Overview
Dominican University of California Focuses on the Diversity of Its Student Body and Commitment to the Community
Dominican University of California is a coeducational Catholic heritage university in San Rafael, California, only few miles north of San Francisco. An intimate 11:1 student-teacher ratio exists with more than 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 200 full- and part-time faculty members. Dominican was founded in 1890 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. The university enjoys a century-long reputation for excellence in scholarship, research, and community outreach. In fact, a central thrust at Dominican is for undergraduate students and faculty members to actively connect with the community-at-large. As a Catholic-based school, an important part of the overall philosophy is to develop the whole person bound in the spirit. Dominican helps to support the spiritual nature of all people on campus through its ministry. Several different religious faiths, however, are present at Dominican.
Freshmen Participate in Orientation Week and Take Helpful Mandatory "VisionQuest" Classes to Determine a Major
For freshman just entering their undergraduate careers at Dominican, the university offers a complete series of orientation events over five days in late August. Activities include a welcome address, residence hall exploration, mandatory peer group, and rotating sessions. Undeclared students also take what are known as mandatory VisionQuest classes, which help them define who they are and what formal trajectory they would like to take as students at Dominican.
Dominican's Four Schools Offer Over Sixty Traditional and Specialty Degree Programs
There are four schools within Dominican University of California: the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science; the School of Business and Leadership; the School of Education and Counseling Psychology; and the School of Health and Natural Sciences. In addition, the Center for Adult and Extended Education offers professional courses and programs. The more than sixty degrees offered to undergraduates include fine arts, English, accounting, education, and many more. Over the years, the most popular majors at Dominican have been business administration and management, nursing, psychology, and biology.
There are several specialty degree programs offered at Dominican a well as multiple academic honors societies and honors programs. Some of these include the preprofessional Modern Ballet B.F.A., the 3+2 occupational therapy degree, and the program in leadership studies offered in concert with a choice of degree programs in business.
Students Have Opportunities to Study in Europe and in Affiliate Schools Across the U.S.
There are numerous opportunities for students to study and earn credit abroad while enrolled at Dominican. There is also a summer opportunity for students to study at St. Dominic in Fanjeaux, France, and surrounding areas. Over the years, students have also traveled and studied in Amsterdam, Scotland, Denmark, Spain, and Sweden. There is also an opportunity for undergraduates to study at one of a number of affiliate institutions in the U.S.
Tuition Costs at Dominican Are Offset Through Grants, Scholarships, Loans, and Work-Study Programs
Dominican University's Financial Aid Office helps more than 75 percent of the university's students gain some form of financial aid through loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. Scholarships include the Valedictorian Scholarship and other merit-based scholarships, Music Scholarships, and several others. Grants range from local types to Federal Pell Grants. All undergraduate students are required to complete at least one internship before they graduate from Dominican University.
Varied Students Groups and Organizations at Dominican Range from Academic Honors Societies to the Skateboarding Club
There are literally dozens and dozens of student organizations and groups to participate in at Dominican. There are honor societies, political clubs, religious clubs, campus diversity groups, and recreational groups. In fact, there are almost forty groups to become a part of. These include Latinos of Americas, the Meditation Club, the Skateboarding Club, the Sprit Squad, Beta Beta Beta, Dominican Republican Women, and many, many more.
Dominican Stepped Up Its Athletic Teams and Joined the NCAA Division II
Dominican University of California offers several opportunities for active students to either participate in or view several athletic teams at the university. After joining the Pacific West Conference, the school has NCAA Division II sporting teams, such as men's and women's soccer, basketball, and golf. There are also women's tennis, softball, and volleyball teams. In addition to these, several intramural sports can be enjoyed by just about any student, regardless of their competitive level. In fall 2010 Dominican will also be adding varsity cross-country for both men and women.
Housing and Travel Options Cover All Styles and Price Ranges
There are several housing options for freshman students, including the many dormitories where more than 30 percent of all Dominican students live. While the area has virtually no crime, there are security guards that patrol the campus and housing units continuously. There are also apartments and other types of easy-access housing in around San Rafael. Students can easily get around campus and town by foot, bicycle, car, taxi, or by local and interstate bus line. Additionally, San Francisco and Oakland airports are with short distances of the Dominican campus.
