Undergraduate Studies

The College of Humanities and Sciences includes the core disciplines in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. We are also home to programs in the health sciences and for education in the liberal arts and sciences for future teachers. In the College, we have more than 450 full time faculty members, and nearly 60% of VCU undergraduates have at least one major in the College. And although that may sound big, we offer a small school experience, with a very supportive atmosphere that will offer you many opportunities to build connections with our faculty, advisers, mentors and with your fellow students.

Browse majors in the College of Humanities and Sciences

We deeply care about every single one of our students and we are committed to help each student find their passion in life, while preparing each of our students for a very successful career. We can provide you with spectacular opportunities:

to study abroad and work with people from a range of countries
to conduct research
to pursue starting your own business and become a successful entrepreneur
to pursue exciting internships to help launch your careers
to enroll in service learning courses that make a difference in our local community

Our vision is to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals, and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others — locally, globally and throughout time. We not only attempt to prepare students for employment, but also aspire to help them construct a foundation on which they will build rich and deeply meaningful lives and careers.

Interested in transferring?

This video includes a presentation and Q&A for incoming transfer students in the College of Humanities and Sciences recorded on August 3, 2020. This event covered information relevant to all students, and some specific to new transfer students, including:

experiential learning
scholarships
Office of Student Services and Advising
foreign language general education requirement
academic and general resources
tips and information for fall 2020

Visit the VCU Transfer Center for answers to all your questions about transferring to VCU.

Our undergrads in the news:

Bird's eye view of the robert e. Lee monument covered in graffiti

April 7, 2021

Podcast by VCU students on graffiti-covered Confederate monuments named a finalist in NPR national contest

A podcast by VCU students, “When Time Slows Down,” is one of 10 finalists in the NPR Student Podcast Challenge: College Edition. Winners will be featured in segments on “Morning Edition” or “All Things Considered.”

Students gathered looking at posters at the chemistry undergraduate research symposium

April 7, 2021

Undergraduate students present research to industry partners

NASA, Altria and GSK are just a few of the national companies that participate in the annual Chemistry Undergraduate Research Symposium.

V.C.U. student Kevin Armas Rodas talks to Marisela, a Central American mother who left Mexico with her 10-day-old baby, about her experiences and difficulties at home and crossing the U. S. border.

April 2, 2021

Helping the Hispanic community in the midst of the pandemic

Students in the VCU service-learning course Hispanic Immigrants in the U.S. are continuing to make a difference.

raven witherspoon outside harris hall at v.c.u.

March 29, 2021

Class of 2021: Raven Witherspoon is pursuing a career in physics to help improve the world

The VCU Honors College student hopes to help reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world and “transfer those materials into peaceful uses like civil nuclear energy.”

March 23, 2021

Class of 2021: Isaiah King’s love of medicine leads to a new passion for research

King’s experiences with the student organization Black Men in Medicine gave him the support and freedom to pursue his own path. Up next: A fellowship program at the National Institutes of Health.

a pair of shoes with arrows pointing forward and to the right and left

March 10, 2021

VCU P.R.I.M.E. empowers underrepresented students interested in health care careers

The student- and staff-initiated group identifies traditional barriers and develops strategies to help peers overcome them.

March 2, 2021

13 from VCU named Fulbright semifinalists for 2021-22

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

soldiers in fatigues and backpacks on a lawn outside the u.s. capitol building

March 1, 2021

VCU students in the Virginia National Guard reflect on a history-making mission

As they return to their studies, the students who were stationed at the U.S. Capitol earlier this winter share details of their experiences in Washington.

inside the rotunda at the virginia state capitol

Feb. 11, 2021

At the General Assembly (sort of) with VCU’s capitol semester students

Interns at the Virginia State Capitol this legislative session are doing most of their work virtually. It’s still “a very cool experience,” they said.

a student volunteer gives the covid vaccine to an older patient

Feb. 8, 2021

Hundreds of students are volunteering and providing shots at vaccination events

With some VCU students already trained and others lined up for training, volunteers are ready to address the need for more COVID-19 vaccinators and take on roles that will serve them in their careers.

Feb. 2, 2021

Students in a VCU math class have published six research papers in top journals. More are on the way.

The undergraduate students in “Introduction to Mathematical Biology” are applying math concepts like game theory to better understand and tackle infectious diseases and other real-world problems.

Akhila Kunuthuru, Jennifer Duong and Sneha Gade, the co-founders of Virtual Volunteer at V.C.U.

Jan. 19, 2021

A new group virtually connects VCU student volunteers with local organizations

Virtual Volunteer at VCU has paired hundreds of students with more than a dozen Richmond partners, creating a sense of community in a time of distance.

Maryum Elnasseh, Naomi Ghahrai and Macy Pressley

April 16, 2020

Three VCU students named Critical Language Scholars

Three Virginia Commonwealth University students have been selected for the 2020 Critical Language Scholarship, a highly competitive scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State for the study of 15 languages deemed critical to the United States’ diplomatic and security interests.

Feb. 2, 2020

Report from the field: A new wilderness practice and policy study abroad course in Patagonia

Jordan Rasure was one of 11 students who participated in the Patagonia National Parks Comparative Analysis of Wilderness Policy course/study abroad trip during winter break 2019.

Nov. 25, 2019

Student turns EMT experience into research opportunity

“The research process as an undergraduate has had an instrumental impact on my personal development,” Tarek Haggy said. “It’s taught me things that no class could and provided early exposure to the professional world.”

May 1, 2019

Students share stories of life-changing experiences made possible by Baldacci gift

Bestselling novelist and VCU alumnus David Baldacci met with students who have received awards through an experiential learning fund and a political science scholarship he created with his wife, Michelle. (Photo by Kevin Morley, University Relations)

April 16, 2019

Chemistry and Forensic Science student receives prestigious NSF graduate fellowship

Caitlin Cain, a senior majoring in chemistry and forensic science, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees.

April 9, 2019

Do insecticide-treated mosquito nets harm sleep quality? This VCU student is aiming to find out.

Sarah Yankson will work on a study this summer in Ghana as one of a dozen recipients of grants from the College of Humanities and Sciences’ Baldacci Student Experiential Learning Fund.