Arkansas State Curriculum Requirements

Overview

The higher education curriculum requirements in Arkansas consist of a core of courses that must be taken by individuals seeking a degree (see page 10).  These requirements include a specific number of hours from several domains.  The domains are English/Communication, Math, Science, Fine Arts/Humanities, World Literature, Social Sciences, World Civilization, and Sociology/Psychology.  This core of required courses applies to each of the higher education public institutions granting degrees in the state of Arkansas.

An important function of the core curriculum required by the state of Arkansas is that of its transferability.  According to the Arkansas department of higher education, core classes that are taken at one public institution should transfer to any other public institution in the state of Arkansas.  This provides for some consistency among the various state institutions of higher education in the state.  It also reduces the degree of ambiguity for students completing an associates degree at a community college who wish to transfer these courses to be used toward the pursuit of a higher educational degree.

The state of Arkansas also maintains regulations on the adoption of new programs by state institutions.  There are two categories of actions concerning the proposition of new programs.  The first action, a formal submission, includes programs that must be proposed formally before the coordinating board.  The second action, a letter of notification, includes activities and changes that must be reported to the board but do not require board action.  The Department of Higher Education publishes a manual called Criteria and Procedures for Preparing Proposals for New Programs (see appendix I) each October which outlines what must be brought to the board, how it is to be brought before the board, a timeline for bringing it before the board, and critical elements that must be included within the proposal.

As states are responsible for each of their individual educational systems, it stands to reason that each state will likely have state requirements that are quite different.  Therefore, it is suggested that an individual seeking information on the policies and requirements of a specific state, contact officials in the respective state for requirements and other information.  Contact information on state agencies including the name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and web address has been provided for each state (see appendix II).  Another important source of information with regard to education in the United States is the U.S. Department of Education website at:  www.ed.gov.  Various information can be downloaded from this site including Curricular Resources and Networking Projects (see appendix III) and other online Educational Resources (see appendix IV).

Arkansas State Curriculum Requirements:

The state Board of Higher Education has established in consultation with the colleges and universities a minimum core of courses which apply toward the general education core curriculum requirements for baccalaureate degrees at state supported institutions of higher education and which are fully transferable between state institutions.

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