Yes. Although our program does not hold a separate accreditation, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the University, including the PhD programs offered. We are also a program of merit with the Association for Doctoral Programs in Health Sciences.
Yes, you are required to attend two one-week sessions per year (June, January) for your first two years in the program. Fall sessions begin in late June and Spring sessions begin in early January.
No. On-campus housing is not available for our distance learning students. However, we will provide you with a list of local and extended stay hotels in the area.
Yes. A list of textbooks will be provided prior to the start of each semester.
To inquire about financial aid, contact Virginia Commonwealth University's Financial Aid Office. To be considered for available scholarships, you must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file in the Financial Aid Office.
We encourage students to pursue the program full-time due to the structure and sequence of courses. If you find that you need to attend part-time, you should contact the PhD Program Director and Program Coordinator as soon as possible.
Once you have completed all of your course work and comprehensive examinations, you are then in the degree candidacy phase of the program. At that point you may conduct your dissertation research from home. We do require that you stay in close contact with your dissertation committee members throughout this phase.
Proof of English proficiency
To ensure maximum benefit from academic study at VCU, students must provide evidence of English language proficiency before enrollment.
Here are the options for fulfilling the English language proficiency requirement:
Options 1: English waiver
Applicants may be exempted from an English proficiency test if they meet any of the following criteria.
- Degree completion: A bachelor’s or higher degree from a university or college in one of the following countries.
Antigua, Anguilla, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands, USA, Zimbabwe. - VCU’s English Language Program: Successful completion of VCU’s English Language Program.
- U.S. Residency: Residing in the U.S. for 10 years or more (domestic applicants).
- U.S. College English: Completion of six semester hours of college-level English composition with a grade C or better (excluding ESL classes) from a U.S. university or college.
Note: If a student has met any of the above criteria or achieved the required test scores, they are eligible to apply to VCU without the need for further English proficiency testing.
Options 2: Examinations and Test Scores (VCU’s Testing Code: 5570)
If applicants do not qualify for an English waiver, they can provide test scores from one of the following English proficiency exams (some graduate programs may require a higher score). Please note that all test scores are valid for two years from the test date. VCU’s TOEFL testing code is 5570.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
The best TOEFL score is accepted and all scores making up the MBT score should be submitted.
- 80 IBT for graduates
- 8.5 TOEFL Essential
International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
- 6.5 for graduates
- 65 for graduates.
Duolingo Test Score
- A minimum score of 110.
VCU’s English Language Program:
- A minimum score of 68