Dominican University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Dominican University, or DU, was established in 1901 and is located in River Forest, Illinois, United States, which is just west of Chicago. DU was originally founded as St. Clara Academy in 1848 and was chartered by Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli in Wisconsin. The school is committed to a Catholic Dominican mission. DU states that its goal is to prepare "...students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world."

Dominican was one of the first higher education institutions in the U.S. to provide a complete academic program for women that incorporated math and science. It also launched one of the very first study-abroad programs in the nation. The school is regularly given high rankings by U.S. News & World Report – the magazine has ranked Dominican in the highest tier for master's university in the Midwest and notes the school as among the best values in higher education.

The university's campus sits upon nearly 30 acres of land. Dominican University offers master degrees, bachelor degrees, and certificate programs to its students. It also offers over 50 majors through the Rosary College of Arts & Sciences.

Academic Programs

DU offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in over 50 majors. Additionally there are over 10 professional and pre-professional programs as well as a program in organizational leadership. Graduate degrees are granted for programs in the areas of: Business, Education, Library and Information Science, Organizational Leadership and Social Work.

Dominican's studies are organized around the following areas:

• Brennan School of Business – The school offers graduate degree programs in: Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Computer and Management Information Systems and Knowledge Management. Undergraduate programs cover: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics and International Business. The school also offers several joint degree programs.
• Graduate School of Library and Information Science – Degree programs include Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) and the Master of Science in Knowledge Management. The school's objective is to nurture and develop library and information science professionals.
• Graduate School of Social Work – The Master's of Social work curriculum emphasizes a "globally focused and family-centered practice." The school's goal is to produce graduates who are leaders in the field.
• Rosary College of Arts and Sciences – With over 50 majors from Accounting and Biology to Political Science and Graphic Design, there's a track for almost every interest. The coursework is made up of three overlapping areas of study. The Core is a selection of courses that provide the student with broad exposure to a variety of courses designed to integrate the various components of the undergraduate experience. The Major is coursework dedicated to providing in-depth knowledge of the students chosen area of study. Electives give individuals the freedom to explore a variety of educational options.
• The School of Education – The school offers Master's degree programs in: Elementary Education, English as a Second Language and Reading. A recently established online master's degree program provides a distance-learning alternative that utilizes the same teachers and curriculum that are used on campus,
• School of Leadership and Continuing Studies – The school awards a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program is geared toward leaders who wish to study a people-focused contemporary and holistic course track. Master of Arts in Leadership for Family Ministry and Faith Development degrees are granted to individuals who aspire to focus on the social mission of the Church with a commitment to a values-centered education.

Learning Options

• Average class size is 15
• Student-faculty ratio is 12 to 1
• All classes are taught be professors, not teaching assistants
• Online Masters of Education degrees are available

Faculty

Educators are dedicated professionals in their field who uphold the mission and values espoused by the University. All the classes in at DU are taught by professors. The faculty consists of about 130 full-time educators and 275 who teach part time.

Student Life

Dominican University has numerous on-campus organizations that range from department clubs to cultural groups, special interest groups, and honor societies. Students can choose to participate in over 40 clubs. Information about on and off campus activities is available from the Office of Residence Life or the Office of Student Involvement. Other offices that may capture a student interest include: University Ministry, Service Learning, Multicultural Affairs, the Academic Enrichment Center, Athletics, Performing Arts, Study Abroad, the Wellness Center and others.

If a student has an interest in an area that is omitted from the inventory of clubs, they can work with the Student Involvement Coordinator to start their own. Students also have the option to participate in an array of club and intramural sports.

For individuals who live off campus, the school has a Commuter Student Association (CSA). The Association provides students opportunities to network and it can act as an advocacy group for commuters to help the school address their unique needs as commuters.

The university's sports teams participate in the NCAA Division III in the Northern Athletics Conference.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Application packets for each of the schools within the university are available online through the DU web site. Each school has its own admissions group that students can contact for help or for more information.

Students who qualify may be eligible for Financial Aid. Students should start the process of seeking grants and loans by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The DU Financial Aid Office will provide families a complete information packet with all the federal forms.

The school reports that 98% of all incoming students receive some form of financial aid.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Roman Catholic religious affiliation.
• Many students concentrating in liberal arts.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• High female/male ratio.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Many mature (40+ year old) students.

School characteristics:

• The school is private, not-for-profit.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Dominican University:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 3,413 in 2009-2010 (2,921 full-time equivalent).

About 30% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 70% of the class.

Undergrads are 41% of enrolled students and graduate students are 59%.

Students under 25 years old represent 55% of the student body. About 15% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 100% are full-time and 0% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Dominican University provides on-campus housing for 650 of its 2,921 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Graduate School Focus

Dominican University offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Research/Scholarship).

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate With Arts & Sciences (Fields Other Than Education And Business).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT (0 awarded)

• Food Science

ART STUDIES (0 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (196 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business Administration and Management
• Fashion Merchandising
• International Business/Trade/Commerce
• Knowledge Management
• Management Information Systems
• Organizational Behavior Studies

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (15 awarded)

• Computer Graphics
• Computer Science
• Information Science/Studies
• Information Technology

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (0 awarded)

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies

DESIGN (7 awarded)

• Fashion/Apparel Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (4 awarded)

• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
• Visual and Performing Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (166 awarded)

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education and Teaching
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Special Education and Teaching
• Teacher Education/Profess Development, Levels & Methods
• Teacher Education/Profess Development, Subject Areas

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (41 awarded)

• Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies
• Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
• Social Work

FINE ARTS (7 awarded)

• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
• Fine/Studio Arts

LIBERAL ARTS (281 awarded)

• African-American/Black Studies
• American/United States Studies/Civilization
• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• French Language and Literature
• General Studies
• History
• International Relations and Affairs
• Italian Language and Literature
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Library Science/Librarianship
• Political Science and Government
• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature
• Technical and Business Writing

MATHEMATICS (5 awarded)

• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Mathematics

MEDIA (15 awarded)

• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Journalism
• Public Relations/Image Management

MEDICINE (0 awarded)

• Gerontology

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (20 awarded)

• Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART (10 awarded)

• Commercial and Advertising Art
• Photography

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (2 awarded)

• Pastoral Studies/Counseling
• Philosophy
• Theology/Theological Studies

SCIENCE (36 awarded)

• Biological and Physical Sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Natural Sciences

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (9 awarded)

• Criminology

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (23 awarded)

• Psychology
• Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling