Degree Programs

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The Associate Degree

The associate degree is awarded for successful completion of 60 semester hours, 48 of which must include work in the Dominican Curriculum and additional elective liberal arts courses. Thirty of the 60 hours must be completed at Dominican. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 is required.

The work in the Dominican Curriculum must include the fulfillment of 30–33 semester hours: 15–16 hours in Component-1, 12 hours in Component-2 (no specific thematic distribution, at least one course must be writing focused), and 6 hours in Component-3 (including both science and values courses). Credits earned in an associate degree program can be subsequently applied toward a baccalaureate degree.

The Baccalaureate Degree

The baccalaureate degree programs at Dominican University New York have been designed so that students may have the benefit of a continuum of study in the liberal arts disciplines and in professional preparation. A purposefully flexible approach to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree permits accommodation to varied learning styles, previous academic background, divergent learning, and/or career goals and prior experience.

The baccalaureate degree is awarded to candidates who successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester hours in an approved program of study which includes the Dominican curriculum and a major in a liberal arts or professional area.

The Dominican Curriculum (DC) is a required component of all baccalaureate degree programs. It offers students a broad foundation upon which to build a specialization and through which their personal lives will be enriched.

A student's major provides the opportunity to explore a specific field of knowledge in greater depth, to acquire some sophistication in a particular discipline, and to gain experience in the elementary techniques of research.

A sequence of courses in a field related to the major area encourages a recognition and appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of all learning.

Elective Courses may be chosen from among the liberal arts and professional offerings.

Distribution of Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

  1. Completion of the Dominican Curriculum;
  2. Fulfillment of all the requirements of a major field as specified in the program; a minimum of 15 semester hours in the major must be completed at Dominican University New York;
  3. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours*, at least 30 of which must be earned at Dominican University New York. For students needing additional practice in the basic skill areas, the minimum total credit requirement may be more than 120 semester hours;
  4. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 in Dominican University New York courses and 2.0 or higher (as specified) in the major.

* A minimum of 90 semester hours in liberal arts is required for a Bachelor of Arts; a minimum of 60 semester hours in liberal arts for a Bachelor of Science.

Admission to a Major Field of Study or a Professional Sequence

Application for admission to a major field or to a professional sequence, such as Teacher Education and Nursing, is initiated by the student as early as the end of the freshman year and before completing 60 credits. Undergraduates must declare their academic major prior to the completion of 60 credits. Students participating in early college high school initiatives who graduate from high school with both a high school diploma and have 60 or more college credits successfully transferred to Dominican University most declare their major within 30 days of the add/drop deadline during their second semester at the institution. Transfer students with 60 or more accepted credits must make their applications during their first semester at the College.

The “Application to An Academic Program” Form is available in the New Student & Transition Center and Divisional Offices. A follow-up interview with the appropriate program coordinator may be required. Students who ae accepted into their chosen major are assigned an advisor in the area to assist the student in academic planning. Students have the responsibility of having their selection of courses reviewed each semester by their academic advisors. However, each student should understand that the responsibility for arranging a suitable program and for meeting all degree requirements rests with the student. Students who wish to change their major must complete the form, have it approved by both the current and new program advisor, and submit the form to the Registrar.

Double Majors

A student at Dominican University New York may opt for a double undergraduate major. In normal circumstances, both majors must be declared by the end of the freshman year. In no circumstances can a second major be declared after the end of the junior year. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher at the time of declaration. For transfer students, the cumulative grade point average will be based on performance over all prior institutions unless the student has completed at least 24 credits at the University. A faculty advisor from each of the majors must approve the student’s request for a dual major. Upon approval, the student must meet all the requirements of each of the majors. In addition, a minimum of 24 credits for the second major must not be shared with the other major’s core or electives. For in-person registration, both advisors must sign the registration card. For online registration, the student must check off both advisors’ names on the course selection site. Separate degrees are awarded only when the majors cross degrees: i.e., B.A., B.S., B.S.Ed., B.S.N., or B.S.W.

Academic Minors

Dominican University New York offers a large variety of minors—both program specific and interdisciplinary ones—in order to give students the opportunity to pursue a second, or even third, area of academic interest in greater depth. A minor is constituted by a group of courses (determined by each program) amounting to at least 18 credits. Minors are noted on students’ transcripts as a way of recognizing that they have, over and above their required major program, also concentrated in one or more other areas.

See individual minor descriptions in the “Undergraduate Major and Minor Programs” section for specific requirements, but the below guidelines apply to all minor offerings:

  • A minor must consist of at least 18 credits, at least 12 of which must be taken at Dominican;
  • Students may pursue up to two separate minors; however, a course taken for one minor cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a second minor;
  • Up to two courses from the student’s major requirements (including related field and area of concentration requirements), may be applied toward the minor;
  • All cognate courses (as in the Biology program) or specified liberal arts requirements (as in the Nursing and Teacher Education programs) may be applied toward the minor;
  • Students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” for each course used to fulfill a minor’s requirements;
  • The student’s major advisor will serve as the advisor for the minor as well;
  • A Declaration of minor form must be signed by the student and advisor and submitted to both the Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean;
  • For full-time students, minors must be declared before the end of the Junior year. For part-time students, minors must be declared by no later than the completion of 90 credits;
  • Any waiver to the above requirements must be approved in writing by the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean.

The Master’s Degree/The Doctoral Degree

For Masters and Doctoral Degree program requirements, see the Graduate Studies section of this catalog.

For all degree programs, the fulfillment of requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Conferral of Degrees

Before the beginning of the semester/session in which a student expects to complete all requirements, a “Candidate for Degree” form must be filed in the office of the Registrar.