Donaghey Scholars Program

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The Donaghey Scholars Program is UA Little Rock’s University-wide honors program. Its interdisciplinary curriculum promotes critical thinking and active learning. Scholars classes demand wide reading and extensive writing and lead to vigorous discussions and frequent independent study.
The Donaghey Scholars admissions process uses academic records, test scores, written essays, recommendations, and personal interviews to determine whether the student would benefit from admission to the program. Since space in the program is limited to a total of 100 students, admission is highly competitive. Each year’s class is composed of incoming college freshmen, students transferring from other colleges, and UA Little Rock students who have been referred to the program by faculty members. Both traditional and nontraditional students are in the Scholars Program.
Students who are admitted to the program are granted a scholarship equal to the full in-state tuition, a stipend (currently $2,250, $3,500, or $5,000 per semester), and a generous subsidy applied toward study abroad. Scholars who perform satisfactorily are assured of up to eight semesters of support.
Scholars classes are small, making it possible for faculty to get to know students and their interests. Informal advising is frequent. Formal advising in the Scholars Program is handled by the Director for all Scholars who have not declared a major. Because the Scholars Program has requirements spread over four years, the Director remains informed of the Scholar’s progress in meeting these requirements, even when formal advising has been transferred to the department of the Scholar’s major area of study.
The Scholars Program has a specially designed interdisciplinary curriculum, which replaces the University’s core curriculum requirements.
Students admitted to the Donaghey Scholars Program who meet all of the requirements of the Program, as well as all of the requirements in their major and minor fields, graduate as Donaghey Scholars.
Scholars Program Requirements

Scholars Core Courses:

Other Requirements:

Maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA
Maintain full-time enrollment status
One seminar outside the student’s primary field
Fulfillment of the University’s core curriculum mathematics requirement
US History or American National Government
A lab science course
Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language
Study abroad in an approved program
Final project
Exit interview
A course in the history of civilization, though not required, is strongly recommended