Academic Program Information

Undergraduate Programs

A Vision for Undergraduate Education

Steeped in Dominican Ethos, Liberal Learning

Through Foundations, Breadth, Depth and Integration

for Responsible Global Citizenship

We educate one student at a time in the company of others, each unique yet all distinctly Dominican. In dialogue with a Dominican ethos, our students grow as liberal learners through creative and rigorous study marked by solid foundations, disciplinary breadth and depth, and ongoing integration as they aspire to become ethically responsible global citizens. Each student develops an emerging sense of personal and professional vocation through a variety of means, including thoughtful interaction with courses, professors, and other students, and intensive advising and mentoring. We encourage students to participate in internships, study away (international and domestic), community-based learning, and undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative investigations. Diverse insights coalesce in each student’s distinctive educational trajectory, purpose, and plan, as we inspire students to discern the big picture and name their place within it-to stand somewhere and to stand for something, conscientiously positioned in relationship to the world.

Dominican ethos describes the distinctive character of our university’s culture. It includes an environment of Caritas et Veritas, in which we contemplate the meaning of existence and strive collaboratively for a more just and humane world. It understands that study is at once contemplative and communal. It unites reflection and dialogue as we collaborate in the search for truth. It enables students to develop a sense of care and responsibility for oneself, one’s community, and the wider creation. It fosters trust, tolerance, mutual accountability, and belonging. Students enter into conversation with a Catholic intellectual tradition that affirms the compatibility of faith and reason, a universe marked by both intelligibility and mystery, the sacredness of all creation, the dignity of every living being, and concern for the common good. They acquire basic knowledge about Christianity in its various dimensions, and how it interacts with secular and other religious beliefs, practices, and worldviews.

Upon graduation, undergraduates educated at Dominican University possess character, knowledge, and skills to take informed, ethical action in the world and to influence others for the good.

Dominican University Learning Goals and Outcomes

Preamble:

At Dominican University, we approach teaching and learning with an emphasis on reflective, integrative, and applied learning to enable students to synthesize concepts and methods across domains. We ask students to apply knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems and to assume responsibility for their own learning.

Upon graduation, students educated at Dominican University possess character, knowledge, and skills to take informed, ethical action in the world and to influence others for the good.  As stated in our undergraduate bulletin, “In distinctive ways, the core curriculum helps students meet the learning goals outlined in the Vision for Undergraduate Education.”

Steeped in the Dominican ethos, with an expectation that students will strive collaboratively for a more just and humane world, we expect students to foster trust, tolerance, mutual accountability, global citizenship, and belonging.  We invite them into conversation with a Catholic intellectual and liberal arts tradition that explores the compatibility of faith and reason, a universe marked by both intelligibility and mystery, the sacredness of all creation, the dignity of every living being, and concern for the common good. 

 Goals-What we want our students to know, do, and value: 

Knowledge: Students will gain knowledge that increases their understanding of themselves and the world around them, enhances their ability to see connections across domains, and diversifies their frames of reference.

Intellectual and Practical Skills: Students will draw on this knowledge as they develop their abilities to access, understand, analyze, synthesize, create, and effectively communicate ideas and information in order to address real-world issues, both individually and collaboratively.

Personal and Social Responsibility: Students will use their knowledge and skills as they acquire a disposition of living mindfully and ethically in our diverse world, effectively engaging in civic life at Dominican and beyond.

Outcomes-Dominican University students completing an undergraduate degree (core curriculum, majors, and co-curricular experiences) will:

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degrees

General Requirements

1. Each student must complete 124 semester hours of credit, 4 semester hours of which may be in physical education, recreation or health. A semester course may carry from 1 to 8 semester hours of credit, according to the judgment of the department. The minimum requirement for full-time status in any one semester is 12 semester hours of credit, and the maximum permitted is 18 semester hours. See Academic Regulations   for the rule governing an exception to the normal course load.
2. Each student must attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 based on all Dominican course work and be in good standing.
3. Each student in a BA, BS, or BBA degree program must complete work in a major field consisting of no fewer than 30 semester hours of credit.
4. Each student in a BA, BS, BSN, or BBA degree program must complete the core curriculum.
5. A minimum grade of C- must be earned in courses for a major or minor, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 is required for completion of a major or minor. The satisfactory/fail grade option may NOT be used for any course submitted for a major or minor unless otherwise indicated in department major requirements.

Residency Requirements

One hundred twenty-four semester hours are required for graduation. A certain number of these hours must be earned in residency.

Students may meet Dominican’s minimum residency requirement in any one of the following ways:

1. Complete any 90 semester hours at Dominican University;
2. Complete from 45 to 89 semester hours at Dominican University, including the last 15 semester hours applied toward the degree; or
3. Complete the last 34 semester hours for the degree at Dominican University.

Up to 68 semester hours are accepted in transfer from community colleges and up to 90 semester hours from four-year colleges and universities.

Each department will determine the number of semester hours in the major and minor that must be taken at Dominican.

Major Field

Students must choose a major field prior to or upon completion of 60 semester hours. Students who have completed 60 semester hours and have not declared a major will not be allowed to register for additional courses until a major is declared. Information on declaring a major is available from the Office of Advising, advising@dom.edu.

A grade of C- or higher is required in all courses used to satisfy requirements in the major; a course that is required for the major in which a grade of D or F is earned must be repeated. A minimum grade point average of 2.00 is required in the major. It is the responsibility of the student to make certain that degree requirements are met.

Students who intend to complete more than one major must have a minimum of 15 semester hours in each major that are not also used to satisfy requirements in another major.

Minor Field

Students may elect an optional minor field. A department offering a minor may require no fewer than 15 semester hours and no more than 24 semester hours. The requirements for a minor are listed in the Courses of Instruction section of this bulletin under each discipline offering a minor.

Students who intend to complete more than one minor must have a minimum of 9 semester hours in each minor that are not also used to satisfy requirements in another minor.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Because of our commitment to integrative learning, a number of interdisciplinary majors and minors are available, including majors in American studies, black world studies, digital cinema, neuroscience, and the study of women and gender, and minors in Catholic studies, interfaith studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, medieval and renaissance studies, pre-law, social justice and civic engagement, and social media.

Interdepartmental Major or Minor

Students choosing an interdepartmental major or minor may design a program suited to their particular needs and interests. This major or minor must be approved prior to the completion of 90 semester hours of credit.

In order for students to declare an interdepartmental major or minor, they need work with a faculty member who will serve as advisor to identify those courses and experiences that will constitute the interdepartmental major or minor, selecting a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit for a major and 18-24 semester hours for a minor, with at least half the credits completed at Dominican. Students must also submit a statement describing how these courses will create a coherent and organized program that furthers the student’s exploration of the topic of interest. Additional requirements are included in the procedures document available in the advising office.

Completed proposals are submitted for approval to the cooperating department chairs from whose areas courses are being drawn; the dean of the college contributing the largest number of courses gives final approval. Approved proposals are filed with the Office of the Registrar.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum

North Star Statement:

In keeping with our identity as a Sinsinawa-sponsored, Catholic, Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), the Dominican university Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum, along with a chosen major, provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to dismantle injustices that they may face and that harm others in the world around them. The core increases students’ capacity for personal growth, through building foundational skills that underpin a purposeful, economically secure, and fulfilling life. Further, the core helps students to create a more just and humane world by offering experiences in which they begin to understand and address the most complex problems in our local communities and shared world. 

An Overview:

The core curriculum plays a key role in an undergraduate education. In distinctive ways, the core curriculum helps students realize the principles outlined in the Vision for Undergraduate Education and achieve the undergraduate learning goals and outcomes listed above. The core curriculum consists of four parts: 

• Becoming Scholars: building knowledge and skills essential throughout the core and majors;
• Disciplinary Perspectives: exposing students to knowledge and modes of inquiry, including critical and creative thinking, in disciplinary domains
• Dominican Frameworks: developing the tools and abilities to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world; and
• ​Dominican CV: Career and Vocation: giving students the tools to succeed in the world of work and opportunities to think deeply about the meanings of the work they are called to do.

Total credit hour requirements: 37 - 42

Details on course requirements for the Core Curriculum  

Illinois Articulation Initiative

Dominican University is committed to helping students transfer and will automatically place the student in the core curriculum that has the more direct path toward degree completion. Requests to change to a different core curriculum should be directed to the Office of Advising, advising@dom.edu (link sends e-mail), for audit and then processed by the Office of the Registrar.  Transfer students have the following options:

Completed IAI GECC 

Transfer students who enroll at Dominican with a completed IAI GECC Core Curriculum from a school that is a full participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) will be waived from the Dominican core and will only have to complete the Dominican graduation requirements noted below.

• The Dominican graduation requirements include:
  • Social Justice and Sustainability requirement (may be satisfied by an equivalent course)
  • Theology area requirement - must complete at Dominican 
  • Career and Vocation 200, 300, and 400
  • Career Practicum 355

IAI 30+

Transfer students who enroll at Dominican with at least 30 transferable credit hours can complete the IAI GECC at Dominican using Dominican coursework in lieu of completing Dominican’s core requirements and will have to complete the Dominican graduation requirements noted below. 

• The Dominican graduation requirements include:
  • Social Justice and Sustainability requirement (may be satisfied by an equivalent course)
  • Theology area requirement - must complete at Dominican 
  • Career and Vocation 200, 300, and 400
  • Career Practicum 355

Fewer than 30 transferable credits

Transfer students who enroll at Dominican with fewer than 30 transferable credit hours completed will complete Dominican’s core requirements and graduation requirements using applicable transfer work and Dominican courses and forgo completing the GECC.

