College Profiles:
Virginia Commonwealth University

Located in the heart of Richmond, on the only urban campus in the state, VCU has risen to national and international prominence because of its world-class facilities, distinguished faculty, diverse student body, and proven success in preparing its forward-thinking students for the ever-changing climate and demands of the new world. Located on two downtown campuses, VCU enrolls just over 32,000 students in 205 certificate and degree programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-five of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 15 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.

Arguably the state's most progressive institution, VCU is neighbored and supported by numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as top hospitals, banks, advertising and PR firms, high-tech manufacturing companies and federal, state and local agencies, creating an environment rife with internship and co-op opportunities. Students pursuing any of the degrees offered at VCU don't just read about the new world---they live in it.

Richmond is big enough to be interesting, yet small enough to feel familiar. Cobblestone streets and turn-of-the-century buildings intertwine with businesses, restored concert halls, art galleries, ethnic restaurants, and unique shops. VCU students just don't go to class. They go to businesses. They go to hospitals. They go into the real world and create ideas for positive change. As part of the city of Richmond, we're supporting our city's economic and social well-being. In turn, the city gives our students an experience they won't find anywhere else.

The Faculty

Our professors have logged days in hazmat suits and dislodged dung beetles, trudged through swamps and set up camp in African villages. They've even won the Nobel Prize, and are a big reason why 11 programs at VCU are ranked in the Top 20.

The faculty here takes pride in being students themselves—in order to teach from experience, keeping one foot in the real world and an open mind to change is critical. You won't find them hiding in ivory towers, and you won't see them bowing to convention. They're not shy about expecting everything from their students—they experience it for themselves first.

Academics

• College of Humanities and Sciences: degree programs ranging from biology and forensic science, to international and urban studies, to cultural anthropology and interdisciplinary studies including those in the health sciences and law.

• School of the Arts: one of the largest and most comprehensive art schools in the country; U.S. News & World Report has ranked the School of the Arts as the number one public university school of the arts and design in the country.

• School of Business: undergraduate program with a strong liberal arts base, and a large number of majors and tracks firmly grounded in technology, interdisciplinary teamwork and global perspectives.

• School of Education: offers programs at the baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, master's , post-master's and doctoral levels; committed to excellence in the initial preparation and continuing development of professionals for leadership, teaching, service and scholarly inquiry.

• School of Engineering: offers programs in chemical and life science engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and biomedical engineering, the first undergraduate program of its kind in Virginia.

• L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs: offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, in addition to post-baccalaureate and graduate certificate programs, in the areas of criminal justice, homeland security and emergency preparedness, political science, public policy, administration and management, sociology, and urban studies and geography.

• School of Mass Communications: prepares you for careers in the mass media and related fields and encourages high standards of ethical and journalistic performance with a specialization in one of three sequences — advertising, journalism or public relations.

• School of Nursing: works within the Richmond community to address public health needs, developing creative models to prepare students for their future and promoting leadership, practice and scholarship.

• School of Social Work: ranked among the nation's top social work schools. For more than 85 years, preparing students to bring about change through their knowledge and actions, offering a unique combination of classroom and field experiences, and emphasizing critical thinking, self-awareness, evidence-based decision making and ethical integrity.

• School of World Studies: offers programs in anthropology, area studies, foreign languages, geography, international studies and religious studies, among others. These programs are designed to address some of the day's most crucial topics, such as the impact of globalization on society and the environment, and how language, culture, art and religion shape the way that individuals find a place in their rapidly changing world.

• VCU Life Sciences: centers on the study of biological complexity and involves everything from genes to ecological environments to human behavior; brings together outstanding faculty from the university's health sciences and academic campuses, offering unique learning experiences and new, interdisciplinary majors for undergraduate students.

• Health sciences programs on the MCV Campus: includes undergraduate programs in clinical laboratory sciences and clinical radiation sciences, and graduate programs in clinical lab sciences, clinical radiation sciences, gerontology, health administration, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, patient counseling, physical therapy and rehabilitation counseling. Other undergraduate programs include dental hygiene and nursing, and professional programs include dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy and pharmacy.

Athletics

VCU's 16 varsity sports compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Rams' men's and women's basketball teams play at the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. In recent years, VCU has participated in NCAA Tournaments in baseball, golf, men's soccer and men's and women's tennis.