Exploring Undergraduate Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, offers a wide array of undergraduate majors across its two campuses: the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus. VCU is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". VCU's history began in 1838 when the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College opened in Richmond, Virginia. In 1844, it moved into its first permanent home, the Egyptian Building. In 1854, the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College received an independent charter from the Virginia General Assembly and became the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). Then in 1968, state legislation merged MCV and RPI to become Virginia Commonwealth University. Warren W. Brandt was the first president of VCU. Eugene Trani became the president of VCU in 1990. In 2009, Michael Rao was appointed the fifth president of VCU.
A Diverse Range of Academic Disciplines
VCU provides undergraduate students with a multitude of options, spanning the arts, sciences, health professions, and more. With seventy-nine of VCU's programs unique to Virginia, students have access to specialized fields of study. In addition to a major, a student may elect a minor area of study in any program or department offering such a program. Students interested in pursuing a minor should discuss their intentions with their advisers or the chair of the major department. When the student decides on a minor, a change of major/minor form must be completed in the Office of the University Registrar. Courses for the minor should be chosen from courses approved by departments offering minors in their areas. A minor designation on the transcript requires a minimum of 18 credit hours and a minimum 2.0 GPA must be achieved in the minor. All baccalaureate degree programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences require students to complete a minimum of 120 credits. No more than four of those credits can be physical education/activity courses. See program descriptions for exact number of major credits (30 credit minimum) and elective courses to complete the total required 120 credits.
College of Humanities and Sciences
The College of Humanities and Sciences offers a liberal arts education focused on developing critical thinking and lifelong learning skills. All freshmen majoring in areas offered within the College of Humanities and Sciences are advised through University Academic Advising. After attaining sophomore standing, students within the College of Humanities and Sciences receive academic advising from within the department or school of their majors. The advising system for each department and school varies somewhat; however, each student is assigned an adviser according to their program of study. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the educational and career-planning assistance provided by their assigned advisers. Ultimately, students are responsible for understanding all university and college requirements needed to earn a degree and for seeking out academic advising on a regular basis.
Students in the College of Humanities and Sciences can apply to the Extended Teacher Preparation Program sponsored jointly with the School of Education. This program awards both a bachelor’s degree from the College of Humanities and Sciences and a master’s degree from the School of Education. Additional information on this five-year program is available at the School of Education’s Office of Student Services in Room 3106, Oliver Hall, or by calling (804) 827-2670. The ultimate goal of a liberal arts education is to help students develop the abilities to think and continue their learning. These skills will aid students as they take their places in a world dominated by change. These abilities also will aid students in their future endeavors as they encounter problems, whether in their personal or professional lives or in their communities.
VCU Life Sciences
VCU Life Sciences comprises three units: the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity (CSBC), the Center for Environmental Studies (CES), and the Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences. VCU Life Sciences offers an undergraduate and graduate programs as well as a PhD program in Integrated Life Sciences (ILS). Note that the Department of Biology is a separate unit independent of Life Sciences although there are numerous active interactions between the two. The highly interdisciplinary, systems-based program relies on hundreds of faculty members.
Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC
VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development
VCU schools of the Arts, Business, and Engineering have collaborated to create the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development. Student teams from these schools take on a product development or design challenge posed by one of the center's industry partners. In addition to the current collaboration, the College of Humanities and Sciences joined the Center late in the Fall 2012 semester.
VCU College of Health Professions
VCU's VCU College of Health Professions includes nine departments whose programs are among the highest ranked in the VCU, and the United States.
VCU Engineering
VCU Engineering, started in 1996 has seen tremendous growth and completely new facilities. The construction of the Engineering Research and STEM buildings solidified VCU's strategy of becoming a leading scientific university.
Campus Life and Student Engagement
More than 79% of VCU freshmen live on campus. VCU's current residential hall capacity is around 6,200 students. Because of the prominent location within the city of Richmond, many upperclassmen live in student apartments located around the campus, specifically in The Fan, Oregon Hill or the Carver neighborhood, and are still able to walk or bike to their classes. VCU has more than 500 registered student organizations in which students can be involved. VCU boasts a well-established net of ethnic and cultural, religious, recreational and special interest organizations.
Greek Life
Virginia Commonwealth University hosts 36 international fraternities and sororities across four governing councils with over 1,700 students. Within the student body, a total of 6.3% of women join a sorority and 8% of men join a fraternity. VCU's fraternity and sorority community has grown particularly rapidly in the last few years. The four governing councils of VCU's Greek system are the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the College Panhellenic Council (CPC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Unified Greek Council (UGC). The UGC was originally established as the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) respectively.
Read also: Explore UCSB Majors
Recreational Sports
Recreational Sports offers facilities on both campuses. The MCV Campus Recreation and Aquatic Center provide space for basketball, volleyball, racquetball and other sports. Service learning at VCU is a course-based, credit-bearing educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets community-identified needs.
Altria Theater
A large contributor to VCU, Altria Group purchased the theater located centrally on campus. Formerly known as The Mosque and the Landmark Theater, the Altria Theater was originally built for Shriners of the Acca Temple Shrine. The theater was designed in Moorish Revival style by Marcellus E. Wright Sr. in association with Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson circa 1925. Performers such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Burr, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Roy Buchanan, B. B. King, Widespread Panic and The Supremes held shows at this venue.
Research and Funding
VCU had a record $506 million in sponsored research funding in the fiscal year 2024 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". VCU has an endowment of $2.72 billion, which is the second largest endowment for a public school in Virginia. Funding is received from the state and federal governments and private donations. There was more the $400 million in sponsored research in 2022 with many gifts being the largest in the university's history. In 2022, the Commonwealth of Virginia awarded VCU most of the funding for a $253 million arts and innovation building. Local businesses including all Fortune 500 companies in Richmond make regular contributions to VCU such as endowed chairs, like the Philip Morris Chair, and donations for facilities. Altria, the largest tobacco company in the United States, has made frequent donations throughout VCU's history.
A Look at VCU's Campuses
Virginia Commonwealth University has two main campuses in Richmond, Va.: the Monroe Park Campus, located west of downtown Richmond, and the MCV Campus in the urban center.
Monroe Park Campus
Named after the city park, the 90.6-acre (36.7 ha) Monroe Park Campus took its name in June 2004, replacing the former name, the Academic Campus of VCU. The Monroe Park Campus houses most of VCU's general education facilities, and is situated on the eastern end of the Fan district, a historic, late 19th-century neighborhood adjacent to downtown Richmond. Prior to the merger of the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia, the campus was the home to the entire Richmond Professional Institute. The James Branch Cabell Library supports the Monroe Park Campus.
Read also: Florida State Majors Guide
MCV Campus
The 52.3-acre (21.2 ha) MCV Campus is home to the VCU Medical Center, which includes the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, the VCU College of Health Professions, and the medical center, which is overseen by the VCU Health System Authority. The campus is also home to the Massey Cancer Center (an NCI-designated Cancer Center) and the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The MCV Campus is an integral part of Richmond in the old Court End district. The neighborhood is located adjacent to the city's business and financial district near the state capitol. The Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus has the largest medical collection in the state, with extensive journal collections dating back to the 19th century. Special Collections and Archives maintain the papers of health care practitioners and the history of health care in Virginia.
Other Facilities
Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park was incorporated in May 1992 as a joint initiative of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences is located on 494 acres (200 ha) along the James River.
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