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SPCS announces academic program updates as part of long-range planning initiative

February 9, 2026

To better align with labor market demands and prospective student expectations, the University of Richmond (UR) School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS) is making changes to its academic programs.

The School seeks to ensure that its programs remain relevant and equip graduates for current and future professions, many of which may not even exist. In response, market research encouraged SPCS to focus broadly on the fields of information technology and organizational effectiveness. The School’s focus remains on equipping graduates with the the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills of the liberal arts and the data literacy skills necessary in the 21st century. These skills align directly with the School’s mission “to enrich lives and careers for the 21st century.”

“We focused on employment sectors where there is current and potential growth, as well as employer needs in the region. We also focused on opportunities to consolidate programs where possible,” said Wilson. She continued, “The fact is that we have to continue to adapt to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of the communities and population we aim to serve.”

It is in light of these considerations that SPCS made the decisions outlined below. The School’s faculty and staff are dedicated to serving the needs of current and future students. They’ve developed an instructional plan to work individually with currently enrolled students to ensure they meet their degree requirements and graduate.

New Programs

The School will introduce the following new programs for fall 2026 admission:

Bachelor’s degree completion

  • The new Major in Organizational Studies in the Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS) prepares students to understand how organizations function and to contribute meaningfully across a range of professional settings.
  • The new Major in Information Systems and Cybersecurity in the BSPS combines our current majors in IT Management and Information Security into a credential focused on current and future trends in information technology.

Post-Bachelor’s certificate

The new Certificate in Information Systems and Cybersecurity combines coursework from our Information Systems and Information Security certificates into an undergraduate, post-bachelor’s credential designed for working professionals who’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree but seek to upskill or reskill into an IT field.

Master’s degree

The new Master of Organizational Effectiveness (MOE) equips professionals with the tools to understand organizational systems, support change, and enhance effectiveness through clear communication, data literacy, and applied organizational practices. The MOE requires a concentration in one of the following areas:

  • Concentration in Organizational Development and Change: Explores intersections among practices of leading an organization and human-centered approaches to being both a leader and a follower.
  • Concentration in Data Analytics: Emphasizes digital data-driven methods and tools used most frequently in professional environments and real-world contexts.
  • Concentration in HR Management: Explores theory and practical implications of principles related to human resources.
  • Concentration in Organizations and Civil Society: Develops skills and knowledge to empower people and organizations to create positive change and community impact.

Discontinued programs

In order to “adapt to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of the communities and population we aim to serve,” SPCS will discontinue several programs effective Fall 2026.

The final semester that applicants will be able to apply for admission to these programs is Summer 2026, with an application deadline of April 15, 2026. Any student admitted by Summer 2026 into one of these programs will be able to complete their program of study.*

Bachelor’s degree completion

  • BSPS majors in Human Resource Management and Paralegal Studies will be discontinued. Electives in HR Management and Paralegal Studies will continue to be available, so the BSPS major in Organizational Studies can offer a successful pathway for degree completion to students interested in those fields and careers.
  • BSPS majors in Information Security and IT Management will be discontinued. Coursework from these majors has been integrated into the new BSPS major in Information Systems and Cybersecurity.

Post-bachelor’s certificate

  • Post-bachelor’s certificates in Information Systems and Information Security will be discontinued. Coursework from these certificates has been integrated into the new Certificate in Information Systems and Cybersecurity.
  • The post-bachelor’s certificate in Paralegal Studies will be discontinued.

Graduate programs

  • The Master of Human Resource Management will be discontinued. HR Management coursework is integrated into the new MOE and its HR Management concentration.
  • The Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Studies and the Master of Nonprofit Studies will be discontinued. Nonprofit Studies coursework is integrated into the new MOE and its Organizations and Civil Society concentration.

* Students admitted for the Summer 2026 term will be required to enroll in at least one course in the summer to retain active status.

Updated Programs

The Master of Liberal Arts program is being updated to better meet students’ needs. Concentrations in the Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) are being eliminated effective for fall 2026, retaining the program’s historically interdisciplinary approach to solving problems. These concentrations are being eliminated:

  • Data Analytics
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Interdisciplinary Studies

Unchanged Programs

The following programs are being retained with no changes to their admissions or academic requirements.

Bachelor’s completion

  • Major in Liberal Arts in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA)
  • Major in Data Analytics in the Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS)

Post-bachelor’s certificate

  • Certificate in Data Analytics

Graduate programs

  • Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
  • Master of Teaching
  • Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
  • Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management
  • Graduate Certificate in Teacher Licensure Preparation

Students enrolled in programs to be discontinued as of the summer 2026 semester will be able to complete their programs of study as planned, and new programs of study will be available for enrollment starting in the fall 2026 semester.

If you have additional questions about discontinued programs, please review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. Active and recently inactive degree-seeking students have been invited to attend the Virtual Dean’s Town Hall on Feb. 19 to learn more and ask questions.