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

SPCS Educational Journey

SPCS Student Experience

What’s Next for SPCS Students

Faculty & Staff Notes

Wilson moderates MLK Day event
Dr. Jamelle Wilson, dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies, moderated Virginia Commonwealth University’s MLK Day 2020 keynote event, Reflections on the Fierce Urgency of Now, on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The event featured remarks, discussion and screening of the film Woke Vote.
Spires co-authors journal article
Dr. Bob Spires, Assistant Professor of Education, co-authored Cambodian Youth Perspectives on Social and Educational Barriers, a case study published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education. Spires’ co-authors are Jeremy Tost of Colorado Mesa University and Sokleng In of Love Without Boundaries in Poipet, Cambodia.
Wilson addresses leadership summit
Dr. Jamelle Wilson, dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies, recently addressed attendees of the Virginia Foundation of Independent College’s inaugural Women’s Leadership Development Summit in Richmond. She spoke on “Leading Authentically,” positing that we lead most effectively from a place of knowing who we are and where we are at a particular time.
Greenan featured in SpiderTalks with Pres. Crutcher
Dr. April Greenan, adjunct assistant professor of liberal arts, is featured in a recent episode of SpiderTalks with President Crutcher. Greenan’s research as a musicologist focuses on 18th century Western art music, the art music tradition in the U.S., and the intersection of music and medicine.
Spires to participate in anti-slavery research
Dr. Bob Spires, assistant professor of education, will participate this summer with Dr. Monti Datta, associate professor of political science, in grant-funded research in Assam, India, to assess the effectiveness of NGOs in liberating enslaved people.
Education faculty present at leadership conference
Four members of the Graduate Education faculty — Dr. Tom Shields, Dr. Kate Cassada, Dr. Dionne Ward and Dr. Dave Myers — co-presented Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K-12 School Leader Development at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Sandra Peart, Dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, chaired the panel.
Nelson earns 2019 Literati Award
Dr. Jan Nelson, adjunct assistant professor of HR management, recently was awarded the 2019 Literati Award for Outstanding Author Contribution for her chapter “Here Be Paradox: How Global Business Leaders Navigate Change” released by Emerald Publishing in Advances in Global Leadership.
Spires collaborates on article
Dr. Bob Spires, assistant professor of education, published an article co-written with graduate students & colleagues from Valdosta State University. The article, Effects of the Post-It Note Strategy on Reading Achievement among Eighth-Grade Students with Learning Disabilities, appears in Becoming: Journal of the Georgia Middle School Association.
Nielson co-authors book
Dr. Erik Nielson, assistant chair and associate professor of liberal arts, has released Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America, a book on the use of rap lyrics in legal proceedings, written with Dr. Andrea L. Dennis from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Hocutt named conference program co-chair
Dr. Daniel Hocutt, web manager and adjunct professor of liberal arts, has been named program co-chair for SIGDOC 2020, the annual conference of the ACM Special Interest Group for Design of Communication (SIGDOC) to be held at the University of North Texas October 3-4, 2020.

Programs of Study

Program	Bachelor’s Degree	Undergrad Certificate	Master’s Degree	Graduate Certificate
Education	Available		Available	Available
• Curriculum & Instruction			Available
• Educational Leadership & Policy Studies			Available	Available
• Elementary Licensure (Undergraduate)	Available
• Teaching			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

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