Study Overseas

Arkansas is a Southern state known for its natural beauty and for being the home of the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton. Arkansas is also the only state in the country that has a law regulating the official pronunciation of its name; “AR-kan-saw”. Aptly nicknamed “The Natural State”, Arkansas is a region of natural diversity with many national and state parks, mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, caverns, forests and much more. So if you want to study in beautiful surroundings, have a look at what Arkansas has to offer.

Education in Arkansas

Arkansas supports a surprisingly large number of universities for its size, including the University of Arkansas and the State University of Arkansas systems and a number of private liberal arts colleges.

The University of Arkansas’s flagship campus is located at Fayetteville, where you can study hundreds of different subjects at both undergraduate and graduate level. UA-Fayetteville is renowned for its agricultural, architecture and creative writing programs. Other campuses in the system include the Universities of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Little Rock, Monticello and Pine Bluff.

The State University of Arkansas system, a separate public university system, has campuses at Jonesboro, Beebe, Mountain Home and Paragould. There is also a wide selection of private universities and colleges in the state, including Hendrix College, Central Baptist College and John Brown University.

Little Rock

The population of Arkansas is mainly centred near the middle of the State in the metropolitan area of Little Rock, the State capital. The city was named after an actual little rock that was used as a landmark by early traffic along the Arkansas River. Today, Little Rock is the state’s centre for business, politics and culture. Go back in time with the beautiful antebellum mansions in the downtown historical district or visit the famous Old Mill, which featured in the opening scene of cinematic classic, “Gone with the Wind”. A popular gathering spot is Riverfront Park, a scenic spot overlooking the Arkansas River with an amphitheatre, plazas, lush greenery and various picnic areas.

Little Rock catapulted to fame when the state’s former governor, Bill Clinton, ran for president in 1992. Born and raised in Arkansas, the former president’s two terms in office are commemorated at the William J. Clinton Presidential Centre and Park in downtown Little Rock. Part of this complex is the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, a modern building designed by Polshek Partnership of New York. The design of the rectangular glass and steel structure jutting out towards the Arkansas River and the Rock Island Railroad Bridge was based on Clinton’s metaphorical idea of building a bridge to the 21st century. The Museum features full-scale replicas of the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office and the archival holdings of the Clinton Presidential Library include almost 80 million of paper documents, 1.85 million photos, 12,500 videotapes and over 6,000 audiotapes

The Natural State

Arkansas is well known for its areas of scenic natural beauty and its many state and national parks. Arkansas attracts nature lovers from all over the country and it’s not hard to see why….

Northwest Arkansas is dominated by the Ozark Mountains where you will find world-class fishing, underground caverns, hiking trails, waterfalls and much more. This area is home to the Ozark National Forest and the state’s highest point, Mount Magazine which is the perfect site for hang gliding. Cutting its way eastwards through the Ozarks and into the White River is America’s first National River, the Buffalo. Whether you want to go whitewater rafting or just peacefully float down the river, the Buffalo is suited for all canoeing abilities.

Tucked into the mountainside is the city of Eureka Springs, a famous spa resort with several elegant bathhouses and hotels. Be sure to visit the five-story Crescent Hotel situated at the top of one of the city’s hills. This “Castle in the Wilderness” was built from locally quarried limestone. Eureka Springs is often referred to as “America’s Victorian Village” as the whole town is on the Historical Register.

The Ouachita Mountains extend from Little Rock into neighbouring eastern Oklahoma. Nestled in the midst of these mountains is Hot Springs National Park, one of America’s oldest nationals parks located in the city centre. The natural springs were believed to have healing powers so many beautiful bathhouses were built for people to receive state-of-the-art treatments and benefit from the medicinal properties of the spring water. The Fordyce Bathhouse is still open to the public and displays the equipment used in these treatments, some of which is reminiscent of a torture chamber!

Arkansas is home of another natural phenomenon, this one being of the sparkly variety. The world’s only diamond producing site that is open to the public is located in Murfreesboro. At the Crater of Diamonds State Park you can search for (and keep) your own diamonds in a 37-acre field. Over 75,000 diamonds have been found at the Crater and an average of 600 diamonds are found here each year, cher-ching!

Fast and Fun Facts

Population: 2,673,400
Capital: Little Rock
Largest City: Little Rock
State Nickname: The Natural State
State Motto: The People Rule
State Beverage: Milk
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Apple Blossom
State Gem: Diamond
State Insect: Honeybee
State Mammal: White-tailed Deer
State Tree: Pine

Did You Know?

• Arkansas contains over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of streams and rivers.
• Since the 1830s, Hot Springs National Park has bathed Franklin D. Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Al Capone.
• Ouachita National Forest reigns as the oldest national forest in the South.
• 47 hot springs flow from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain, at an average temperature of 143 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The Buffalo River is one of the few remaining unpolluted, free-flowing rivers in the lower 48 states.
• Famous singer Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland.

Article By: Emily Crane