VCU offers dozens of new degrees, minors and more this fall

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As the 2026-27 academic year kicks off this month, Virginia Commonwealth University students have dozens of new options to consider when pursuing degrees, certificates, concentrations, minors and more. The new programs come from across VCU's colleges and schools and represent numerous academic disciplines.

Many of the new offerings are designed to help students keep up with fast-moving technologies or fill job market gaps, while others, such as accelerated programs, allow students to earn degrees in less time.

"VCU's new academic programs represent our continued commitment to meet the needs of an ever-evolving workforce, while ensuring we maintain an exceptional student experience," said Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. "Whether in person, online or hybrid, by pairing flexible learning pathways with world-class faculty research and creative scholarship, we are empowering students to achieve their degree goals faster and more effectively than ever before."

Here are details of new academic offerings this fall and their anticipated career outcomes.

New degree and certificate programs

B.S. in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering

Format: In-person

Description: From self-driving vehicles to robotic surgical systems, robotics and autonomous systems technology is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. The B.S. in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering - the first in Virginia - is a multidisciplinary program that prepares students to design, implement and analyze modern

Programs A to Z

robotic and autonomous systems, while also emphasizing ethical considerations inherent in autonomous systems, particularly AI-based technologies. Courses will be taught by College of Engineering faculty from electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and nuclear engineering, and computer science, and students will participate in hands-on, project-based learning, including a two-semester senior capstone project where they design and build working robotic or autonomous systems.

Career outcomes: The global robotics market is projected to grow from $11.5 billion to $78.8 billion by 2033, and over the next decade, Virginia alone is projected to add more than 10,000 jobs in aerospace and unmanned systems. Graduates may consider careers as engineers in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, defense and transportation. VCU's project-based program emulates the kind of environment students will work in after graduation.

M.S.N. in Nursing

Format: Hybrid

Description: The M.S.N. in Nursing program prepares students who have already earned a bachelor's degree in another field for general practice in acute care, community-based and other settings with diverse populations. Students will build strong clinical reasoning, physical assessment and technical skills through hands-on experience in diverse settings. They can complete their clinical hours in various locations, such as a large urban medical center, community health settings, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics and rural hospitals.

Career outcomes: Graduates earn an M.S.N in Nursing and are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure to practice as a registered nurse. They will be prepared to deliver high-quality care to individuals and families across the lifespan. In addition, many healthcare leadership roles require a graduate degree, and this program will make leadership positions more attainable. Graduates are also guaranteed admission to additional graduate degrees and certificates at the School of Nursing, such as the Doctor of Nursing Practice (space permitting).

Graduate Certificate in Marketing

Format: Online and in-person

Description: This graduate certificate program offered by the School of Business develops core skills in creating and executing effective marketing strategies. In their classes, students will explore branding, consumer behavior, positioning, product differentiation and portfolio development. They will learn about digital marketing tools, including how to create measurable performance goals that will support data-driven decision-making. Students will also learn to identify customer segments, define target audiences and design a marketing mix across product, price, promotion and distribution.

Career outcomes: The program provides specialized marketing expertise that can complement a broader business foundation, and it can offer an accessible entry point into marketing that leverages students' diverse backgrounds while building essential marketing competencies. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and opportunities to work on real-world projects with actual clients, equipping students with practical skills and a relevant marketing toolkit they can immediately put to use in their current or future professional context. Graduates will be prepared to engage customers, make strategic marketing decisions and build lasting customer relationships across a wide range of industries.

Graduate Certificate in Applied AI

Format: Online

Description: This graduate certificate teaches students how to evaluate artificial intelligence tools, apply them strategically within their professional fields and navigate the complex decisions that come with them, all while staying grounded in human-centered values. Students sharpen skills like critical thinking, communication and ethical judgment by putting AI to work alongside them. Core coursework explores modern AI systems, with an emphasis on strategic application rather than technical programming. Elective coursework then allows students to tailor their learning to their own professional context.

