Dordt College - Overview
Christian Reformed Heritage
Dordt College is a small, liberal arts college in Sioux Center, Iowa, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. Sioux Center is a community with a strong Dutch heritage, and the college is named for the historic and influential Synod of Dordrecht, held in the Netherlands in 1618-1619.
Serving 1,300 students from more than 30 states, 15 foreign countries, and 6 Canadian provinces, Dordt offers a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. The campus, located in Iowa's northwest corner, is an hour's drive from Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Dordt provides its students with a Christ-centered education from a Reformed Christian perspective. The college applies an overarching biblical and philosophical framework that asks students to think about religious orientation, creational structure and development, and contemporary issues.
One of the Best in the Midwest
In 2011, Dordt College was ranked by "U.S. News and World Report" as one of the Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest; as a Great School, Great Price; and as one of only two regional colleges on the A Strong Commitment to Teaching list.
In recent years, Dordt has also been similarly recognized by "Forbes.com" and "the Princeton Review."
Liberal Arts Variety
Students in Dordt's Bachelor of Arts programs choose from a liberal arts curriculum that includes more than 30 majors and 10 pre-professional programs of study, many with multiple options for specialization. The most popular majors are education, business, engineering, nursing, and agriculture.
The following sample majors available through Dordt College represent the variety and unique qualities of academic offerings at Dordt: art and design; music; theatre arts; Dutch; engineering technology; criminal justice; digital media production; theology; and health, physical education, and recreation.
Vocational and Pre-professional Programs
There are numerous programs with a more specific vocational focus, such as the pre-professional programs that prepare students for graduate education in the fields of architecture, medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, seminary, dentistry, optometry, veterinary, law, and pharmacy.
Of special interest is the Bachelor of Science, medical technology major, an option leading to certification, which combines 3 years at Dordt with a final year spent in clinical education at an approved school of medical technology.
The nursing program allows students to earn both a BSN from Dordt College and an ASN from St. Luke's College in Sioux City, Iowa, via an educational partnership.
The college also offers a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering,
For a more personalized course of study, students may choose the individual studies major which allows them to develop interdisciplinary programs of study.
Practical, Career-Building Associate Degrees
Dordt offers 3 education-focused associate degrees, offering training towards becoming a special education aide, an elementary teacher aide, or an early childhood aide. Other associate degrees include administrative assisting, agriculture, computer networking, and general studies.
Holistic Core Curriculum
The college's core curriculum takes a holistic educational approach through its 4 categories of required courses: Pre-disciplinary Foundational, which includes the competencies of mathematics, English, communication, and foreign language; Historical-Redemptive Outlook, which includes classes in culture and theology; Contextual and Inter-disciplinary, which comprises courses in health, sports, arts, literature, philosophy, and cross-cultural studies; and the culminating Post-Disciplinary Integrative courses.
Kuyper Scholars Program
The Kuyper Scholars Program in Christian scholarship is an honors program based on the 3 components of interdisciplinary work, theoretical understanding, and seminar participation and leadership. Program goals encourage students to develop their scholarly work as a spiritual calling and to develop critical-thinking, argumentation, writing, and public-speaking skills.
Off-Campus Study Opportunities
Dordt students have more than 2 dozen opportunities to participate in off-campus study programs in the US and across the globe. Programs range from 3-week summer programs to a semester. Some programs even offer an internship component.
Arts and Cultural Offerings
Arts and culture are highly valued by the Dordt community, with many events highlighting the works of both students and professional artists in the areas of visual arts, music, and theatre arts. In fact, approximately 300 US and international students participate in the music program, which includes 4 choral groups, 2 orchestras, and 3 bands.
Intercollegiate Athletics
Dordt is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Intercollegiate teams include men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track, as well as women's basketball, cross country, soccer, golf, softball, indoor track, and volleyball.
A Focus on Service
Service is a strong focus among Dordt students, as shown by the popularity of the school's 3 main service programs. Putting Love Into Action performs service projects in communities across the US. A Mission OutReach focuses on foreign countries. The Community Outreach Program provides volunteer service through agencies and ministries in the Sioux Center area.