of secondary school graduating class; or
    3. Composite ACT score of 19 or above; or
    4. Combined SAT score of 930 or above; or
    5. Five passes with credit on O-Level results.

    Transfer Applicants
    Applicants who have previously attended a college and/or university and are applying for admission as transfer students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. For evaluation of university transfer credit, applicants must submit complete course descriptions or syllabi, in English. Transfer applicants should also submit copies of their current I-20, passport, and I-94 card.

  4. A minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 500 on the paper-based test, or 173 on the computer-based test, less than two years old. Scores must be received directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS); UCA's school code is 6012. A TOEFL score is not required of applicants who will complete UCA's Intensive English Program before pursuing an undergraduate degree. Applicants can contact TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA, requesting a bulletin of information.
  5. Evidence of sufficient financial support in the form of a certified bank statement from the applicant's financial sponsor proving the availability of a minimum of $12,900.00 for one full academic year (9 months) of study. Tuition and fees must be paid in full at the beginning of each semester or summer session.

Upon acceptance to the university, students will receive a letter of admission to UCA and a form I-20, as well as pre-arrival and orientation information.

[12] Admission of Students Whose First Language Is Not English

All applicants to UCA whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency before beginning regular academic courses at the university. This includes immigrants, permanent residents, citizens, refugees, and international students. English language proficiency may be demonstrated by (1) submitting a minimum TOEFL score of 500 on the paper-based test, or 173 on the computer-based test, that is less than two years old or (2) completing the advanced level of UCA's Intensive English Program with no individual course grade below a B. Students who do not submit a TOEFL score before the last day of the published extended late registration period at the beginning of each semester or summer session will be required to participate in UCA's Intensive English Program.