This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The Certificate in Health Care Innovation is a collaboration between the VCU School of Nursing and the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation and may be completed online or in a hybrid format. The graduate certificate will prepare students to become leaders in developing digital and physical products and innovative solutions in the area of health care. Students will acquire skills and knowledge necessary to identify problems and implement solutions that foster high-quality, safe and accessible health care. The curriculum focuses on merging principles of leadership in health care and principles of product innovation and emphasizes the analysis of organization and clinical processes for effective operations to improve quality and safety. The specialized knowledge and skills include problem identification, product development, user analysis, prototyping, testing, marketing, intellectual property protection (patents, copyrights and trademarks) and commercialization opportunities. Students who would like to complete this program fully online should work with their advisers in their respective unit and check the Schedule of Classes to ensure their desired courses are available online.

Student learning outcomes

Graduates will:

  1. Acquire skills and knowledge necessary to identify problems and implement solutions that foster high quality, safe and accessible health care
  2. Develop specialized skills and knowledge to lead health care teams in innovation

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.