SPCS launches its online, 2-year interdisciplinary studies bachelor's degree completion program

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies has launched its Online Interdisciplinary Studies degree, a two-year bachelor’s degree completion program as an entirely online program of study.

The Online Interdisciplinary Studies program builds on the successes of Weekend College, our popular in-person, accelerated bachelor’s degree completion program. When interest in the program waned prior to and during the pandemic as its face-to-face model became increasing challenging to implement, the School brought together its teaching team to re-image the program as an asynchronous online program.

Expanding the School’s existing Interdisciplinary Studies curriculum was important to liberal arts program chair, Dr. Dan Roberts.

“Our Online Interdisciplinary Studies degree completion program blends the key aspects of the liberal arts and humanities with key competencies important to today's professional,” remarked Dr. Roberts. “Students develop their ability to write well, communicate effectively, work with groups, engage in problem solving and think critically — timeless skills that are applicable to every part of professional life. And they earn digital badges for these skills throughout the program.”

Retaining Weekend College’s time-tested 10-course sequence, which spreads learning over 2 spring semesters, 2 fall semesters, and 2 summer terms, the teaching team rebuilt the instructional and delivery models as a natively online, asynchronous program of study.

Students enrolled in the program still focus on a single, 6-semester-hour course at a time during 7.5-week mini-terms that enables students to complete 12 semester hours of coursework in each fall and spring and 6 hours of coursework each summer. Each 7.5-week course provides instructor-led course content in self-paced modules with a defined start and end date, enabling students to complete coursework on their own terms at their own pace.

Applicants transfer at least 45, and preferably 60, semester hours of coursework into the program. Students then complete the 60-hour Online Interdisciplinary Studies major at SPCS, enabling students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree from the University of Richmond in just over two years.

The decision to shift the program online was an easy one, according to Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson, dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.

“Shifting this program to an online delivery format aligns with the needs of many of today’s adult learners,” said Dr. Wilson. “In addition, it allows us to reach outside the Richmond region and help the thousands of Virginians with some college credit complete their bachelor's degrees, which is especially important as the economy and job market continue to evolve.”

Whether you live in the Richmond region or throughout Virginia, take the next step to completing your bachelor's degree with the Online Interdisciplinary Studies program from the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies. The program enrolls students annually in the fall, and applications are being accepted for cohorts beginning in fall 2021. We are hosting a virtual information webinar on April 15 and invite those interested in the program to attend and learn more.