Borderless classrooms, endless opportunities

Life Sciences represents the full spectrum of experiential and classroom studies of the natural world.

Lab coats and goggles give way to waders and sunglasses. Many courses in VCU Life Sciences allow our students to immerse themselves in experiential learning. Whether it is navigating the whitewater rapids on the Salmon River, banding birds on top of a mountain in Panama or gathering water quality data down the road at VCU Rice Rivers Center, our pathway to an education in the life sciences takes students to the research.

It's not where you start, it's where you finish. 

Not every one of our graduates began their educational journey with VCU Life Sciences. Our students have joined us from community colleges, four-year universities, even other fields of study within VCU. Our alumni can be found working at places like NASA, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health and the Army Corp of Engineers. Whether they are taking wildlife photos for National Geographic or tracking Atlantic Sturgeon in the James River, their paths led them through our hallways. Hands-on student opportunities often lead to top-tier jobs as alumni.

four scenes: a person standing on a pier overlooking a body of water, a v.c.u. student group posing outside in a mountainous area, students working in a lab, and a group of people whitewater rafting

News

Uncommon Hero - Dr. Matt Balazik

April 17, 2025

VCU's "UNCOMMON Heroes" series features Matt Balazik, Ph.D.

Balazik helps restore the Atlantic sturgeon population in the James River, but also influences international conservation strategies.

Frogs and six chickadee eggs share a birdbox

April 17, 2025

The cost of housing goes interspecies: Skyrocketing rents bring biodiverse tenants

One nesting spot is the home to more than just feathered residents.

Three people standing for a photo

April 15, 2025

BNFOthon immerses students into the world of bioinformatics for an up-close look into the future of science and technology

Student hackers completed 13 team projects within 24 hours for the VCU annual event.