VCU news

With more than 200 degree and certificate programs, Virginia Commonwealth University offers students options in an array of academic disciplines, and the chance to mix and tailor them to whatever their career – and life – goals may be. Those programs are constantly changing to meet real-world challenges, with new majors and more. In the upcoming academic year, VCU is offering four new degrees, three new certificates and 10 new concentrations.

“These bold and creative offerings are future-proofing our students, preparing them for personal and professional success amidst the rapidly changing demands of the AI era,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “I commend the dedication and hard work of our innovative faculty members who bring these opportunities to life and drive our university forward. With a continued focus of excellence, impact and access, VCU’s faculty are defining what it means to be an urban R1 research institution in the 21st century.”

Here are the latest new offerings for VCU students.

B.A. in computer science

The College of Engineering has offered a Bachelor of Science in computer science for years, but it is launching a Bachelor of Arts this fall. What’s the difference? The B.A. is designed to take a multidisciplinary approach, whereas the B.S. is tailored to students seeking advanced study in highly specialized areas of computer science. A shift in the job market has meant that most information technology jobs are now concentrated in nontech industries. The new B.A. program fills a crucial gap by allowing students to combine computer science education with other specialized fields of study, blending theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience along the way. Graduates will be ready for jobs as entry-level computer programmers, computer support specialists, computer systems analysts, software developers, quality assurance analysts, software testers, web developers and digital designers.

B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences

This fall VCU will be the first public university to offer a bachelor’s in pharmaceutical sciences in Virginia, where the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries have been growing. However, according to a 2021 Deloitte Insights report on U.S. workforce trends from 2020-30, 2.1 million out of 4 million jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are expected to go unfilled by 2030. The School of Pharmacy’s new undergraduate degree will help fill that gap. Graduates will be ready for entry-level positions in the life sciences industry, research and development companies, service laboratories and government agencies, and they will also be well-prepared to pursue graduate education and advanced studies in the health professions.

B.S. in supply chain management

Another first at a public university in Virginia, the B.S. in supply chain management will address a talent shortage that impacts state and national economies. Supply chain issues have recently led to disruptions in sectors from electronics manufacturing to food production and distribution, and they have played a role in increasing inflation. The new School of Business degree will equip undergraduates with the foundational principles for making operational decisions in an organization’s supply chain, coupled with training in commonly employed quantitative methodologies to inform those decisions. Coursework will provide graduates with skills and knowledge necessary for career opportunities covering sourcing, logistics and distribution, sustainability, process management, quality management, forecasting and inventory management.

M.S. in data science

The College of Engineering is offering a new M.S. in data science in which students will combine expertise in statistics, computer science and domain-specific knowledge as they learn to analyze and interpret complex data and help solve real-world problems. Graduates will be prepared to work as data analysts, data scientists, machine learning engineers, data engineers, business analysts, research scientists, data consultants and other roles. They may also specialize in specific domains like health care or biomedical data analysis and can find opportunities in government, startups, academia and industry research.

Graduate certificate in child welfare

Offered by the School of Social Work in both in-person and online formats, the graduate certificate in child welfare will equip students with knowledge and skills in implementing trauma-informed best practices in child welfare. Students will learn to implement evidence-based approaches that improve the quality of life for children and families vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Graduates will be able to facilitate restorative practices, assess and serve the needs of children and families without bias, and implement strategies for minimizing the traumatic experience of placements. They will also be able to facilitate attachment workshops that promote stable relationships for children and their families, and to use screening and assessment tools to develop case plans for children. The program is designed for human services professionals such as family services specialists working in child protective services, family preservation and/or foster care within social services or other community child welfare agencies, as well as for VCU graduate students enrolled in social science graduate degrees (e.g., M.S. in Sociology).

Graduate certificate in learning sciences

The new graduate certificate in learning sciences is offered fully online. In this School of Education program, students will gain an advanced understanding of the learning process and how to apply that knowledge in designing educational experiences in both online and in-person learning formats. Graduates will be able to plan, design and deliver adult learning in formal and informal settings; create engaging learning activities; and develop course content to facilitate knowledge acquisition for learners from early childhood to adulthood.

Graduate certificate in sustainability, health and health care

Students in this new graduate certificate program offered by the College of Health Professions will learn how climate change affects human health, and how the health care industry affects climate change. Health care facilities contribute to carbon emissions, waste and air pollution, and students will learn what steps public and private organizations are taking to mitigate these effects. Graduates will be ready to contribute to actions that respond to the impact of climate change on patients and communities, increase the resilience of health care facilities and lessen the impact of the industry on climate change. They will also be able to analyze specific problems, propose solutions and outline implementation strategies that influence sustainable practices within health care organizations. The certificate is open to both current graduate students from across VCU and community members or alumni interested in the topic.

New concentrations

• B.A. in music with a concentration in media scoring
• B.F.A. in kinetic imaging with a concentration in interaction and game design (VCUarts Qatar only)
• M.B.A. with a concentration in brand leadership
• M.D.A. with a concentration in production and operations analytics
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in engineering management
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in environmental and sustainable engineering
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in rehabilitation engineering
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in systems engineering
• M.S. in engineering with a concentration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine