University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies

Rigorous and challenging, but flexible.

We understand how important education is in today’s world, but we also understand how life can sometimes get in the way. Our degree programs are designed to meet the needs of working professionals and adult students, balancing academic rigor with flexibility and value. You can attend part time in the evening at a pace that supports your other life commitments and earn your Richmond degree on your terms.

Convenient admissions process.

We offer rolling admission for fall, spring, and summer semesters. Our undergraduate programs require a high school diploma or GED but no standardized test scores, and we provide undergraduate admissions pathways to match incoming students’ preparedness for college-level work. Our graduate programs require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university but no standardized test scores. And our online application takes just a few minutes to complete.

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Relevant and marketable.

We offer degrees in several in-demand career fields as well as options in the liberal arts. More importantly, our degree programs integrate the liberal arts with professional studies. Students will be exposed to the latest theory and real-world practice to give them the skills and knowledge to move their careers to the next level. Career goals aside, our programs develop well-rounded professionals. Students develop a variety of transferable skills that employers desire, including written and verbal communication skills, the ability to solve complex problems, to work well with others, and to adapt in a changing workplace.

Accessible and affordable.

We make a University of Richmond education attainable for working professionals. We don’t require standardized test scores for admission. And our tuition — starting at $465 per semester hour — ranks among the most competitive in Richmond for adult students. You owe it to yourself to do the math. Compare our tuition to other adult education providers. We think you’ll be surprised.

Respected and valued.

Where you earn your degree does make a difference. As one of the five schools at the University of Richmond, we maintain high academic standards. You study with Richmond professors and seasoned professionals, gaining specialized knowledge. At graduation, you receive a University of Richmond diploma. And you’ll be part of an institution that pioneered professional education in Richmond fifty years ago.

It’s never too late to return to school.

At the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, our students are serious about what they do. They have goals in mind and unbelieveable drive to achieve them. But sometimes life gets in the way, and that’s okay. In any given semester, our students range in age from 20-65. Many are returning to school to complete bachelor’s degrees they started years earlier. Some are transferring from community colleges and other universities. And a growing number are pursuing graduate study.

Regardless of your educational goals or age, you’ll feel right at home as part of one of only a few true college campuses in Richmond with dedicated programs for adult students and working professionals just like you.

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Post-Bachelor's Programs

Post-bachelor’s programs include undergraduate certificates, graduate certificates and non-degree study options. Our programs combine the latest theory with practical applications to provide valuable knowledge or a credential to help you advance or change your career or prepare for graduate school.

Post-Bachelor's

Bachelor's Programs

Our bachelor’s degrees are designed for those who want an interdisciplinary degree. You’ll be exposed to some of the best thinking from around the world through a broadly based educational experience. Through your major, you’ll gain valuable industry knowledge while further developing your critical thinking, writing and analytical skills.

Bachelor's Degrees

Master's Programs

Our master’s degrees combine theory and real-world practice to give students the skills and knowledge to move their careers to the next level. As a graduate student, you’ll explore emerging trends, unique opportunities, and innovative strategies in your respective career fields and area of study. As such, some of our degrees are well suited for students interested in career change.

Master's Degrees

Student Reflections

Proud UR Graduate (SPCS Night 2016)

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Reflection on SPCS (SPCS Night 2016)

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Gratitude (SPCS Night 2016)

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Faculty & Staff Notes

Laing represents UR at inauguration
Kathy Laing, GC’16, manager of the UR Institute on Philanthropy, represented University of Richmond at the inauguration ceremony for Ferrum College’s 12th president, Dr. David J. Johns, on October 19, 2018.
Cassada named CLE director
SPCS professor of education Kate Cassada, assistant chair of the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program, has been named director of the Center for Leadership in Education (CLE), following former director Tom Shields’ appointment as SPCS associate dean.
Jackson named coordinator of leadership academy
Dr. Dana Jackson has been named part-time coordinator of the Next Generation Leadership Academy (NGLA), a school leader training program of the University’s Center for Leadership in Education.
Cassada named SPCS Distinguished Educator
Professor of education Kate Cassada, assistant chair for graduate educational leadership & policy studies, has been awarded the University of Richmond Distinguished Educator Award in the School of Professional & Continuing Studies for 2018.
Shields profiled in RTD
Professor of education Tom Shields, SPCS associate dean for academic & student affairs & chair of graduate education, is profiled in the Richmond Times-Dispatch — Getting to Know: Thomas J. Shields with the University of Richmond.
Madden completes Trans Am Bike Race
Ben Madden, History of Craft Brewing instructor in the SPCS Beer Brewer Professional Certificate program, was featured in a Richmond Times-Dispatch column by Bill Lohmann for completing the 4,300-mile Trans Am Bike Race from Astoria, Ore. to Yorktown, Va.
Eakin Award
Religious studies professor and master of liberal arts program chair Frank Eakin was awarded an Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, a publisher of biographical profiles.
Shelton advises career switchers
Assistant director of career services Becca Shelton offers career advice in a TalentCulture post titled 5 Ugly Myths About Changing Career in Your 30s. Shelton serves working professionals including SPCS students and UR alumni as a career advisor.
Nielson pens NY Times op-ed
SPCS associate professor and assistant chair of liberal arts Erik Nielson published an op-ed in the New York Times titled If We Silence Hate Speech, Will We Silence Resistance?
Hocutt presents research at SIGDOC
SPCS web manager and adjunct professor of liberal arts Daniel Hocutt presented doctoral research titled “Rethinking Users: UX Design for Posthuman Cyborgs” at the 2018 ACM Special Interest Group on the Design of Communication (SIGDOC) conference in Milwaukee.

Programs of Study

	Bachelor’s Degree	Undergrad Certificate	Master’s Degree	Graduate Certificate
Education			Available	Available
Teacher Licensure				Available
HR Management	Available		Available	Available
Information Systems		Available
Information Security	Available	Available
IT Management	Available
Liberal Arts	Available
Master (MLA)			Available
Weekend College	Available
Nonprofit Studies			Available	Available
Paralegal Studies	Available	Available
Public History			Available in MLA	Available

Review information about certain certificate program graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information.