GRADUATE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University is an ideal place to pursue your graduate education. Program offerings in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics and sciences include more than 20 master's degrees, more than 30 graduate certificates, and PhD programs in Philosophy and Theology. While many of our programs are fully on-campus, online and hybrid options are available in some programs. Take the next step in your career with a graduate degree or certificate from Villanova!
YOUR PASSION. YOUR FUTURE.
- Applied Statistics and Data Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Classical Studies
- Communication
- Computer Science
- Counseling
- Education
- English
- Environmental Science
- Gender and Women's Studies
- History
- Human Resource Development
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Software Engineering
- Theatre
- Theology
- Competitive tuition rates
- Graduate assistantships and research funding. In fact, last year, nearly 300 graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences received financial support totaling more than $6.5 million in the form of tuition remission and stipends.
- Flexible courses of study, including online options in HRD, MPA, and Classical Studies.
- Evening classes that meet once per week
- Study full-time or part-time
- Personal attention from a faculty of internationally recognized teacher-scholars
- All the cultural and intellectual assets of the Philadelphia region, including nearly 90 higher-education institutions
- A learning experience you design to meet your intellectual passions and educational goals
Visit Villanova to learn more about what Graduate Liberal Arts and Sciences has to offer you!
The graduate programs seek to integrate general education, cultural improvement, and professional excellence. The aims of these programs are:
- To extend and deepen knowledge by scholarly research;
- To assist those who wish to secure specialized training in order to improve their occupational competency;
- To supply the need of advanced training for special purposes, especially in the fields of teaching and other human services;
- To offer the graduate students the opportunity to join with the faculty of the University in the common pursuit of learning wherein the students are encouraged to develop according to their individual capacities and to learn to live and work together in a community of scholars.
PLAN YOUR VISIT!
The Office of Graduate Studies offers a multitude of ways to get acquainted with Villanova! From personal tours to events such as Open House and virtual information sessions, we have options to fit your schedule. Plan your visit today!
NEWS AND EVENTS
Fall 2025 Graduate Research Symposium
Research lies at the heart of Villanova’s mission—and it’s one of the defining elements of the graduate experience in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. On Friday, November 14, 32 students showcased their creativity, curiosity and scholarly excellence during the 2025 Graduate Research Symposium in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center, with 3MT-style oral presentations, followed by poster sessions.
Passion and Profession: A Historical Journey Through Education
Charles Withers ’19 MA loves to teach history. Whether engaging with students or exploring course material, it’s his daily inspiration. That fire was strengthened in his formative experience at Villanova University’s graduate history program. He currently works as a history teacher at Haverford High School and is the author of a forthcoming book about Villanova’s recent history titled, Rooted, Restless.
Shaping Philly's Future: Suzie Staherski ’23 MA Puts Policy into Action
Staherski is a senior fiscal policy analyst for the City of Philadelphia’s budget office, where she develops the city’s five-year financial plan and acts as a liaison between administrative departments and City Council as part of the annual budget process. Fueled by purpose and opportunity, she’s turning classroom lessons into citywide impact. She credits the Political Science graduate program with preparing her for the demands of her new position.
Villanova MPA Leaders Participate in Rome Summit
Three MPA program alumni joined Catherine Wilson, PhD, associate professor of public administration, at Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home, held October 1–3, 2025, at the Instituto Patristico Augustinianum. Spearheaded by Michele Pistone, professor of law at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and founder and faculty director of The Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration, the gathering brought together scholars and practitioners from around the world to address the urgent challenges faced by migrants and refugees.
AT A GLANCE
2
PHD PROGRAMS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
24
MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS
36
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
25
SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED EACH YEAR
60+
STUDENTS PRESENT AT ACADEMIC CONFERENCES EACH YEAR
1,300+
GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE
