The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has approved the establishment of a master’s degree program in biology at historically Black Virginia Union University in Richmond. The first students will enroll in the program in the fall of 2021.
The master’s degree in biology is a 39-credit hour program, offering both a thesis and non-thesis option. The thesis option requires an oral examination through a 3-member faculty committee. The non-thesis option requires advanced coursework in a specified sub-discipline.
“I’m excited about the growth of our graduate degree offerings at Virginia Union University — we’re a research-driven institution with an invigorating vision, historic mission, experiencing accelerated growth in an era marked by academic innovation,” said Terrell Strayhorn, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “The new masters in biology draws upon the expertise, research, and scholarship of our faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences and department of natural sciences specifically, where faculty are conducting experiments that advance new frontiers in scientific and health knowledge.”
The new program will bring the total number of graduate degrees offered at the university to eight.
