U of A to Launch Three New Online Bachelor's Degree Programs This Fall

Students can now apply for three new online bachelor’s degree programs from the U of A that will begin in fall 2021.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business will launch online bachelor’s degree programs in human resources management and marketing, and the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will add an online bachelor’s program in English. With these additions, students can now choose from a dozen online bachelor’s degree programs offered by the U of A.

Online programs allow students throughout the state and across the nation to earn degrees from the state’s flagship institution, even if they cannot travel to the Fayetteville campus. Students can complete all 120 credit hours online, or they can apply past college credit and complete their degrees online. 

“Global Campus provides a well-rounded choice of online options for the non-traditional student drawn to business,” said Matthew A. Waller, Walton College dean. “With choices in degrees and delivery, Walton College can assist more Arkansans in attaining their educational goals and career aspirations — and that’s why we are here.”

The online bachelor’s degree in management offers a concentration in human resources management. Walton College also offers online bachelor’s degree programs in accounting, general business and supply chain management and professional master’s degree programs in business administration and information systems.

Students in the online Bachelor of Arts in English program can choose from two concentrations: rhetoric and writing studies or topical studies. The department plans to add courses for the creative writing concentration in the future.

“We’re always excited to be able to expand our degree and course offerings and the methods in which students can access them,” said Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College. “By adding the online B.A. in English program, we’re helping even more students learn the critical thinking, communication and creative problem-solving skills that will help further their careers and also benefit their lives well beyond the workplace.”

Fulbright College also offers online bachelor’s degree programs in communications and interdisciplinary studies.

U.S. News and World Report ranked the U of A’s online bachelor’s degree programs No. 21 among 337 ranked programs across the nation in its January 2021 national survey announcement. The bachelor’s programs ranked No. 19 among public institutions.

U OF A ONLINE

Counting the new programs, the U of A offers 42 bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degree programs and about 20 undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. Programs are showcased on the U of A ONLINE website.

"The U of A is committed to providing high-quality degree programs that are flexible enough to serve students who cannot come to the Fayetteville campus,” said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus. “The faculty in academic colleges have set high standards in the development of U of A online programs, and they have made it possible for more students across the state to earn degrees from the state’s flagship institution.”

Nationwide, more than 3.2 million higher education students, or about 16 percent, studied exclusively in distance education courses in the 2018-19 academic year, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. In the same academic year at the U of A — from the second summer session in 2018 through first summer session in 2019 — about 3,150 students, or about 10 percent of the total enrollment, studied exclusively online.

The Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online, distance and workforce education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with registration, marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.