Degree Programs and Majors
The undergraduate degrees Arkansas State University offers can be found here.
Certificate Programs
Arkansas State University offers technical programs in which certificates of proficiency are awarded. These programs are offered for students who wish to prepare for employment in a minimum of one or two years and do not wish to pursue formal programs leading to an associate or a baccalaureate degree in the areas. All certificate programs require admission to the university.
Minors Offered
Arkansas State University offers over 60 minors with requirements varying from 18-24 semester hours. Specific requirements for each minor are stated in the respective program sections of this bulletin and can be found here.
Interim, Short, and Extended-Term Credit Offerings
All on-campus credit offerings scheduled for periods other than the regular semesters or summer sessions must be approved by the department chair, the appropriate college dean, and the vice president for academic affairs. Interim (offered between semesters/terms), short (less than a semester/term), and extended (more than a semester/term) credit offerings are expected to meet the same criteria of quality instruction, qualified instructor, and number of contact hours as required for regular on-campus credit offerings.
Army ROTC Program
Since 1936 the Department of the Army, in cooperation with the officials of Arkansas State University, has provided a military training program through the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Completion of either the two-year or the four-year ROTC program leads to a commission as an officer in the United States Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard. The basic course of military science (freshman and sophomore years) is offered to male and female students who are U.S. citizens. The advanced course (junior and senior years) is available to students who meet specific requirements. For further information concerning qualifications for the advanced course, refer to the index for the Department of Military Science.
Combined-Degree Programs
A-State students who enroll in approved dental, medical, pharmacy, or law schools before receiving degrees at Arkansas State University may be eligible to transfer up to 30 credit hours from the professional school to apply toward completion of their baccalaureate degree at A-State. To qualify for a combined degree, students must meet the following requirements.
- The last 30 credit hours immediately prior to entrance into the professional school must be completed in residence at Arkansas State University.
- All requirements for the degree except no more than 30 transferable credit hours must be completed. The 30 transfer hours must have prior approval of the department chair.
- A written statement of eligibility for the degree must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar
A student making application for this baccalaureate degree must submit a transcript showing successful completion of the professional degree, file an “Intent to Graduate” form, and pay the graduation fee
Special Programs
Arkansas State University offers special service programs for in-service teachers and for others interested in college credit in addition to that which may be earned during the regular semesters.
Summer Sessions
Two five-week and one ten-week summer sessions are scheduled each summer with classes meeting four or five days per week. Students may earn up to a total of 14 hours of credit for the entire summer. Courses are offered in all colleges and departments during these sessions, with special attention given to the needs of in-service teachers.
Special Studies Courses
Special courses of study may, upon request, be organized in any college or independent department at any level of study to meet the needs of interested groups. The middle two digits of the course numbers for such programs, which must be approved through normal university curriculum channels, will always be in the 90 series. The letter prefix will show the department offering the course, the first digit will indicate the level of study, and the last digit will show the hours of credit. Credit earned in some special studies courses may not be applicable toward a degree. A zero as the first digit in the course number will designate such non-degree-credit courses.
Pre-Professional Programs
There is no specific degree awarded in the pre-professional programs. It is common practice in the pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-physical therapy, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary and similar programs to work toward one of the bachelors degrees offered by the university. There is no one degree specified by medical or dental schools, but most students in these pre-professional programs major in chemistry, physics, biological sciences, or interdisciplinary studies.
Pre-Professional Advising Within Specific Colleges
College of Agriculture
Neil Griffin College of Business
College of Liberal Arts and Communication
College of Sciences and Mathematics
- pre-medical
- pre-dental
- pre-optometry
- pre-pharmacy
- pre-chiropractic
- pre-dental hygiene
College of Nursing and Health Professions
- pre-dental hygiene
- pre-respiratory therapy
- pre-occupational therapy
- pre-physical therapy
- pre-athletic training
Students interested in obtaining further information concerning any of these programs should contact the dean of the college in which the particular program is offered.
Pre-Law Program
Prospective pre-law students should give careful consideration to the formulation of a definite plan for pre-law study. This should be based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses, interests, and personal objectives in studying law. In general, the pre-law student should place primary emphasis on the acquisition of excellent methods of study, thought, and communication rather than on a specific body of factual knowledge. These skills can be acquired in a number of different areas, and successful law students and lawyers have college majors in almost every conceivable field.
A prospective student interested in pre-law should select a department in which to major. That department will have a pre-law advisor who will be as concerned with the breadth of the student’s education as with the major. One or two minors in non-related areas are also recommended.
For information about general academic concerns, about the Law School Aptitude Test, and about law school entrance requirements, students may consult with pre-law advisors in the Neil Griffin College of Business or the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.
Compressed Video Network Programs
Arkansas State University operates the Compressed Video Network system to deliver courses to off-campus locations. This system links instructors and students on campus with students in several locations throughout Arkansas.
Weather conditions or academic schedules at the various locations will on occasion require the recording of the courses delivered via the Compressed Video Network. Enrollment in these courses constitutes permission for the classes and the students in them to be recorded. Students who are unable to attend the classes when they are originally conducted may view the recordings in lieu of attending the scheduled class sessions. CVN sites are located at:
- A-State
- ASU-Beebe
- ASU-Mtn. Home
- ASU-Mid-South
A-State has additional access to a multitude of CVN sites both within Arkansas and outside the state which may be available based on need and availability.
Admission standards and registration procedures for these courses will be the same as for on-campus courses.
Off-Campus Courses
Arkansas State University provides higher education study opportunities for those who wish to pursue such study but may be unable to come to the A-State campus to attend classes. This service is rendered through online and off-campus classes in the area which the university serves. Many of the courses listed in the university catalogues are available through these programs.
Students who complete at least 32 semester hours of residence credit on the Jonesboro campus may apply any number of A-State off-campus credits toward the baccalaureate degree.
Students may not enroll for off-campus classes if the credit will create an overload situation for the semester or summer term (Refer to Student Academic Load )
High School Concurrent Program
The Arkansas State University Concurrent Enrollment Program offers high school students who are enrolled in partnering high schools the opportunity to earn college credit for courses taken during high school. All courses are taught by university faculty or university approved high school teachers. Course offerings vary at the participating high schools, dependent upon instructor qualifications and availability, as well as each high school’s needs. High school students must meet Arkansas State University’s qualifications for concurrent admission before participating in the concurrent enrollment program.
The A-State Concurrent Enrollment Program is nationally accredited through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
University Centers
Arkansas State University has partnerships with three community colleges to provide various degrees on those college sites. Academic Affairs is the administering unit for those university centers. Any questions concerning the following sites may be directed to (870) 972-2030.
Arkansas State University-Beebe
Degrees offered are:
- B.S.E. Elementary Education (K-6)
- B.S.E. Middle Level Education (4-8)
Arkansas State University - Mtn. Home
Degrees offered are:
- A.A.S.N. (Nursing)
- A.A.S. Physical Therapy Assistant
- B.S.E. Elementary Education (K-6)
- B.S.E. Middle Level Education (4-8)
Mid-South Community College
Degrees offered are:
- A.A.S.N. (Nursing)
- A.A.S.N. (Nursing) LPN-to-RN
- B.S.E. Elementary Education (K-6)
- B.S.E. Middle Level Education (4-8)
Graduate Programs
Graduate study requires firm commitment to inquiry and learning and should be contemplated only by students who have demonstrated the power of independent thought and investigation. For thisreason Graduate Programs requires students to meet high standards and reserves the right to deny admission to those who do not meet these high standards. Regulations governing Graduate Programs are designed to equal or exceed the minimum standards recommended by the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States and the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.
Details of admission requirements, course descriptions, and degree programs are published in the Graduate Bulletin, which may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar bulletin site at https://www.astate.edu/a/registrar/students/bulletins/.
Graduate School Computation of Grades for Admission Purposes
Graduating seniors who are planning to apply for admission to graduate school should take note that most graduate schools recalculate GPAs based upon all courses that students have attempted during their college career. Thus, any repeated courses will have both grades counted in consideration for graduate school admission
Admission as an Undergraduate into an Accelerated Masters Program
The accelerated master’s degree option provides a transition that enables outstanding A-State undergraduate students to begin taking graduate course work in their junior or senior year by combining components of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Students admitted into an approved accelerated master’s degree program may have a limited number of graduate level courses counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Students must apply and be admitted to the accelerated master’s program by the department before enrolling for any courses to apply to the graduate degree. A-State graduate programs offering an accelerated option are listed below:
- Accounting (M.Acc.)
- Agriculture (M.S.A.) - All Concentrations
- Chemistry (M.S.)
- Computer Science (M.S.)
- Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (M.S.)
- Engineering Management (M.E.M.)
- History (M.A.)
- Mathematics (M.S.)
- Political Science (M.A.)
- Public Administration (M.P.A.)
- Special Education - Instructional Specialist Grades K-12 (M.S.E.)
Depending on the program, up to 12 hours of graduate credits will apply toward completion of the undergraduate degree requirements. Under the accelerated master’s degree option, a student will be fully admitted to the graduate program upon completion of the baccalaureate degree. This dual counting of a course for both undergraduate and graduate credit will only occur after the student completes the baccalaureate degree. Only courses with grades B or better will be eligible to count toward graduate credit. Undergraduate students interested in the accelerated master’s opportunity should contact their department or the Office of the Registrar for admission information.
Admission as an Undergraduate to Enroll in Graduate Courses
In exceptional cases, undergraduate students with senior standing at A-State may enroll in graduate-level course-work either for undergraduate or graduate credit.
For undergraduate credit:
An undergraduate student with senior standing at A-State who wishes to take a graduate course for undergraduate credit must:
- have a 3.25 undergraduate GPA,
- have written consent from the faculty advisor, course professor, and the Graduate Dean
Upon approval, seniors may enroll in a maximum of 9 hours of graduate work for undergraduate credit, provided the total undergraduate and graduate hours do not exceed 15 semester hours. A course used toward an undergraduate degree cannot be counted or used later for graduate credit, except in the case of enrollment in an approved accelerated master’s program. Graduate tuition will be charged for all graduate courses.
For graduate credit:
An undergraduate student with senior standing at A-State who wishes to take a graduate course for graduate credit must:
- meet the GPA requirements for unconditional admission to Graduate Programs,
- have no more than 12 hours of undergraduate work remaining to complete the bachelor’s degree at A-State
- obtain approval of the faculty advisor, course professor, and the Graduate Dean
Upon approval, seniors may enroll in a maximum of 12 hours of graduate work, provided the total undergraduate and graduate hours do not exceed 15 semester hours. A course used toward an undergraduate degree cannot be counted or used later for graduate credit, except in the case of enrollment in an approved accelerated master’s program. Students will receive graduate credit only if the requirements for the bachelor’s degree have been met by the end of the term and all requirements for admission to the graduate program are met. Enrollment under these conditions is limited to one term. Graduate tuition will be charged for all graduate courses.
Other exceptional undergraduate students who have attained senior status but are not in their last 12 hours and who wish to enroll in graduate courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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