Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

Mission and Objectives

J. William Fulbright was a University of Arkansas student who graduated in 1925, was later a law professor and then became U of A president from 1939-41 – all prior to serving as a U.S. Senator for many years. 

The university recognizes that J. William Fulbright’s political legacy is controversial and complex. Along with signing the Southern Manifesto and opposing the landmark 1954 ruling of Brown v. Board of Education, Fulbright voted to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and voted against the 1965 Voting Rights Act. These actions directly contradicted his efforts to advance cultural understanding, peace, and international exchange through education.

J. William Fulbright supported the creation of the United Nations, and his efforts to increase mutual understanding between people and nations resulted in the creation of the Fulbright Program – the world’s largest international educational exchange program with more than 370,000 alumni, and thousands of students and scholars from 160 countries participating annually. President Bill Clinton in 1993 honored him with the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. 

Additionally, the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on November 20, 1981, resolved...

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, shall be named, henceforth, the J. WILLIAM FULBRIGHT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. His name will imbue that college, and the University, with his reputation and image for a devoted interest in higher education and its accomplishments through its scholars as reflected in its students.

It’s his work to enhance cultural understanding, peace, and international exchange through education that we honor, and his service to this institution as president. How we view past leaders is an important topic and many colleges and communities are grappling with what’s right while working to understand the complete history of those involved and what we can learn from the process. There is no better place to have this discussion than on a college campus, where we value conversation, learning and debate.

Additionally, the college has adopted as its mission the following statement, learning from Fulbright’s conflicting and complex legacy and vowing to do better:

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences enriches lives by promoting discovery, diversity, and inclusion, facilitating transformational experiences, and fostering peace through education.

Facilities and Resources

Academic Advising Services

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences provides an adviser for each student enrolled in the college. Advisers in the Fulbright College Advising Center will assist students in program planning and will help them to become aware of and familiar with the academic offerings of the university. Students should consult their advisers on a regular basis, not limited to registration matters but including all areas of their academic careers. Personnel in the Fulbright College Advising Center or the Dean’s office will direct students to the appropriate advising office.

Students should discuss with their advisers opportunities for individual variations as well as regular course requirements. Programs and facilities of particular interest to individuals may include the Honors Program, programs for advanced placement and credit by examination, study abroad and the services of the University Career Development Center.

The Career Development Center administers and interprets tests that measure individual ability, interest, and achievement, and thus may aid also in counseling students about the field of study in which they are most likely to be effective and successful.

For questions regarding advising, contact the Fulbright College Advising Center at 575-3307 or visit online at fcac.uark.edu.

Degrees Offered

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences offers four-year curricula leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), and Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.). Each candidate for the B.A. and B.S. degrees selects a major field for specialized study. In addition to usual departmental majors there are interdepartmental majors and special programs for students preparing for professional degrees in law, medicine, dentistry, and teaching.

College Scholarships

Foremost among scholarships available in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the Sturgis Fellowship. This scholarship enables Fulbright College to offer outstanding graduates of secondary and preparatory schools undergraduate fellowships valued at $50,000 for four collegiate years.

Students studying in the humanities or classics may qualify for the J. William and Elizabeth W. Fulbright Scholarship for study abroad. This award is for students who are at least juniors and is intended to support a year of study abroad.

The King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies offers two-year undergraduate scholarships for superior students interested in pursuing the study of the Middle East or Islam.

In addition, students may compete for a number of privately endowed scholarships, which are awarded on a competitive basis to those who qualify. Application for these general Fulbright College scholarships and awards is made through the Office of the Dean, 525 Old Main. Students may obtain more detailed information about the above-named scholarships and other Fulbright College scholarships.

Other scholarships are also available from the departments of Fulbright College. Information may be sought from the departmental chair of the student’s major.

Student Organizations

There are many general-interest societies and organizations to which students may belong, and nearly every department of the university maintains an honor society through which high scholarship is rewarded. Students in Fulbright College may aspire to membership in the following organizations:

  • Alpha Chi Sigma (chemistry)
  • Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-medical, medical technology, pre-dental)
  • Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology)
  • Alpha Phi Sigma (criminal justice)
  • Alpha Psi Omega (drama)
  • American Association of Petroleum Geologists (geoscience)
  • American Chemical Society (chemistry)
  • American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (geoscience)
  • Delta Phi Alpha (German)
  • Eta Sigma Phi (Greek and Latin)
  • Gamma Theta Upsilon (geography)
  • Kappa Kappa Psi (band)
  • Kappa Tau Alpha (journalism)
  • Lambda Alpha (anthropology)
  • Lambda Pi Eta (communication)
  • Lambda Tau (writers)
  • Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics)
  • Phi Alpha (social work)
  • Phi Alpha Theta (history)
  • Phi Beta Delta (international scholarship)
  • Phi Beta Kappa (arts and sciences)
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Phi Mu Alpha (music, men)
  • Pi Kappa Delta (forensics)
  • Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics)
  • Pi Sigma Alpha (political science)
  • Psi Chi (psychology)
  • Sigma Alpha Iota (music, women)
  • Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish)
  • Sigma Gamma Epsilon (geology)
  • Sigma Pi Sigma (physics)
  • Tau Beta Sigma (band, women)

College Academic Regulations

Courses of study in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences are designed to give students the comprehensive view of society that the modern world requires. Students who enroll in Fulbright College, or who elect some of its courses, have an opportunity to gain a broad cultural education, which is a part of intelligent living and, at the same time, to prepare for professions or to acquire technical training in the sciences. The college has two major teaching functions: to provide basic general education in the arts and sciences necessary to all persons for effective participation in the complex world in which we live; and, second, to furnish the student an opportunity to specialize in the field of the student’s choice.

To meet these aims, the faculty of Fulbright College has adopted the requirements listed below for each degree.

Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements

In addition to the specific course requirements for the degree plan and major, be aware that there are general graduation requirements that every student in Fulbright College must complete.

  1. Major/Minor Residency Requirement (50 Percent Rule) — A student graduating with a major or a minor from Fulbright College must complete a minimum of 50 percent of their credit hours toward the major or minor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus as defined in the University Enrollment Requirement. This percentage may be higher for some majors and minors. Students should review individual departmental requirements and consult with their academic adviser to verify if a higher percentage is required.
  2. Advanced Credit Hour Requirement (40-Hour Rule) — Students must complete at least 40 credit hours in courses numbered at the 3000-level or higher. Included in these 40 credit hours can be courses numbered at the 2000-level or higher if they have a specific course designated as a prerequisite. It is highly recommended that students complete all 40 credit hours in courses numbered at the 3000-level or higher. These credit hours may be completed at other colleges or universities.
  3. University Requirements — Students must satisfy all university graduation requirements listed in the Catalog of Studies. These requirements can be found in the Academic Regulations section, on the Requirements for Graduation page.

Graduation with Distinction

Students who have not completed a Fulbright college or departmental honors degree program but have otherwise demonstrated academic excellence in baccalaureate degree programs in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will be recognized at graduation by the designation of “with high distinction” or “with highest distinction.” To earn this designation, students must meet the following criteria up through the term prior to their graduation term:

  1. The student must have completed at least one-half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas.
  2. For “with high distinction,” the student must achieve a cumulative U of A GPA of 3.8 to 3.899.
  3. For “with highest distinction,” the student must achieve a cumulative U of A GPA of 3.9 or higher.

The criteria may be evaluated and changed periodically by the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Combined Academic and Medical, Dental, or Pharmacy Degree

Fulbright College offers a Bachelor of Science degree in medical science. A student may substitute the first year of regular medical, dental, or pharmacy work taken in any standard, approved medical, dental, or pharmacy school for 33 hours of the 120 hours required for the Bachelor of Science degree provided that the following requirements are met:

  1. Completion of all university/state core requirements for a B.S. degree, as appropriate, prior to student’s entrance in medical, dental, or pharmacy school.
  2. Completion of at least 30 hours immediately prior to student’s entrance in medical, dental, or pharmacy school in residence at the University of Arkansas to include 12 hours of upper division courses (3000 or above) taken in Fulbright College.

Students interested in this degree should consult with their adviser or with the Fulbright College dean’s office early in their program. Formal application for the degree should be made to the Registrar.

This program is for highly qualified students with outstanding academic records who may be eligible for early admission to medical, dental, or pharmacy school programs. The year of a medical, dental, or pharmacy study substitutes for the major in the B.S. degree program.

Graduate Studies

The Graduate School, in cooperation with the faculty of Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, offers work leading to the graduate certificate or to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Music, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Public Administration, Master of Social Work, and Doctor of Philosophy.

Students interested in any of these advanced degrees should consult the Graduate School Catalog or the Dean of the Graduate School.

Accreditations

The American Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications has accredited the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program in journalism. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), and Master of Music (M.M.) at the University of Arkansas are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in clinical psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree and the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

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