Career outcomes: As AI becomes embedded in routine workplace functions, employers increasingly expect professionals to evaluate AI outputs, integrate them into workflows and understand their ethical and practical implications. Designed for working professionals, the certificate helps students apply AI to solve real-world challenges in whatever industry they work in, whether healthcare, business, education or another field. Structured to be flexible and self-directed in pacing, this online program aims to equip professionals with practical skills they can immediately apply in their current roles while establishing a foundation that lets them adapt to new technologies that emerge and use AI responsibly throughout their careers.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Vocational Rehabilitation

Format: Online

Description: This certificate from the College of Health Professions strengthens the practical skills of current and aspiring professionals who support individuals with disabilities across community, educational and vocational settings. Courses emphasize the practical use of assessment tools, career development theories, job placement practices and case management processes that guide day-to-day service delivery. Students will learn how cultural, social and systemic factors influence rehabilitation outcomes, as well as how evidence-based strategies can be used to facilitate employment, independence and community participation.

Career Outcomes: This program will help professionals in the vocational rehabilitation field and in community‐based disability service settings, such as employment services specialists, job coaches and service coordinators, be able to assess clients' functional needs, coordinate complex service systems and implement evidence-based career strategies in a variety of settings. These include state vocational rehabilitation agencies, community rehabilitation programs and related human service organizations.

Graduate Certificate in Disability and Rehabilitation Services

Format: Online

Description: This graduate certificate from the College of Health Professions provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in working effectively with people with disabilities. Students will learn about rehabilitation systems, medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, and counseling theories and techniques used across disability-related services. They will understand disability as a lived experience and a social, medical and vocational construct that shapes individual and community outcomes. Students will also develop skills to support individuals in navigating services and pursuing meaningful goals across multiple settings.

Career Outcomes: This program is designed for entry-level professionals in the vocational rehabilitation field and in community‐based disability service settings, such as employment services specialists and service coordinators. Graduates will be able to contribute effectively in disability-related service environments by supporting individuals in achieving employment, autonomy and full participation in their communities.

New concentrations

• B.S. in Finance with a concentration in actuarial science
• B.A. in International Studies with a concentration in global religions and spiritualities
• B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in journalism
• B.A. in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies with a concentration in LGBT+ and Queer studies
• B.S. in Computer Engineering with a concentration in autonomy and artificial intelligence
• B.S. in Computer Engineering with a concentration in digital hardware design
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in power and energy systems
• M.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in rehabilitation engineering
• M.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• M.S. in Engineering with a concentration in artificial intelligence

New minors

• Military science and leadership
• Public health
• Public health and arts
• Indian Ocean visual cultures (VCUarts Qatar only)
• Screenwriting
• Creative technology instruction
• Health communication
• Health sciences
• Applied humanities
• Native American and Indigenous studies
• Healthcare change leadership
• Dental administration

New dual degrees/certificates

• Master of Public Health/Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies
• Master of Social Work/Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
• Doctor of Medicine/M.S. in Clinical and Translational Sciences

New accelerated degrees

• B.A. in Philosophy (all concentrations) to Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
• B.A. in Philosophy (all concentrations) to Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
• B.A. in Philosophy (all concentrations) to M.S. in Gerontology
• B.A. in Political Science to Master of Public Health (M.P.H)
• B.S. in Biology to M.S. in Biomedical Engineering
• B.A. in International Studies (all concentrations except global religions and spiritualities) to Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
• B.A. in Human and Organizational Development to M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (concentrations in leadership studies, culturally responsive leadership and higher education administration only)
• B.S. in Computer Science to M.S. in Data Science
• B.S. in Supply Chain Management to Master of Decision Analytics (M.D.A.)

  Future forward

  VCU is exploring a reduced-credit model for bachelor's degrees, with a goal of proposing two in spring 2028. These programs will consist of 90 credits (instead of the standard 120), allowing students to earn their bachelor's in three years. Interested faculty may contact their dean's office for more information about their school/college's involvement.