Transform Your Creative Career
The Brandcenter is your gateway to a world of innovation and limitless possibilities. As part of our dynamic community, you'll collaborate with talented individuals driven by a shared purpose: to face the future and to shape it.
For more than 25 years, our full-time master's program with concentrations in Art Direction, Copywriting, Creative Brand Management, Experience Design, and Strategy has equipped graduates with an M.S. in Business/Branding and a robust portfolio of their own work.
Full-Time Master'sThe Brandcenter has challenged me in the best ways. I have pushed myself as a creative to do things I always thought about but never did. The collaborative process at The Brandcenter has given me the opportunity to get to know, work alongside, and learn from so many new people across the different concentrations. It’s my favorite part.
— Eleni Alafoginis (Art Direction, 2023)
M.S. in Business/Branding
Harness Your Creative Potential
Choose from one of five concentration areas that represents an important industry discipline. You’ll master your craft in your chosen concentration and work collaboratively with your classmates across concentrations.
At the Brandcenter, no one is only creative or strategic, everyone is both. This makes the ideas bigger and smarter and the work better. Approximately 70% of the work you’ll do is collaborative, leading to creatives who think strategically, and account managers and strategists who fully understand the creative process.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work with real clients from brands and agencies on real projects solving real business problems, through in-class projects, side projects, and our five-day Sprint competition. Plus, our weekly Forum provides numerous opportunities to learn from, be inspired by, and connect with industry leaders.
Learn more about the M.S. in Business/BrandingAt a Glance
- Full-Time, in person
- 14 total courses
- Total transformation in 60 weeks
Five Concentrations
- Art Direction
- Copywriting
- Creative Brand Management
- Experience Design
- Strategy
You Choose Us.
Then Employers Choose You.
- Browse Student Portfolios Our real-world approach to advertising and branding combines the best aspects of portfolio schools with cutting-edge academic programs. Operating like an agency or creative studio, we provide unmatched opportunities for hands-on experience and career preparation.
- Meet Our Faculty Master your craft under the mentorship of professors with extensive industry experience. Our full-time faculty all continue to operate as practitioners in the industry, and our adjunct professors spend all day building and leading world-class brands, such as Google, Capital One, and Campbells.
- Learn About Alumni Outcomes Brandcenter alumni work on behalf of the world’s most renowned brands, at some of the most creative and innovative companies in the world, and at the world’s leading advertising, design, and innovation agencies and consultancies.
Where Our Alumni Unleash Their Talents
Your Future is a Smart Investment
Agencies and companies love to hire Brandcenter grads! Why? Because our grads are known for being excellent collaborators, big thinkers, strategic risk-takers, great problem-solvers, and sharp presenters. Not only do they hit the ground running in their jobs, but they also tend to move up quickly.
In addition to an outstanding return on investment, the Brandcenter offers scholarships* and financial aid to help ease the cost of attendance.
Explore tuition and aid information$3,800
Average Scholarship Awarded for the 2023-2024 School Year
You can also apply for graduate assistantships and other part-time job opportunities to help fund your education and make connections in the VCU community.
Unparalleled Excellence
As a Brandcenter student, you'll become a part of an exceptional network of alumni working at the most innovative companies across the globe. Our graduates emerge as trailblazing leaders, adept at crafting compelling ideas and molding the future landscape. Experience the thrill of unrestrained creativity at the Brandcenter while honing the essential skills for your professional growth.
Discover why students thrive at the BrandcenterFind Your Place at the Brandcenter
From the moment you join the Brandcenter, you’ll be part of a group of smart, creative, talented, and deeply committed people from diverse backgrounds. Plus, the Brandcenter’s location in Richmond, Virginia, puts us at the center of a vibrant community of 1.2 million people that is a top destination for creative thinkers, entrepreneurs, foodies, artists, and more. Richmond is a great place to work, with the highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies of any urban area in Virginia. Our students have found employment at well-known companies, such as CarMax, CoStar, Capital One, and more.
Discover RichmondReady for Total Creative Transformation?
Join the #BrandFam
Unlock the creative within and thrive at the school designed to help you reveal your most authentic self. Apply now and enjoy:
- No test-score requirement
- Dedicated admissions support
The application consists of two parts—the VCU Graduate School Application and the Brandcenter Application. Complete the VCU Graduate School Application on the online portal first in order to access the Brandcenter Application.
Questions?
We’re here to help you throughout the application process. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out or schedule a meeting.