Academic Catalog 2024-25

Non-Degree Program Options

Students not enrolled in a degree program at Dominican may enroll in courses for credit, or may audit courses. Current degree-seeking students may also audit courses.

Non-Degree Students: Undergraduate Credit

Students desiring to take courses for undergraduate credit but who have not been admitted to the University as degree-seeking students may enroll in courses for undergraduate credit, subject to the approval of the Registrar. Such students must demonstrate evidence of sufficient preparation for the intended coursework. Enrollment for non-degree students is subject to space availability in the desired course section(s).

Non-degree students may take a maximum of 23 semester units of undergraduate credit as non-degree students, and are subject to the tuition rate current at the time of enrollment. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-degree students who later wish to apply for admission to a degree program at Dominican must submit a complete application for admission for the desired program, and must meet all admission criteria in effect at the time of application. No more than 23 undergraduate units earned by a non-degree student at Dominican may be counted toward a student’s subsequent degree program at Dominican, unless the student has obtained a special exception via an approved Academic Petition.

For further information regarding admission as a non-degree student, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Non-Degree Students: Graduate Credit

Students desiring to take courses for graduate credit but who have not been admitted to the University in a degree program, post-baccalaureate certificate program, or credential program, may enroll in courses for graduate credit, subject to the approval of the Registrar and the graduate program director governing the desired coursework. Such students must demonstrate evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree and sufficient preparation for the intended coursework. Enrollment for non-degree students is subject to space availability in the desired course section(s).

Non-degree students may take a maximum of 8 semester units of graduate credit as non-degree students, and are subject to the tuition rate current at the time of enrollment. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid. 

Non-degree students who later wish to apply for admission to a graduate program at Dominican must submit a complete application for admission for the desired program, and must meet all admission criteria in effect at the time of application. Graduate credit earned as a non-degree student at Dominican may be used to fulfill requirements for a subsequent graduate program at Dominican; the number of applicable units earned as a non-degree student may not exceed by themselves or in combination with external transfer credit, the maximum allowable units of transfer credit stated above.

For further information regarding admission as a non-degree student, please contact the Registrar's Office.

 

Auditing Courses

Auditing a course means that the student attends the course, but is not required to do the coursework, may not take examinations, may not ask for their work to be evaluated, and does not receive credit for the course.

Anyone may enroll in a course as an auditor, subject to space availability, and with the permission of the instructor of the course. To enroll, auditors must complete the paper Registration Form (available from the Registrar’s Office, and get the instructor’s signature on the form. Enrolling as an auditor begins the first day of the semester in which the desired course is offered, to allow priority for degree-seeking students to enroll.

Auditors are subject to the current tuition and fees rate applicable at the time of enrollment except as noted below.

Auditors are not permitted in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Laboratory Science, or Physician’s Assistant courses or courses that require personal instruction and/or individual participation (e.g., performance, music studio, laboratory, foreign language instruction, and creative writing). Art studio courses may only be audited with the express permission of the chair of the Art Department.

At the end of the semester, audited courses will appear on a transcript with a grade of ‘AU.’

Degree-seeking Students as Auditors

Degree-seeking students may audit courses; enrolling as an auditor is done via the paper registration form, it cannot be done online through Self-Service. Full time undergraduate students are charged for all audited courses in excess of 18 units of combined audit/credit. Part time undergraduate students are subject to the tuition rate current at the time of enrollment.

Dominican Alumni

Graduates of Dominican may audit one course per term free of tuition, with a valid Alumni Association card.

Senior Citizens

Persons over the age of 62.5 may audit one course per term, free of tuition. Proof of age may be required at the time of enrollment. Only two senior citizens are permitted to audit each eligible course.

Dominican Sisters

Dominican Sisters of San Rafael may audit courses free of tuition and fees. A letter of introduction from the Major Superior or First or Second Councillor should be provided to the Registrar’s Office the first time that a Sister audits a course.

Dominican Staff and Faculty

Staff and Faculty may audit courses free of tuition subject to the Tuition Benefit policy.

Community Members

Persons who do not fit into the above categories are eligible to audit courses, but are subject to the tuition and fees rate current at the time of enrollment. For further information regarding these fees, please see the website.