UR Education Consortium with VAIS

At the University of Richmond, we seek to meet the learning needs of working professionals through the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. We’re collaborating with the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) to offer degree programs at discounted tuition rates through the UR Education Consortium. If you work at a Virginia independent school that’s a member of VAIS, you’re eligible for the discount.

How the UR Education Consortium Works

Complete the consortium-specific application form and be sure to indicate that you’re applying as a VAIS member by identifying your school name. Once admitted and enrolled, you’ll be billed for the discounted tuition rate until you complete your degree or leave employment at a UR Education Consortium organization (in your case, a VAIS member school).

You must meet general admission requirements for your selected program of study, and you must maintain your academic standing as required by the program. The 20% discount will apply to the currently active tuition rate, which you can expect to increase moderately (typically about 5%) each year. Current tuition rates are available on our Tuition and Fees page.

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

The Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (ELPS) program prepares current educators to lead PK-12 schools. Available credentials are a master of education (M.Ed.) for those seeking a master’s degree and a graduate certificate for those who already hold an earned master’s degree.

  • Discounted tuition: $577/semester hour (regularly $721/hour)
  • Required hours: 31 hours for M.Ed., 22 hours for graduate certificate
  • Admission: Review ELPS admission requirements in the SPCS catalog

Start Your ELPS Application

Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Total: 31 semester hours

CORE
15 semester hours. All candidates must complete the following courses. Each course includes a 30-hour practicum.

  • EDUC601U Foundations of Educational Leadership Studies

  • EDUC602U Data for Decision-Making

  • EDUC603U Leading and Supervising Instruction

  • EDUC605U School Law and Policy for Ethical Leadership

  • EDUC606U Organizational Operations in Human Resource and Fiscal Leadership

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
9 semester hours. All candidates must complete the following courses. Each course includes a 10-hour practicum.

  • EDUC630U School Technology

  • EDUC632U Leading Change through an Equity Lens

  • EDUC635U Strategic Improvement and Effective Communication in Schools

FIELD EXPERIENCE
7 semester hours. All candidates must complete the following courses. Reflective Leadership Seminar residency includes 170 hours in practicum.

  • EDUC610U Reflective Leadership Seminar I

  • EDUC611U Reflective Leadership Seminar II

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
All candidates must complete a Capstone Assignment.

Teacher Licensure Tracks

Our teacher licensure programs prepare aspiring educators for Virginia teacher licensure. Available credentials are a Master of Teaching (MT) for those who already hold an earned bachelor’s degree and our Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) degree completion program with a concentration in Elementary Education (EE).

MT Details
  • Discounted tuition: $577/semester hour (regularly $721/hour)
  • Required hours: 38-44 hours depending on endorsement
  • Admission: Review MT admission requirements in the SPCS catalog

Start Your MT Application

BALA-EE Details

Start Your BALA Application

Concentration in Elementary Education

Undergraduate students may opt for an additional concentration in education toward elementary teacher licensure preparation while working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) degree.

Total: 41 semester hours

Professional Studies
27 semester hours

  • EDUC307U Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Science

  • EDUC308U Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Social Studies

  • EDUC310U Concepts and Methods in Elementary Math

  • EDUC311U Assessment and Differentiation in Elementary Math

  • EDUC317U Foundations of Education

  • EDUC318U Diverse Learners and Human Growth and Development

  • EDUC342U Reading Foundations for Early Literacy Instruction

  • EDUC326U Assessment, Intervention and Literacy Strategies for Elementary Readers

  • EDUC358U Classroom and Behavior Management

Field Experience
14 semester hours

  • EDUC475U Teaching Internship (12 sem. hrs.)

  • EDUC484U Pre-Internship Workshop Series (0.25 sem. hrs.)

  • EDUC485U Capstone Seminar (1.75 sem. hrs.)

Curriculum & Instruction

The Curriculum & Instruction program equips current educators for excellence in teaching. We offer a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed. in C&I) that provides opportunities for specialization and/or add-on Virginia teaching endorsements.

  • Discounted tuition: $577/semester hour (regularly $721/hour)
  • Required hours: 30 hours
  • Admission: Review C&I admission requirements in the SPCS catalog

Start Your C&I Application

Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction

Note: This General Curriculum is the default program of study. Specialized programs of study are available that combine general, elective and research courses.

Total: 30 semester hours

GENERAL COURSES
18 semester hours

  • EDUC650U Advanced Educational Psychology

  • EDUC651U Assessment and Accountability

  • EDUC652U Differentiated Instruction

  • EDUC660U Curriculum Development and Instructional Practice

  • EDUC653U Issues, Ethics and Policy in Education

  • EDUC661U Instructional Leadership

ELECTIVE COURSES
6 semester hours from courses listed below. Additional electives may be offered, depending on students’ learning needs.

  • EDUC528U Adult Learning Theory

  • EDUC519U Working with English Learners

  • EDUC523U Introduction to Coaching & Mentoring

  • EDUC555U Curriculum for Talented and Gifted Education

  • EDUC562U Special Populations of Gifted Students

  • EDUC563U Social & Emotional Needs of the Gifted Student

  • EDUC565U Foundations and Legal Aspects of Special Education

  • EDUC568U Successful Transitions in Special Education

  • EDUC570U Foundations of Gifted Education

  • EDUC571U Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education

  • EDUC573U Trauma Informed Practices in Schools

  • EDUC574U Understanding and Implementing the IEP

  • EDUC598U Selected Topics

  • EDUC579U Mindfulness Strategies for the Classroom

  • EDUC581U Social Justice & Equity in Education

  • EDUC602U Data for Decision-Making

  • EDUC603U Leading and Supervising Instruction

  • EDUC619U Strategies for Teaching Writing

  • EDUC620U Advanced Children’s Literature

  • EDUC675U Reflective Teaching Experience

RESEARCH COURSES
6 semester hours

  • EDUC680U Content Specialization and Research I

  • EDUC681U Content Specialization and Research II

CAPSTONE PROJECT
All candidates must complete a Capstone Assignment.

Human Resource Management

The Human Resource Management (HRM) program prepares students for career advancement and professional development in HR Management. We offer two credentials: The Master of HR Management (MHRM) for those seeking a master’s degree and a graduate certificate for pre- and post-master’s learning.

  • Discounted tuition: $577/semester hour (regularly $721/hour)
  • Required hours: 30 hours for MHRM, 18 hours for graduate certificate
  • Admission: Review HRM admission requirements in the SPCS catalog

Start Your HRM Application

  • Master's Degree

    Master of HR Management

    Total: 30 semester hours

    CORE COURSES
    18 semester hours

    • HRM531U Human Resource Management

    • HRM532U Legal Issues in Human Resource Management

    • HRM533U Quantitative Analysis and Research in HRM

    • HRM534U Strategic Human Resource Development

    • ECON507U Labor Economics

    • PSYC530U Organizational Psychology

    600-LEVEL COURSES
    12 semester hours. HRM697U is required. Students may then choose 3 of the remaining 600-level courses to complete the requirement.

    • HRM697U Strategy and Policy (required)

    • HRM635U Managing Compensation and Benefits

    • HRM638U HRM Leadership Theory and Application

    • HRM639U Recruitment and Retention

    • HRM644U Diversity in Organizations

    • HRM645U Organization Development and Change

    • HRM647U Human Resource Information Systems

    • HRM650U Labor Relations

    • HRM657U HRM in the Global Environment

    • HRM659U Managing Human Capital Risk

    • HRM696U Directed Research

  • Graduate Certificate

    Graduate Certificate in HR Management

    Total: 18 semester hours

    REQUIRED
    15 semester hours

    • HRM531U Human Resource Management

    • HRM532U Legal Issues in Human Resource Management

    • HRM534U Strategic Human Resource Development

    • HRM635U Managing Compensation and Benefits

    • HRM657U HRM in the Global Environment

    ELECTIVE
    3 semester hours. Select from among 500- and 600-level HRM courses not required for the certificate, including PSYC530U and ECON507U.

Nonprofit Studies

The Nonprofit Studies (NPS) program prepares students for career advancement and professional development in nonprofits and NGOs. We offer two credentials: The Master of Nonprofit Studies (MNS) for those seeking a master’s degree and a graduate certificate for pre- and post-master’s learning.

  • Discounted tuition: $577/semester hour (regularly $721/hour)
  • Required hours: 30 hours for MNS, 18 hours for graduate certificate
  • Admission: Review NPS admission requirements in the SPCS catalog

Start Your NPS Application

  • Master of Nonprofit Studies

    Master of Nonprofit Studies

    Total: 30 semester hours

    REQUIRED
    15 semester hours

    • NPS501U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector

    • NPS520U Financial Management and Budget Development

    • NPS530U Law, Ethics and Governance

    • NPS540U Resource Development and Promotion

    • NPS550U Strategic Human Resource Management

    ELECTIVE
    12 semester hours. Select 6 hours (2 classes) from each group below.

    Content Specialization
    6 semester hours. Topic for  NPS598U must relate to content specialization as determined by the program chair.

    • NPS522U International Non-Governmental Organizations (iNGOs)

    • NPS566U Public Policy and Advocacy

    • NPS567U Sustainability and Nonprofit Organizations

    • NPS571U Social Entrepreneurship

    • NPS581U Community Engagement in the Nonprofit Sector

    • NPS598U Selected Topics

    Systematic Design and Inquiry
    6 semester hours. Topic for NPS598U must relate to systematic design and inquiry as determined by the program chair.

    • NPS562U Assessment and Program Evaluation

    • NPS570U Program Design and Proposal Writing

    • NPS572U Innovations in Organizational Norms and Practice

    • NPS598U Selected Topics

    • EDUC680U Content Specialization and Research I

    INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR
    3 semester hours

  • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Studies

    Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Studies

    Total: 18 semester hours

    REQUIRED
    15 semester hours

    • NPS501U Understanding the Nonprofit Sector

    • NPS520U Financial Management and Budget Development

    • NPS530U Law, Ethics and Governance

    • NPS540U Resource Development and Promotion

    • NPS550U Strategic Human Resource Management

    ELECTIVE
    3 semester hours. Select 1 additional graduate-level Nonprofit Studies (NPS) course or another graduate-level course with approval from the chair.