Undergraduate programs in the health sciences
- Clinical laboratory sciences and clinical radiation sciences
- Dental hygiene
- Nursing
- Health sciences program application materials
If you are interested in a career in the health sciences, you will not only take classes at VCU, but you also will have the opportunity for hands-on experience utilizing clinical, state-of-the-art facilities on the MCV Campus. You’ll join with undergraduate and graduate students, interns, residents and postdoctoral students, as well as nationally and internationally recognized scientists whose teaching techniques are based on the most current research.
VCU’s MCV Campus houses the schools of Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The VCU Medical Center, located two miles east of the Monroe Park Campus, is one of the most comprehensive academic health centers in the nation. The medical center serves more than 350,000 patients annually at the downtown hospital, as well as patients at the Massey Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated treatment and research center.
Just a couple of things: All undergraduate and professional programs in VCU’s health sciences schools require at least one to two years of college-level preparatory work, either at VCU or at another college or university. And, acceptance into these programs requires a second, competitive application process based on completion of prerequisites, GPA, test scores and personal achievement.
But don’t worry! When choosing a pre-health sciences advising track when accepted to VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences, you are assigned a pre-health sciences faculty adviser, who monitors your progress and assists with course selection and the second application process.
Clinical laboratory sciences and clinical radiation sciences undergraduate programs in the School of Allied Health Professions
The School of Allied Health Professions offers B.S. degree programs in the fields of clinical laboratory sciences and clinical radiation sciences. Keep reading to learn more about each program.
The Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences prepares you to work in a variety of professional practice settings, including hospitals, clinics, public and private laboratories, research and diagnostic labs, veterinary labs, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, environmental agencies, and sales and service of laboratory equipment and supplies. A degree in clinical laboratory sciences also makes an excellent undergraduate degree if you are interested in pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, clinical laboratory sciences, public health, pathology, biology, microbiology or chemistry.
The Department of Radiation Sciences offers entry-level B.S. programs for students interested in careers in: radiography, which prepares students to use radiation and other forms of energy to produce high quality anatomical images; nuclear medicine technology, which prepares students to use radiation-producing substances for imaging and treatment of disease; and radiation therapy, which prepares students to use ionizing radiation for treatment of cancer and other diseases. While a student in the program, you also can obtain experience in areas of advanced practice.
Dental hygiene undergraduate program in the School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry's Division of Dental Hygiene offers courses leading to a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. As a student enrolled in the baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene, you are prepared to perform traditional dental hygiene functions and employ decision-making skills in providing clinical services in health care and educational programs. You’ll learn to function with supervision in an extended role in the provision of independent units of service and assume a leadership role within political, social, educational and professional settings to improve the health of all members of society. As a graduate of VCU's Dental Hygiene Program, you will be prepared to design and implement health programs, to administer dental service programs in comprehensive health care units and community settings, to function as a dental health consultant and to further your education in graduate and advanced professional programs.
