Program

UVA Enlighten

Earn Undergraduate Credits While Building Your Skillset

Enlighten offers individuals who have little to no college experience the opportunity to earn 36 undergraduate credits while developing key professional skills that can immediately enhance job performance.  
 
Enlighten classes include a mixture of foundational skills that apply across many industries, like critical thinking, communication, and data literacy, and those that are more applicable to the healthcare industry, like biomedical ethics and medical sociology.  
 
If you are currently an employee in the healthcare industry, Enlighten can help you advance in your career. If you think you are interested in transitioning into the healthcare industry, Enlighten is a great way to learn more and explore whether the field is the right fit for you.   
 
Enlighten classes are designed to be transferrable. When you complete Enlighten, you are positioned to apply to one of UVA’s online bachelor completion programs, the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management.  
 
We understand the unique needs of working adults. Therefore, we have designed Enlighten to be flexible and supportive. We invite you to learn more below, and reach out to us with questions. 

How it Works

  • This program is offered online beginning in Fall 2024.
  • Each semester, students will take two courses.
  • Classes are held asynchronously, meaning students have access to pre-recorded instructional materials; there is no requirement to log into a class at a certain time. Students will interact with their classmates through discussions and assignments on a weekly basis.
  • There will be optional live sessions for those who wish to deepen their engagement with course material, the instructor, and their classmates. These will also be recorded.
  • Courses are offered fall and spring, with a break during the summer.

Key Takeaways

  • Students who successfully complete the Enlighten program will earn 36 undergraduate credits and be eligible to apply to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) or Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management (BPHM) program at UVA SCPS.  
  • Students will build skills in areas that will position them for long-term success, including:
    • Critical thinking
    • Communication and professional writing
    • Ethics
    • Understanding different cultures and communication styles
    • Using digital workplace tools effectively
    • Understanding and presenting data 
    • Developing a basic understanding of cloud computing

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What You Will Learn

Enlighten allows you to earn 36 undergraduate credits while building skills in areas like communications, data, critical thinking and ethics, which are highly relevant to a wide variety of jobs. Skills gained during Enlighten will increase your effectiveness in your current role and position you for success in future roles.

Areas of Study Include:

  1. ​​​Professional Writing in Healthcare – Fall 2024  
  2. Explorations in Healthcare: Issues and Opportunities – Fall 2024  
  3. Digital Literacy and Computer Applications – Spring 2025 
  4. Introduction to Human Communication – Spring 2025  
  5. English Composition I 
  6. Introduction to Psychology  
  7. Data Literacy  
  8. Medical Sociology 
  9. English Composition II 
  10. Intercultural Communication 
  11. Bio-Medical Ethics 
  12. Social Problems 
     
Tuition

ESTIMATED COST 

  • The cost is $499 per credit (or a total of $1497 for one 3-credit course).  
  • This program is eligible for Active Duty Military Rate of $250 per credit hour
  • Education benefits may cover your program cost. Please work with your employer. UVA Health employees can primarily fund the program using UVA Education Benefits 

Tuition Details 

*Additional fees may apply, including course materials. Financial aid is not available for this program. Tuition rates are adjusted annually.

Admission Requirements

APPLICATION DEADLINE
To begin in the fall, apply by May 15.

Applications are now open.

Admission Details  

You will need to submit a transcript and write a short essay. Find more information on transcript requirements. Decisions are typically made within two weeks of the deadline and notifications are sent via email. 

Hear About Enlighten from Others

Wendy Horton, PharmD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health University Medical Center shares an overview of the UVA Enlighten program, and voices UVA Health's support of it. Watch the video.

Remote video URL