Curriculum & Academic Programmes

Language of Instruction & Preparatory Support
To ensure that graduates have access to global ideas and emerging knowledge, English will be the language of instruction for all degree courses. Non-degree courses will be in Russian or in Kazakh, Kyrgyz or Tajik, depending on where they are being offered.

Most incoming undergraduates will need some preparation in both English and computing. UCA is establishing a one-year preparatory programme for undergraduates to address this need. A three-month preparatory programme will also be in place for incoming graduate students. Students must achieve a minimum standard in these courses before gaining acceptance into the degree courses.

The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)
The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programmes, offering vocational, professional development and personal improvement opportunities to youth and adults. Established in 2006, SPCE is UCA’s first operational academic programme, and has the mission of fostering economic development. It does this by responding to trends and needs in the local economies of the communities in which it operates and offering courses that improve employment and income generating opportunities for youth and adults, and professional development opportunities for mid-career professionals. By building vocational skills and professional competencies, SPCE will encourage entrepreneurship in the region and stimulate economic development.

For more information about SPCE, including background, programmes, courses, campus facilities and instructors, please see the SPCE page and the Frequently Asked Questions.

The mission of the Graduate School of Development is to foster stimulating and innovative inquiry into development issues facing Central Asia, particularly its mountain regions.

The first degree offered will be a Master’s of Science in Economic Development, including a core one-year curriculum in economics, development, finance and inter-disciplinary studies with a strong emphasis on ethics. This will be followed by a second year devoted to concentrations in one of the following Institutes of graduate study: Business and Economic Development, Public Administration, and Rural Development. The remaining three Institutes: Tourism and Leisure, Education Policy, and Environment and Natural Resource Management will initially focus on research, but ultimately will offer specialized degrees.

The School of Undergraduate Studies
The UCA Undergraduate School will offer a four-year degree to instill graduates with global knowledge, leadership skills, and initiative. The course will include required foundational courses emphasizing critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches; concentrations in the humanities, natural sciences, the social sciences, and management; and research requirements.

Distance Education
To further extend the reach of the University, and address the needs of learners living in even more isolated areas of the region, UCA is establishing a distance education programme that will use the latest information technologies and distance education teaching and learning methodologies.

Research
The UCA Research Programme will produce both knowledge and human resources that directly address socio-economic development and cultural preservation in Central Asia and mountain regions in particular. It will begin as soon as a critical mass of faculty are in place, prior even to on-campus student enrollment. Original, relevant and action-oriented research will be required by faculty and students. UCA principles for research include: adhering to global standards; prioritizing policy-oriented and community-based research that fosters social, economic and cultural development in the region; and creating strong institutional partnerships to advance research methodologies and the dissemination of findings.

Humanities Programme
UCA will design approaches to integrate the humanities and the study of the rich and diverse cultures of Central Asia into academic and other programmes and build on the work of the Aga Khan Humanities Programme.

Music Programme
UCA is developing a music programme that will provide unique instruction, research and performance opportunities in the rich musical traditions of Central Asia. The programme will support UCA’s academic programmes, enrich the cultural life of the three campuses and complement the work of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia.