Arkansas has been a key state in United States history since its early beginnings. Although the state’s European origins are Spanish, Napoleon eventually sold it as one of the territories packaged within the Louisiana Purchase. Ultimately, it became the 25th state in the union and was a pivotal part of the war to take Texas from Mexico. Arkansas’s military has always played a huge role in the history of the U.S. While the military still has significance in the culture of Arkansas, businesses in the state have bloomed including Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, and the trucking and transportation company J.B. Hunt.
While online schools in Arkansas are slightly behind the curve compared to other states, distance learning paradigms and experiments have been in constant evolution for over a decade. The Arkansas Department of Education Distance Learning Center was established in July 2001 as a means of assisting schools “that could not find highly qualified instructors and to provide flexibility in class scheduling for students.” At its inception the Center had five math instructors, one mathematics teacher, and a single language arts/journalism instructor; in just eight years it grew to include 25 instructors who teach elementary and secondary courses to schools all through the state of Arkansas. According to the Center, it provides instruction in all state-required units excluding music and physical education.
Typically the most well developed online school programs in Arkansas are found at community colleges, while many of the top tier universities in the state lack strong web-based degree paths. The community colleges offer online certificates and associates degrees in a spectrum of different subjects, and despite the lack of these programs in four-year universities in the sate, the University of Arkansas and Southern Arkansas University have expanded their online academic departments in past years. For master’s degrees especially, Southern Arkansas University offers the following completely online: Master of Arts in Teaching (2 years), Master of Education in Elementary or Secondary Education (2 years, with multiple areas of focus), and a Master of Science in Kinesiology – Coaching (2 years).
For in-state residents who prefer hands-on activity and the ability to interact with teachers face-to-face, Arkansas Southern University also offers hybridized online/in-class programs in things like agriculture, elementary counseling, student affairs and college counseling, business administration, and mental health and clinical counseling.
This directory should serve as a starting point for finding the best online schools, Arkansas universities and community colleges, and K-12 institutions that all offer some type of distance learning program.
10800 Financial Centre Pkwy
Little Rock, AR 72211-3552
903 N 47th St Barrington Centre 2
Rogers, AR 72756-9615
4520 S University Ave
Little Rock, AR 72204-9925
100 Carr Road
Camden, AR 71701-1906
183 College Drive
De Queen, AR 71832
1200 N University Mail Slot 4789
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
1501 College Avenue
Conway, AR 72034
100 E. University
Magnolia, AR 71753
One College Dr
Bentonville, AR 72712-5091
300 S West Ave
El Dorado, AR 71731-7010
2801 S University Ave
Little Rock, AR 72204
7648 Victory Blvd
Newport, AR 72112
Administration Bldg 425
Fayetteville, AR 72701
2105 E. Aggie Road
Jonesboro, AR 72401
201 Donaghey Ave
Conway, AR 72035-0001
Highway 425 South
Monticello, AR 71656
2000 W University St
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
9653 Nations Dr
Springdale, AR 72762
