Top 2024 Graduate Programs in Virginia
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Students and current professionals interested in continued post-baccalaureate education via graduate programs can find a large number of programs to choose from on GradSchools.com.
Whether you are just learning about what grad school is, or are far into your search for Masters programs, PhD programs or certificate options; our directory is organized to help you find what you are looking for.
Search Master's Programs
Why Pursue A Graduate Program?
In many fields, pursuing a grad program may be necessary to advancing a career. For example, in order to pursue a career as a leader in the nursing field, you may need a masters degree in Nurse Administration or something similar. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, there are a lower unemployment rates and higher wages for folks that have a masters or doctoral degree.
Regardless of why you choose to pursue a graduate degree, do make sure you educate yourself on the different degree options out there even within the same subject area. Did you know that you can earn a masters in business that is not from a business school? Yes! Totally possible. The point being, you should know the difference between the two because earning an MBA vs a Masters of Science in Business could affect you career options and choices in the future.
Graduate school is typically a division within a larger university where students pursue a degree in an advanced programs beyond the bachelor's degree. These types of programs are typically masters degrees or PhDs.
While program lengths and credits vary, a Masters degree might entail approximately one to three years beyond the undergraduate degree, or longer if you choose a self-paced masters. Aside from completing the course requirements, students may have to submit a capstone project or thesis at the end of their program.
In contrast, it might take an individual from three to seven years to complete the requirements of a doctorate degree. Aside from rigorous coursework, doctoral candidates might be required to submit a dissertation and/or complete a supervised practicum.
Graduate Programs: Overview
Graduate programs tend to be highly specialized courses of study at the Masters degree or Doctorate degree levels.
Masters Programs
As the next degree after the Bachelors degree, Masters programs encompass options such as those listed below.
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) - including Online MBA No GMAT Programs
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS)
- Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
DID YOU KNOW? 866,900 Master's degrees were conferred in 2021 according to NCES.
Doctoral Programs
As a potential next step after a Masters degree, doctoral programs are typically considered terminal degrees, and may be either practice-focused or research-focused. Common doctorate degrees include the following.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
DID YOU KNOW? 194,100 doctorate degrees were conferred in 2021 according to NCES
About Graduate Studies
Some graduate programs are designed to take a student from one degree to the next seamlessly (e.g. BSN to MSN). Other graduate programs may offer dual graduate degree programs. Once you are exploring, you may also find accelerated graduate degree programs (e.g. Accelerated MBA), and full time or part time grad programs. On this site, explore graduate studies in the following broad categories.
Business graduate degree programs encompass some of the below fields of study.
- Accounting
- Business Information and Management
- Business Information Systems
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Human Resources Management
- International Business
- Marketing and Advertising
- Operations Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Project Management
- Public Administration and Policy
- Sports Management
Criminal Justice and Legal graduate degree programs include the following.
- Criminal Justice and Criminalistics
- Forensic Science
- Homeland Security and National Defense
- Law Enforcement, Policing and Investigation
- Legal Studies
- Paralegal Studies
Education graduate degree programs cover some of the following areas.
- Adult Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Early Childhood Education
- Education Leadership and Administration
- Education, Technology and Online Learning
- Educational and School Psychology
- ESL/TESOL
- Higher Education
- K-12 Education
- Special and Gifted Education
Fine Arts and Design graduate degree programs may be found in the areas listed below.
- Fashion, Retail and Merchandising
- Fine Art
- Graphic Design and Multimedia
- Media Arts
- Museum Studies
- Video Game Design
- Web Development and Design
Health and Medicine graduate degree programs encompass the following.
- Communication Science and Disorders
- Gerontology
- Health Informatics
- Health Sciences
- Healthcare Administration and Management
- Human Services
- Nursing
- Nutrition and Fitness
- Physical and Occupational Therapy
- Public Health
Liberal Arts and Humanities graduate degree programs include the following fields.
- Communications and Public Relations
- English
- History
- Humanities
- Languages
- Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Literature and Writing
- Philosophy and Ethics
- Women’s Studies
Math, Science and Engineering graduate degree programs cover the below topics.
- Aerospace Engineering
- Architecture
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Industrial and Mechanical engineering
- Mathematics and Statistics
Public Affairs and Social Sciences graduate degree programs include the following.
- Conflict and Peace Studies
- Counseling Psychology
- Emergency Management
- International Relations
- Non-Profit Administration
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration and Policy
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Urban Affairs and Planning
Religious Studies graduate degree programs encompass these areas and more.
- Biblical Studies
- Christian Counseling
- Ministry
- Religious Studies
- Theology
Technology graduate degree programs encompass many fields, such as the below.
- Business Information Systems
- Computational Science
- Computer Science
- Database Management
- Geographic Information Systems
- Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
- Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Software and Application Development
- Technology Management
- Telecom and Networking
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