The following is the Dominican core and how GECC requirements may count towards meeting some of the requirements:  

IAI GECC courses that count as elective credits include:

• Composition II
• Speech Communication (may transfer as major credit, depending on transfer guide equivalencies)

Bachelor of Applied Science

The bachelor of applied science is a degree-completion option for transfer students who have earned an associate in applied science degree from a regionally accredited institution, have a minimum 2.75 grade point average, and qualify for admission into one of BAS programs of study.

General Degree Requirements for the BAS degree

• A minimum of 124 semester hours of credit are required, including a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework completed at Dominican University. Up 64 hours of transfer credit will be accepted towards the BAS degree, including associate-of-applied-science credit earned toward the AAS degree.
• Completion of an Associate of Applied Science degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.75. Courses used to satisfy requirements in the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.
• Complete the BAS major coursework.
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 based on all Dominican course work and be in good standing.
• Complete the BAS core curriculum requirements outlined below. 

Core Curriculum Requirements for BAS Degree:

Students must complete the following core curriculum coursework as part of the BAS degree:

• Becoming Scholars (7-8 credit hours)
  • Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking: CRWS 105 - Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking  or equivalent transfer course
  • Quantitative Literacy: Any class that meets the Quantitative Literacy (QL) requirement or equivalent transfer course

• Disciplinary Perspectives (12-16 credit hours):
  • life or physical science course (3-4 credit hours) - either a transfer course that satisfies the IAI GECC life or physical science requirement or a life or physical science course that satisfies Dominican’s science literacy requirement (SL).
  • social and behavioral science course (3-4 credit hours) - either a transfer course that satisfies the IAI GECC social and behavioral science requirement or a course that satisfies Dominican’s science literacy requirement (SL).
  • humanities coursework (3-4 credit hours) - either a transfer course that satisfies the IAI GECC humanities requirement or a course that satisfies Dominican’s humanities and arts requirement (HA).
  • fine arts coursework (3-4 credit hours) - either a transfer course that satisfies the IAI GECC fine arts requirement or a course that satisfies Dominican’s humanities and arts requirement (HA).

• Dominican Frameworks (6-7 credit hours)
  • Theology: Any class that meets the Theology requirement
  • Social Justice and Sustainability: Any class that meets the Social Justice and Sustainability Requirement

• Career and Vocation (5 credit hours)
  • Career and Vocation 200
  • Career and Vocation 300
  • Career Practicum 355 (2 credits)
  • Career and Vocation 400

Courses completed for the Core requirements can be completed either using coursework from Dominican University or utilizing coursework taken at a community college that participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Education Curriculum Core (GECC).

The BAS degree will recognize and accept an AAS degree from accredited institutions.  While the AAS degree will be accepted as credit hours toward the BAS degree (maximum of 64 hours), individual transcripts from accredited institutions will be evaluated to determine what transfer coursework will count towards the major and Core coursework. 

Degree with Honors

Degree honors are awarded on the basis of the cumulative grade point average of all baccalaureate course work taken at Dominican. For a baccalaureate degree summa cum laude, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.9000; for a baccalaureate degree magna cum laude, 3.7000; for baccalaureate degree cum laude, 3.5000. All hours successfully completed at Dominican will qualify towards the calculation of these honors distinctions.

Dominican Honors Program: Mazzuchelli Scholars and Distinction Programs

Bachelor of Arts with Honors or Bachelor of Science with Honors

Socrates challenges us with the claim that the unexamined life is not worth living. Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli O.P. challenges us to “wake up then … and set out for any place where the need is great and the work is difficult.” The Mazzuchelli Scholars honors program contributes to the mission of the university by providing talented and self-motivated students with the opportunities and skills they will need to become lifelong learners.

Students who accept this challenge are awarded their degrees with honors (Bachelor of Arts with Honors or Bachelor of Science with Honors), on the recommendation of the Honors Program.

Entering the Program

The honors degree program is open to full-time students who have been accepted into the program. The Honors Program sets the standards for admission to the program, reviews the progress of the students in the program, and recommends the awarding of the Bachelor of Arts degree with honors or Bachelor of Science degree with honors. Interested students should consult the director of the honors program for current-year policies and guidelines.

In addition to the bachelor degree requirements outlined in this bulletin, all students intending to pursue a degree with honors must complete the following requirements:

1.  Building Proficiency: honors students demonstrate proficiency in Math, Language, and complete coursework in Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking, in addition to the first-year honors seminar (HNSM) and Navigating University (HNFY) course. 

2.  Honors in the Disciplines: honors students complete four courses (two courses designated as Big Questions and two courses designated as Explorations and Investigations).  No more than one course from any one discipline (these include all courses housed in the Brennan School of Business).  One of these courses may double-count in one major.  

3.  Integrations: honors students complete one course in Theology, one course in Social Justice and Sustainability (these may not double-count in the disciplines courses), four one-credit courses in Career and Development, a practicum (a high-impact experience preapproved by the program) that earns at least two credits.  A senior honors seminar (HNSM) is also required as well as complete portfolio (no credits associated).  

4. Designated GPA: honors students must have a 3.30 minimum GPA to graduate with the Honors distinction. Students who fall below the 3.30 minimum may graduate on the Honors core but will not receive the Honors designation on their transcript and diploma. 

For more detailed information, students should consult the current list of honors courses which have been approved as Honors Big Questions or Honors Exploration/Investigations.

Exemption from the honors first year seminar for students admitted to the honors program in their sophomore year. Details of those requirements can be found on the honors Sharepoint. 

Bachelor of Arts With Distinction and Bachelor of Science With Distinction

Students not in the honors program may elect to pursue a degree of Bachelor of Arts with Distinction or Bachelor of Science with Distinction by completing a distinction project. This project is designed to give such students in their junior and senior years the opportunity to complete a distinctive and substantial scholarly or creative work in their major field.

Students who accept this challenge are awarded the degree with distinction (Bachelor of Arts with Distinction or Bachelor of Science with Distinction), on the recommendation of the Honors Committee in consultation with faculty project mentors and upon completion of the distinction project.

All students intending to pursue a distinction project will need to complete the following requirements:

Declaring Intent and Finding Readers. Generally, students attempting degrees with distinction begin working on their distinction projects in the first semester of their junior years. The faculty readers in the discipline approve the project, and then the student’s first and second readers recommend the project to the Honors Director. A project in an interdisciplinary major or one which is interdisciplinary in emphasis is submitted with prior approval from faculty from the most relevant disciplines. A student majoring in a discipline in which Dominican has only one full-time faculty member should seek approval of both project and proposal from a second faculty member who is a member of the major department or from a related discipline in another department, whichever is more appropriate for the project.

Public Presentation. After the final draft is approved, the student will be required to give a public oral presentation on his or her project at the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Investigation Exposition (URSCI). 

Other Information

Deadlines and guides for writing a distinction proposal and project guides for both students and faculty mentors are available on the Honors Share Point.

Students who decide not to complete their projects must send a statement of their reasons to the Honors Director. Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw their projects.

.Additional Major/Minor after Graduation

Dominican University graduates may add an additional major/minor to their Dominican record using the requirements in the bulletin of their original major/minor if completed within two years of receiving the bachelor’s degree; at least one half of the additional coursework must be completed at Dominican,

Dominican University graduates who wish to add an additional major/minor more than two calendar years after receiving the bachelor’s degree must fulfill the major/minor requirements in effect at the time they return to complete their work.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution may earn a second bachelor’s degree (either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree) from Dominican University, provided that:

1. All university general education requirements, foundation and core requirements, and major requirements are met;
2. At least 34 semester hours are earned in residence at Dominican University; and
3. A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 is earned in all Dominican course work

The Bachelor of Medical Science  degree is a second-bachelor-degree program designed for students interested in pursuing graduate or professional study in medical fields.

Returning Students

Students returning to Dominican after an interruption of more than five years are subject to bulletin provisions for the general education requirements as well as major and minor requirements in effect at the time they re-enter. (However, every effort will be made to count earlier courses in the way most beneficial to fulfilling current requirements.)

Students returning to Dominican after an interruption of fewer than five years can use the bulletin in effect at the time of their original admission to Dominican or any later bulletin. Returning students who have attended other colleges or universities during their absence must reapply to Dominican. Upon readmission, they may select a bulletin in effect up to five years prior to the term they re-enter, providing they were enrolled during the bulletin year of their choice.

Academic Advising

Advising is teaching and learning for vocation. First in importance and sequence for advising are not the questions, What courses do I have to take? What am I required to do? Instead, advising should begin with and frequently revisit more fundamental questions: Why am I in the university? What should I study, and why? What will it mean for my life, for my future, for my community, and for society? Advising explores the meaning, purpose, and effect of university learning. Assisting students in exploring and selecting major fields, selecting and scheduling courses, internships, and a host of other more practical functions are built upon insights students derive from beginning with and revisiting the reflective questions that go to the heart of each student’s educational project.

Each undergraduate student has a dedicated faculty advisor-initially the student’s first-year seminar professor, and later, a professor from the student’s chosen major field. Faculty advisors and students are assisted by the Office of Academic Advising staff.

Students at Dominican are able to exercise a large measure of personal choice in curriculum because of the quality of the university’s academic advising. The university recognizes that while students hold the primary responsibility for their education and hence for their program choices, the advisor’s help is crucial in developing an informed basis for responsible and expedient academic decisions.

Students may not register for courses online without receiving an advising clearance and may not register in person in Stars Connect without their academic advisor’s approval. Please note that successful degree completion is the sole responsibility of the student.

Career Advising Program

The career advising program in Career Development aspires to create in students a values-centered work ethic, to educate them to become productive and compassionate citizens, and to equip them with tools to make satisfying career and life plans. Services available to students include assistance with selecting a major, help finding part-time jobs and internships, and full-time job search support.

Career Development provides career decision-making assistance, job search workshops, résumé writing, interviewing techniques, cover letter assistance, and updated career resources to students and alumnae/i of Dominican University. The office interacts with business, industry, education, and government to develop a network of employers for full-time and internship opportunities. The office hosts on-campus interviews, practice job interviews, a business etiquette dinner, and both on- and off-campus job/internships fairs.  A job bulletin listing full-time and part-time and internship vacancies is posted through our Handshake portal. Additional information about Career Development is available on the website at careers.dom.edu.

Study Abroad

Dominican University offers a wide variety of study abroad and study away programs, viewing these opportunities as an integral part of a student’s undergraduate education. In Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, students are perfecting their language skills and/or studying the culture, politics, art, literature, and social systems of the host country. In addition to their course work, students in study abroad/ study away programs participate in a wide variety of cultural experiences and excursions and may have the opportunity for independent travel. The goal of study abroad / study away is to give students a broader knowledge and understanding of the world and of other peoples and help them gain a new sense of self-reliance and independence. With approval of the major department, some study abroad courses can be used to meet major requirements in the sociology, criminology, or other fields; see a departmental advisor for more information.

Year-Long or Semester Programs

Study Abroad in Florence, Italy - This program in affiliation with AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) offers one or two semesters of study in the academic year and summer sessions through the AIFS Global Education Center in Florence. Academic credit is awarded by Fairfield University. There are two program options: the traditional study abroad program (requirement Italian 102 or equivalent) and the study + internship program (requirement Italian 202 or equivalent). Students register for one class in Italian language study (placement assessment completed ahead of registration) and other courses offered in English or Italian for a total of up to 16 credits. Students are housed in an apartment shared with other AIFS students. Fulfillment of DU area requirements determined in consultation with appropriate departments. One week orientation workshop, excursions, day trips, and optional meal plan included in both programs. Volunteer and community- learning opportunities are available. Florence is centrally located and offers ideal accessibility for travel in country and in Europe.

Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain -This program is offered in collaboration with Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSA). Students enroll in 15 - 18 credits. Course options are available in Communication, Journalism, Business (including Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations and Management), Computer Science, Education, Psychology or Theology. Course options available in English and Spanish. Students select university housing facilitated by UPSA.

Study Abroad in Stellenbosch, South Africa-This affiliate program with AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) offers one or two semesters at the Stellenbosch University, South Africa’s second-oldest university. Students register for classes taught in English at the university. Students can choose from a wide variety of subjects, including African area studies, South African and African history and politics, theatre arts, and South African literature.

Study Abroad at Maynooth University, Dublin, Ireland -This program is offered in collaboration with Maynooth University, located just outside of Dublin. Students enroll in 15 - 18 credits. Course options available in Irish Heritage, History, Philosophy, Music, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, International Development, Business, Sociology, Psychology and Sciences (biology, chemistry, math, and physics). Students select housing for exchange students as facilitated by Maynooth University.

Study Abroad in Blackfriars/Oxford -This program is open to juniors who either are in the honors program or have a 3.7 GPA. Blackfriars Hall is run by Dominican friars within the Oxford University system. Students participate in the traditional Oxbridge tutorial teaching, in which they meet twice a week with a tutor to discuss an essay. Topics for tutorial projects include philosophy, theology, English literature, psychology, and British history with optional classes in Latin, New Testament Greek, and Biblical Hebrew. Accommodations are within walking distance of Blackfriars.

Study Abroad in Salzburg, Austria -This affiliate program with AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) offers students with or without prior knowledge of German the opportunity to spend one or two semesters in Salzburg, Austria. All students must study German, along with a variety of classes taught in English, including political science, business/economics, art, literature, and music. Included in the program fee are several excursions, including ones to Munich, Germany, and to Vienna and Innsbruck, in Austria. Students have the option of living in a dormitory or with a host family. Students in all majors are welcome to apply.

Strasbourg: European Business-The Strasbourg Business Study Abroad Program is offered in the fall, spring, full year or four-week summer. This opportunity is offered to students interested in European business and integration, while developing their French language skills. There is no language requirement as business courses are taught in English, although students will enroll in a French language class at the appropriate level. This program takes place in the heart of Europe at the EM Strasbourg Business School, a Grande École, and includes cultural and corporate visits such as a guided boat tour, visits to the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, Council of Europe, European Parliament, Mercedes Corporate Headquarters, Deutsche Bank, Siemens and Lufthansa. Limited space available. Must have sophomore or junior standing.

Paris: Essentials of French Fashion - This program is offered in collaboration with the Paris American Academy (PAA), and is only open to Fashion majors and minors. This program offers fashion majors the opportunity to spend a fall or spring semester in the fashion capital of the world. Students enroll in specialized courses in fashion design or merchandising, often with hands-on projects, taught in English. Students take an introduction to French language and culture as part of their semester. Student housing is in furnished apartments shared with other PAA students. Sophomore or Junior standing. 

Short-term Programs - includes summer, short-term, and community-based options.

Summer Programs

Modena, Italy - The Modena, Italy, program is a faculty-led study abroad program intended for students interested in Italian culture, art and history. Home of the powerful Este family, the city of Modena is a vibrant hub for the study of how Renaissance patronage forms the foundation of contemporary Italian design. This 3-week program first examines the evolution of artisanal craftsmanship and the arrival of a new mercantile society, then explores Modena’s automotive and food industries as cultural products of early modern innovation. No language requirement as course is taught in English, but students studying Italian will gain from the immersion experience.

China: Tradition, Modernization, and Culture - This three-credit course is designed to introduce students to the study of and involvement with China, in particular its history, religion and culture, political and social life, and increasingly important economy. Participants will visit and study in Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai to experience this complex country, rich in its tradition and dynamic in its transition. Most importantly, they will discover how to adapt to a culture and an environment that are quite different from the American or European conditions to which they are accustomed, a skill that will be increasingly required in the 21st century. Classes are held at Dominican both before and after the trip. The course is conducted in English.

Paris: Essentials of French Fashion - This course for apparel majors and minors provides the opportunity to spend one month in Paris, the fashion capital of the world. Students take all course work at the Paris American Academy. The intensive course consists of an overview of the French fashion industry, an opportunity to become immersed in a specialization (design, couture, merchandizing, or communication) from a French fashion perspective, and a hands-on introduction to the French culture and language. The course is conducted in English.

Cuba: Culture, History, and Politics - This course is a unique interdisciplinary course offered by Dominican University in collaboration with FLACSO-Cuba and the Universidad de La Habana (University of Havana). Course participants will travel across the island learning about the country’s pre- and post-colonial and revolutionary history, contemporary political and economic system, cultural landscape including music, art, and religion, and social institutions including schools, medical systems, and urban farming. This course includes mandatory pre-trip class sessions and orientation meetings, and it fulfills the multicultural core requirement for Dominican students. The course is conducted in English. This course can be used to fulfill a course requirement in the study of women and gender major. Please see advisor for details.

Córdoba - The al-Andalus in World Literature: Interfaith Dialogue and the People of the Book is a four credit interfaith study abroad course that looks to the past to better understand the present. Participants study a real model of Muslim, Jewish and Christian interfaith community to then reflect on the meaning of its fictional reconfigurations in other contexts. Participants also spend three weeks in Córdoba Spain learning Spanish & Arabic language and culture (different levels are accommodated), (re)visiting the places of the historical al-Andalus. In addition to the many sites in and around Córdoba, travel will include Seville, Granada, and Toledo Spain, as well as Tetuan, Morroco. This course fulfills the literature area requirement, and the World literature requirement for education students; it earns credits in honors, Interfaith Studies, Spanish, &/or English.

Short-Term Programs

Ghana: A Gateway to Africa - This study abroad program occurs during the spring semester. On-campus classroom sessions and orientations are followed by 10 days of travel in the West African country of Ghana during spring break. While there, participants experience Ghana’s political development and participate in Ghana’s independence celebration. Participants also discover Ghana’s rich history and culture, exploring the timeless art of Kente weaving; visiting the Manhyia Palace, the home of the Ashanti kings; and touring 14th-century slave dungeons along the coast of Ghana. In addition, participants enjoy both daily lectures and learn about traditional religion, Muslim and Christian faiths, and how they have shaped Ghana. Students are required to keep a journal of their experiences and write a term paper. The course is conducted in English.

Trinidad and Tobago: A Gateway to the Caribbean -This study abroad program typically occurs during the spring semester. On campus sessions and orientations are followed by week-long travel to Trinidad and Tobago, most commonly over spring break. Students study the culture, history, and philosophy of teh islands and the African Diaspora. Students visit African heritage sites, Courland Monument, forts, and learn about and participate in local cultural activities. Fulfills Multicultural (old core) or Social Justice and Sustainability (new core). The course is counducted in English.

Community-Based Learning Programs

Guatemala - This short-term intensive international service program is an immersion experience in Guatemalan/Mayan life and culture. Students will engage diverse dimensions of human experience and understand with empathy a culture radically different from their own. The service we do opens doors to building relationships with the people. Through studying, experiencing and reflecting on Guatemalan and Mayan culture, history, religion, economics, society, and community, we deepen our awareness and understanding toward becoming a global citizen. This one-credit course involves preparation classes and participation in the Global Leaning Symposium.

Domestic Study Away Programs

St. Simon’s Island - Students travel to St. Simon’s Island in Georgia, USA, to study the history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people from West Africa as well as topics of pan-Africanism and the Diaspora. Students visit a variety of historical and UNESCO World Heritage sites, and participate in Igbo Landing Commemoration Event nd Conference. Students can enroll for variable credits (1, 2, or 3 credits).

For complete information on all programs and additional exchange partners, contact the Director for Study Abroad. 

Internships

Internships enable students to gain appropriate work experience in their field and to integrate their academic course work with professional preparation. By completing an internship, students can better understand the career opportunities offered by their major and establish more specific career goals.

Students entering their junior or senior year of study, having fulfilled any internship prerequisites set up by the department, are eligible to apply to their department for an internship experience. A minimum cumulative career grade point average of 2.00 is required. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 semester hours at Dominican before applying for the internship, and students enrolled in certificate programs should complete the internship at the end of their program of study.

The internship experience is governed by a contract between the student, the faculty coordinator, and the employment supervisor. This contract must be approved by the department in which the internship is being taken and by the career development office.  An internship may be taken only in the student’s declared major or minor, or in a related field of study upon faculty consent, for 1 to 8 semester hours of credit per discipline.Credit hours earned in an internship will be applied toward the 124 semester hours required for a bachelor’s degree. Unless explicitly listed as a requirement or option for a major or minor, the internship hours do not satisfy the total semester hours required for completion of a major or a minor.

Prior to the start of an internship, students should consult first with their academic advisor or with the chairperson of the relevant department and then with the career development office. Registration for an internship requires the approval of an academic advisor, an internship application, and a course registration form, which should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before the start of the internship.

Employer sites and internships must be approved by the faculty supervisor as worthy of academic credit. Special regulations apply to the internship program, and information about these regulations as well as currently available internship opportunities may be obtained from the career development office.

Community-Based Learning

Community-based learning combines community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. Community-based learning involves students in organized community service that is directly linked to the curriculum and addresses local community needs. This learning experience provides multiple benefits to the students, including the enhancement of course-related academic skills, further development of critical thinking and social analysis skills, and opportunities for meaningful commitment to and civic engagement with the broader community.

Most community-based learning courses are designated in the course schedule by the sentence “Includes off-campus service hours.” These courses engage the entire class in service and reflection and fully integrate service into the learning and understanding of course content. Another community-based learning option can be self-initiated through an agreement between the professor, the student, and the Community-Based Learning Office. This “299” CBL course carries 1 semester hour of credit and can enhance any course. For additional information, contact the Office of Civic Learning.

Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Investigations (URSCI)

Dominican University offers students opportunities to engage in undergraduate scholarly activities that go beyond class assignments. The Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Investigations (URSCI) promotes undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. It administers a variety of initiatives to support undergraduate students involved in scholarly projects in all disciplines. Students may work as research assistants to faculty members, compete for prestigious student-driven summer scholarships or apply for grants to defray the costs of projects or attendance at academic conferences. Students may also learn valuable research skills for different disciplines by taking courses taught within each department. Students can earn course credit for working with a faculty mentor on a research project or creative investigation that is completed independently-not as part of a class assignment.

A uniform course number (e.g., BIOL 195, ART 395) has been established to designate participation in independent undergraduate research/creative activities across all departments at Dominican. Students must obtain prior approval from a faculty mentor before they can register for any of these independent research courses. Each course can be completed for variable credit hours (1-3) and can be repeated for two semesters at each class level. Students are encouraged to present their independent scholarly and creative work at the annual Exposition of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Investigations, which is held each spring.

Adult Program

Dominican University offers counseling and other academic support services to students who have been away from college for a number of years or who wish to begin college work some years after high school graduation. Interaction between faculty, students, and career advising staff helps returning students to develop new academic and career possibilities and to become aware of new avenues for personal growth.

For adult students who have acquired academic experience outside the classroom, credit by examination is obtained through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). After completing three courses at Dominican, adult students may also apply for academic course equivalency (ACE) credit. Academic course equivalency credit is not awarded to students holding a bachelor’s degree.

Guidelines for applying for ACE credit are available from the respective college in which the student is matriculating. A maximum of 28 semester hours of credit, as many as 12 of which may be in the major, is granted through credit by examination, ACE credit, or both.

Dominican offers a bachelor’s completion program with several majors for adult learners, leading to a bachelor of professional studies degree. Courses are offered online; detailed information is available in the University Programs  of the bulletin.

Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)

General Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours are required for the bachelor of professional studies degree (BPS); students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Dominican University as part of the BPS program.
  • Major field (42 credit hours minimum)
  • Core Curriculum  (30 credit hours)
  • Electives (48 credit hours)
• To be admitted as to degree-seeking student, a candidate must have previously earned 30 credit hours elsewhere or must receive a waiver from the program administrator.
•  A maximum of 90 credit hours will be accepted in transfer; no more than 68 credit hours from a community college will be accepted.

Major Field

Students must complete a major field of study, consisting of no fewer than 42 credit hours.

Core Curriculum Requirements

Students must complete the following 30 credit hours; requirements may be met through coursework at other institutions:

• Becoming Scholars (9 credit hours)
  • SPCS 200 - Adult Learning Seminar   or equivalent course 
  • ENGL 102 - Composition II: Writing as a Way of Knowing   or equivalent transfer course 
  • Quantitative Literacy: Any class that meets the Quantitative Literacy requirement or equivalent transfer course
• Disciplinary Perspectives (12 credit hours)
  • ​Two courses in Science Literacy
  • Two courses in Humanities and Arts
• Dominican Frameworks (6 hours)
  • ​One course in Theology
  • One course in Social Justice and Sustainability
• Career and Vocation (3 credit hours)
  • ​CP 355 - Career Practicum  
  • CV 400 - Career and Vocation: Managing Your Career  

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​Credit for Courses Completed at Other Institutions

The BPS degree accepts up to 90 hours in transfer credits, with a maximum of 68 credits from community colleges. Transfer credit is generally granted for courses comparable to those offered by Dominican University that were successfully completed with a grade of C- or better at another regionally-accredited institution. Since the BPS is designed for adult learners who have earned at least 30 credits elsewhere, the programs of study offered through this degree typically accept a wider range of transfer credits than Dominican’s traditional undergraduate programs, including applied science credit. Any credits earned at an accredited institution other than a regionally accredited school will be reviewed on merit individually. 

Applied Science Credit

A maximum of 18 credit hours of transfer credit may be accepted for coursework in an applied science discipline from an accredited institution (often through associate of applied science degree or certificate programs) that is not considered comparable to coursework offered at Dominican University. Such courses normally only satisfy general elective requirements. Where those applied science credits appropriately support a BPS program (e.g., an AAS in paralegal studies into the BPS in legal studies), normal transfer credit limits apply, and those credits may be applied to major requirements.

Credit from Other Forms of Prior Learning Assessment

CLEP

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams (or DANTES exams if the student is in the armed forces) offer students an opportunity to earn credit in a variety of subject areas. A student may not CLEP out of any of the required seminars, nor EN 102, although an acceptable score on the English Comp with Essay exam will waive EN 101 - Composition I . Further information is available by logging on to www.collegeboard.com and following links to CLEP. BPS students interested in CLEP may take CLEP exams until the semester before graduation.Students must have official scores sent to Dominican University. A maximum of 28 semester hours of credit may be granted with no more than 12 semester hours in one subject area. 

ACE

American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations are used as guidelines to evaluate selected baccalaureate-level coursework. Any certificates that were earned through company training workshops and seminars must be submitted and evaluated for credit approval prior to enrolling in your first course in the BPS program. After matriculation, certificates will not be accepted/evaluated.

Portfolio Assessment

Students can demonstrate mastery of course concepts by completing a portfolio. The portfolio must align with the learning objectives of one or more courses offered at Dominican University. To earn credit, students must first complete the free, noncredit course SPCS 000: Portfolio Design. They will then produce a written portfolio that will be assessed by faculty to determine whether course credit is appropriate. Appropriate lower-than-tuition fees are applied for prior learning credit granted. Credits earned by portfolio are not eligible for coverage with federal aid. See your program administrator for details. 

Concordia University/Dominican University Exchange

Under a cooperative exchange plan, full-time Dominican University undergraduates may take, at Concordia University and for no additional cost, one or two courses per semester in subjects that complement courses in the Dominican curriculum. (Students majoring in music may take more than two.) Students need to register both at Concordia University (this should be done first to confirm that there is room in the course) and at Dominican. The exchange agreement does not cover special fees for music lessons, laboratory courses, etc.; students are responsible for these costs. 

Concordia University is located one-half mile east of Dominican University’s Main Campus.

Elmhurst University/Dominican University Foreign Language Exchange

Under a cooperative exchange plan, degree-seeking Dominican University students may take, at Elmhurst University and for no additional cost, one or two courses per semester, limited only to foreign language courses not offered at Dominican. Students need to register both at Elmhurst University (this should be done first to confirm that there is room in the course) and at Dominican.

Elmhurst University is located 7.5 miles west of Dominican University’s Main Campus.

Graduate Programs

Dominican University offers graduate programs designed to meet a full range of personal and professional development needs, including master’s degrees in the areas of library and information science, education, business, social work, mediation and conflict resolution, trauma informed leadership and health science fields such as, doctorate degrees in library information science and applied social justice, as well as non-degree enrichment opportunities. Use the links below to review graduate offerings from each college: