Courses
The program consists of four core courses, three systems seminars, six elective courses, and two systems research courses. Combining this course work with the 18 credits of dissertation research (SYSM 798) makes the program a total of 57 credits.
A student that has not taken one or more of the six preparatory graduate courses listed in the admissions requirements prior to enrolling in the program, but who has taken one or more core courses or 600-level electives, may make the following substitution. The student may count a preparatory course towards the 57 required credits for each core or 600-level elective that they have taken.
According to VCU's graduation requirements in the Graduate Bulletin, all students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and no more than six credit hours or 20 percent of total credit hours attempted (whichever greater) at C or below level (C, D, F). The academic standing of any student who receives multiple grades of C or grades of D or F will be reviewed for possible termination from the program. Although the grade of U in dissertation research is not included in the calculation of the graduate GPA, students who receive one or more grades of U will be considered for possible termination.
