Professional development and career readiness
Professional development
The VCU Graduate School Professional Development Office provides a full range of training opportunities, research and grant-related workshops, well-being, and career support, as well as other events curated to empower and support graduate students as they pursue their academic and professional goals. Through our programming, we aim to ensure that all VCU graduate students are equipped with the necessary foundational skills to succeed as transformative and innovative leaders in their respective career spaces. Our mission is to prepare graduate students for academic and professional success.
To meet the growing demand for well-trained qualitative researchers, both nationally and internationally, the VCU Graduate Credential of Completion in Qualitative Research recognizes doctoral students who pursue an advanced course of study in qualitative research methods. The GCCQR requires that VCU doctoral students in good standing complete 12 hours of coursework in qualitative research methods, including a 3-credit introductory course and 9 credits of an advanced course. This is a great opportunity for doctoral students who plan to do a qualitative or mixed-methods dissertation.
Throughout the year, the Graduate School provides ongoing support and resources for students serving as Graduate Teaching Assistants. This includes an orientation at the beginning of the fall semester which partners with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity to ensure all graduate students serving in a teaching capacity understand their roles and responsibilities. Additional workshops on inclusive teaching, best practices, and critical reflection occur throughout the year. Students can register for these free sessions through the Graduate School Rams Connect page.
The Graduate School is committed to ensuring that students have a broad support network of mentors and professionals to assist with career development and advancement. Throughout the year, several interactive workshops will be conducted to assist graduate students at all levels with developing a mentoring network. All mentoring professional development opportunities are free and available for registration through the Graduate School Rams Connect page.
The Three Minute Thesis Competition and Graduate Research Symposium are research presentation opportunities sponsored by the Graduate School that provide students with opportunities to share their research with the broader VCU community. Students are encouraged to use these university-wide events to gain experiences with sharing their research, presenting, and public speaking.
The Preparing Future Faculty Program at VCU offers short courses and professional development opportunities for graduate students interested in pursuing careers in higher education.
The Graduate Student Travel Grant program provides funds to support students presenting their research or academic work at conferences, summits, etc.
Through this program, the Graduate School will provide financial support of up to $500 for eligible graduate students. The grant can be used to cover conference costs, travel, lodging, etc.—any expenses incurred for participation as a presenter.
- Who is eligible? All degree-seeking students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs at VCU are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Students receiving funding from this program must be a presenter at the academic event they are attending. Please note that first-professional students (D.D.S., M.D., Pharm.D.) are not eligible to apply.
- What are the restrictions? Awards are made without regard to quotas or distribution among fields and departments. However, no student will be funded for more than two trips in an academic year. Funding is limited, so students applying to the program are not guaranteed support.
- When is the deadline? Students may apply only in the semester in which they are presenting and must turn in their application at least one month before their proposed travel dates.
Career services
Whether you’re interested in an academic or nonacademic track after graduation, VCU Career Services has a variety of resources to help reach your goals and enrich your career. Don’t know where to start? Schedule an appointment with your career advisor or attend one of the many events offered by our office or by your college or school to seek out additional ways to enrich your VCU education.
VCU Career Services can help you with:
- Resume development
- CV Guide
- CV Formatting Guide
- Cover letters
- Interviews
- Career exploration
- Professional networking
VCU hosts career fairs during the fall and spring semesters. Each fair offers students and alumni the opportunity to network with employers from a wide range of industries. More information about career fairs and participating employers can be found on Handshake.
We want you to feel confident in the major and career pathway you choose. Explore our career information to discover an overview of your interest area and the criteria you'll need to meet to qualify for job opportunities once you graduate.
The skills and information you learn from your studies are only amplified with hands-on experience, which can be gained through part-time employment, Federal Work-Study, internships, job shadowing, volunteering, and more.