Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Overview
VCU is a state-supported coeducational university with a graduate school, a major teaching hospital, and ten academic and professional units that offer fifty-two undergraduate, twenty-two postbaccalaureate certificate, sixty-five master’s, six post-master’s certificate, and twenty-five Ph.D. programs. VCU also offers M.D., D.D.S., D.P.T., and Pharm.D. programs as well as cooperative degree programs with other major Virginia colleges and universities. VCU has one of the largest evening colleges in the United States. The academic campus is located in Richmond’s historic Fan District. The health sciences campus and hospital are located 2 miles east in the downtown business district. A University bus service provides intercampus transportation for faculty members and students.
VCU’s level of funded research places it among the top 100 colleges and universities in the country in attracting research grants, and the faculty enhances the University’s position among the important institutions of higher learning in the United States via work in the classroom, the laboratories, and the hospital and research published in scholarly journals.
VCU enrolls 28,500 students, 7,800 of whom are graduate students. More than 175 clubs and organizations reflect the diverse social, recreational, educational, political, and religious interests of the student body.
The Location and Community
Richmond is Virginia’s capital and a major East Coast financial and manufacturing center that offers students a wide range of cultural, educational, and recreational activities. Richmond is only a 2-hour drive from the Atlantic seashore to the east, the Appalachian Mountains recreational sites to the west, and Washington, D.C., to the north.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers master’s and doctoral degrees in anatomy, art history, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, biostatistics, business, chemistry, educational leadership, human genetics, microbiology/immunology, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology/toxicology, and physiology; doctoral degrees in education, health-related sciences, health services organization/research, integrative life sciences, medical physics, psychology, public policy and administration, rehabilitation and movement science, and social work; and master’s degrees in accountancy; adult education; art education; bioinformatics, biology; business administration; clinical laboratory sciences; computer science; counselor education; creative writing; criminal justice, curriculum/instruction; dentistry; design; economics; English; environmental studies; fine arts, forensic science, genetic counseling; gerontology; health administration; health and movement sciences, history; interdisciplinary studies; mass communications, mathematical sciences; music; nurse anesthesia; occupational therapy (postprofessional, professional); physics; public health; reading; recreation, parks, and sport leadership; rehabilitation counseling; social work; sociology; special education; taxation; teaching; theater; and urban and regional planning. The University also offers first professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and physical therapy as well as a variety of cooperative, interdisciplinary, and combined-degree programs.
Facilities & Resources
VCU libraries provide a combined capacity of more than 1.7 million volumes and 10,200 periodical titles and an online bibliographic search service accessing hundreds of databases. In addition, the Virginia State and Richmond Public libraries are within walking distance of both VCU campuses. Academic Computing provides a variety of microcomputer, minicomputer, and mainframe computing services to support the research and instructional endeavors of its faculty and students, including consultation, instruction, and computer acquisition. Other research facilities operated by VCU include the Anderson Art Gallery Conservation Laboratory, Burn Trauma Clinic, Virginia Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Massey Cancer Center, Pharmacokinetics Laboratory, School of the Arts Library and Slide Collections, Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic, Survey Research Laboratory, Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, and the Virginia Real Estate Research Center. VCU is a member of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition and Fees:
Financial Aid:
A number of departmental and University stipends and tuition awards are available. Students also may apply for need-based assistance with the University’s Financial Aid Office. Part-time employment is often available.
Housing/Living Expenses:
Limited graduate student housing is available on campus. Off-campus housing is readily available in nearby residential areas.
How to Apply / Application
Admission procedures and program requirements are detailed in the Graduate Bulletin. Application deadlines and materials, including the application and the Graduate Bulletin, are available online at the Graduate School Web site. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation, or disability.
Who to Contact
Graduate School
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3051
804-828-6916
Fax: 804-828-6949
Department Deans and Graduate Program Directors
Dr. F. Douglas Boudinot, Dean, Graduate School.
Dr. Sherry T. Sandkam, Associate Dean, Graduate School.
Deans
• Center for the Study of Biological Complexity: Dr. Gregory A. Buck.
• Center for Environmental Studies: Dr. Gregory C. Garman.
• College of Humanities and Sciences: Dr. Robert D. Holsworth, Acting Dean.
• L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs: Dr. Robert D. Holsworth.
• School of Allied Health Professions: Dr. Cecil B. Drain.
• School of the Arts: Dr. Richard Toscan.
• School of Business: Dr. Michael Sesnowicz.
• School of Dentistry: Dr. Ronald J. Hunt.
• School of Education: Dr. Beverly J. Warren, Interim Dean.
• School of Engineering: Dr. Robert J. Mattauch.
• School of Medicine: Dr. Jerome F. Strauss III.
• School of Nursing: Dr. Nancy F. Langston.
• School of Pharmacy: Dr. Victor A. Yanchick.
• School of Social Work: Dr. Frank R. Baskind.
• VCU Life Sciences: Dr. Thomas Huff.
Graduate Program Directors
For the telephone numbers listed below, the area code is 804.
Center for Public Policy
• Public Policy and Administration, Ph.D.: Dr. Michael D. Pratt, 828-6837.
College of Humanities and Sciences
• Adcenter: Ashley Sommardahl, 800-311-3341 (toll-free).
• Biology: Dr. John F. Pagels, 828-1562.
• Chemistry: Dr. Suzanne Ruder, 828-1298.
• Creative Writing: Tom DeHaven, 828-1329.
• Criminal Justice: Dr. Gary T. Johnson, 828-0469.
• English: Dr. Catherine Ingrassia, 828-1329.
• Forensic Science: Dr. Tracey Dawson Cruz, 828-8420.
• History: Dr. John F. Herman, 828-1635.
• Mass Communications: Dr. Ernest F. Martin, 828-2660.
• Physics: Dr. Alison A. Baski, 828-1818.
• Psychology, Biopsychology: Dr. Wendy L. Kliewer, 828-1793.
• Psychology, Clinical: Dr. Wendy L. Kliewer, 828-1793.
• Psychology, Counseling: Dr. Wendy L. Kliewer, 828-1793.
• Psychology, Social: Dr. Wendy L. Kliewer, 828-1793.
• Public Administration, Master’s: Dr. Gary T. Johnson, 828-0469.
• Sociology: Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, 828-1026.
• Statistics and Operations Research: Dr. James A. Davenport, 828-1301.
• Urban and Regional Planning: Dr. Gary T. Johnson, 828-0469.
School of Allied Health Professions
• Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Dr. Theresa S. Nadder, 828-9469.
• Gerontology: Dr. Ayn Welleford, 828-1565.
• Health Administration: Dr. Kenneth R. White, 828-0719.
• Health Administration, Professional M.S.H.A. Program Online: Dr. Dolores G. Clement, 828-9466.
• Health-Related Sciences: Monica White, 828-7247.
• Health Services Organization and Research: Dr. Michael McCue, 828-5218.
• Nurse Anesthesia: Dr. Michael D. Fallacaro, 828-9808.
• Occupational Therapy, Entry-level: Sandra H. Cash, 828-2219.
• Occupational Therapy, Post-Professional: Dr. Jayne T. Shepherd, 828-2219.
• Patient Counseling: Dr. Alexander F. Tartaglia, 828-0540.
• Physical Therapy, D.P.T.: Laura S. Spittle, 828-0234.
• Rehabilitation Counseling: Dr. Christine A. Reid, 828-1132.
School of the Arts
• Art History, Ceramics, Fibers, Furniture Design, Glassworking, Interior Environments, Jewelry/Metalworking, Music, Painting and Printmaking, Photography and Film, Sculpture, Theater and Visual Communications: Joseph H. Seipel, 828-2787.
School of Business
• Accountancy, Business Administration (Master’s), Decision Sciences, Economics, Finance, Financial Economics, Human Resources Management, Information Systems, Marketing, Real Estate Valuation, Risk Management, Taxation: Jana P. McQuaid, 828-1741.
• Fast Track M.B.A.: Dr. William J. Miller, 828-3939.
School of Dentistry
• Dentistry: Dr. Laurie Carter, 828-9184.
School of Education
• Administration/Supervision; Curriculum/Instruction; Physical Education; Recreation, Parks, and Sport Leadership; Special Education; Teaching; Ph.D. in Education: Jennifer R. Burruss, 828-3382.
School of Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering: Dr. Gary L. Bowlin, 828-2592.
• Computer Science: Dr. James E. Ames IV, 828-0575.
• Engineering, M.S., Ph.D.: Dr. L. Thomas Overby, 827-7000, Ext. 304.
Graduate School
• Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Dr. Sherry T. Sandkam, 828-6916.
School of Medicine
• Anatomy: Dr. George R. Leichnetz, 828-9512.
• Biochemistry: Dr. Suzanne E. Barbour, 828-9762.
• Biostatistics: Dr. Russell M. Boyle, 828-9824.
• Epidemiology: Dr. Elizabeth P. Turf, 828-9785.
• Human Genetics: Dr. Linda A. Corey, 828-9632.
• Medicine, M.D./Ph.D.: Dr. Gordon L. Archer, 828-7380.
• Microbiology and Immunology: Dr. Guy Cabral, 828-9728.
• Molecular Biology and Genetics: Dr. Gail E. Christie, 828-9093.
• Neuroscience: Dr. Les Satin, 828-7823.
• Pathology: Dr. Shawn E. Holt, 828-0458.
• Pharmacology and Toxicology: Dr. Stephen T. Sawyer, 828-8400.
• Physiology: Dr. George D. Ford, 828-9501.
• Pre-Medical Basic Health Science Certificate Programs: Dr. Jan F. Chlebowski, 828-8366.
• Public Health: Dr. Tilahun Adera, 828-9785.
School of Nursing
• Nursing (Certificate, Master’s, and Ph.D.): Susan L. Lipp, 828-5171.
School of Pharmacy
• Medicinal Chemistry: Dr. Umesh R. Desai, 828-8486.
• Pharmaceutics: Dr. H. Thomas Karnes, 828-8487.
• Pharmacotherapy, Pharmacy Administration: Dr. David A. Holdford, 828-6103.
School of Social Work
• Social Work (Certificate and M.S.W.): Dr. Marcia Harrigan, Interim Associate Dean, 828-0703.
• Social Work (Ph.D.): Dr. Kia J. Bentley, 828-0453.
VCU Life Sciences
• Bioinformatics: Dr. Herschell S. Emory, 827-5600.
• Environmental Studies: Dr. Peter L. deFur, 828-7202.
• Integrative Life Sciences: Dr. Leonard A. Smock, 828-1562.