Academic Catalog 2023-24

Undergraduate Day CORE Curriculum and Courses

The Core Curriculum is a cohesive program of study that draws on a variety of disciplines to provide students with a breadth of learning that serves as a strong foundation for all learning, be it in the major or minor, the undergraduate program as a whole, or life long learning—hence the name. The program guides students in attaining the outcomes articulated in our institutional learning outcomes while meaningfully coupling the building of skills and acquiring knowledge with their application to real-world situations and problems. The four components of the Dominican Experience–Integrative Coaching, Community Engagement, Signature Work, and Digital Portfolio– are strategically embedded in the Core both to support and enrich the learning experience.

There are nine outcomes-based Core Curriculum categories drawing on courses of all disciplines. The categories are listed below with every student expected to take one course in each category, beginning with Effective Communication 1 and ending with a course in Purpose & Meaning. The outcomes and approved courses for each category are listed after that.

 

1. Effective Communication 1 (EC1) - 4 units

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate the processes and products of critical reading, thinking, speaking, and writing;
  2. Analyze a range of texts and media (oral, visual, written, and performative) across disciplines and across a range of rhetorical modes;
  3. Create effective written texts and oral presentations appropriate to topic, purpose and audience;
  4. Comprehend how communication shapes and is shaped by difference (including but not limited to categories such as race, gender, sexuality, age and class);
  5. Retrieve, interpret, and apply source material; use proper citation and documentation.

Courses that Fulfills the Requirements

ENGL 1111Writing and Rhetoric: Effective Communication I

4.00 units

HONO 1111Writing and Rhetoric: Effective Communication I

4.00 units

ENGL 1111 and HONO 1111: Courses may be offered as Service Learning  where academic content is applied and enriched through work with community partners addressing social/environmental issues. Community-engagement may occur during scheduled class meetings or may be integrated into the overall homework expectation and course load.

 

2. Effective Communication 2 (EC 2) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate advanced critical thinking through such methods as summary, evaluation, synthesis, and integration of research; 
  2. Create effective, original, and argumentative rhetoric across media (oral, visual, and written) appropriate to topic, purpose, and audience; topics and issues may include problem solving, civic engagement, and/or positing policy or social change;
  3. Apply understanding of how communication shapes and is shaped by difference (including but not limited to categories such as race, gender, sexuality, age and class) and reflect on one’s own place in a broader social context;
  4. Evaluate source material, synthesize new concepts, and apply deduction, induction, and/or logic for advanced argumentative research purposes; use proper citation and documentation.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

ENGL 2222Advanced Writing and Research: Effective Communication II

4.00 units

HONO 2222Advanced Writing and Research: Effective Communication II

4.00 units

*Effective Communication-2 must be taken on-campus

Prerequisite:

ENGL 2222  may be offered as Service-Learning.

 

3. Quantitative Literacy and Social Issues (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Interpret data presented in mathematical or quantitative forms
  2. Infer potential solutions from mathematical or quantitative models
  3. Apply mathematical or quantitative tools and evidence to real-world problems.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

MATH 1450Mathematical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning

4.00 units

BUS 3045Business Statistics and Data Analytics

4.00 units

PSY 3187Statistics for Health & Behavioral Sciences

4.00 units

Prerequisite for MATH 1450: Appropriate placement test score.
Prerequisite for PSY 3187DAY students: Appropriate placement test score. Adult Degree Completion students: MATH 1350 or equivalent with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better, or appropriate placement test score.

Students in some majors and minors with an expanded quantitative reasoning requirement may double-dip those courses and are exempt from this requirement. Those are majors and minors offered by the following disciplines at Dominican: The Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Mathematics.

 

4. Science for Global Citizens (SCI) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Examine and apply the fundamental principles of the scientific discipline (true for each course) in a manner that illustrates connections among science, technology, and society;
  2. Engage in the scientific method through laboratory and fieldwork to examine key elements of the science and conduct independent exploration, using observational and direct measurement techniques for primary data collection;
  3. Analyze, evaluate, manipulate, and interpret data to draw conclusions.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

BIO 1400Biological Foundations

3.00 units

BIO 1405Biological Foundations Lab

1.00 unit

CHEM 1100Conceptual Chemistry

3.00 units

CHEM 1105Conceptual Chemistry Lab

1.00 unit

ENSC 2000Environmental Sciences

3.00 units

ENSC 2005Environmental Sciences Lab

1.00 unit

ENSC 2100/ENSC 4100Birds & the Environment

3.00 units

ENSC 2105/ENSC 4105Birds & the Environment Lab

1.00 unit

PHSC 2200Earth Science

3.00 units

PHSC 2205Earth Science Lab

1.00 unit

PHSC 3210Bay Area Rocks: Geology of Northern California

3.00 units

PHSC 3215Bay Area Rocks: Geology of Northern California Lab

1.00 unit

PHYS 1000Conceptual Physics

3.00 units

PHYS 1005Conceptual Physics Lab

1.00 unit

ENSC 4100/ENSC 2100Birds & the Environment

3.00 units

ENSC 4105/ENSC 2105Birds & the Environment Lab

1.00 unit

  • BIO 1400/ BIO 1405: Recommended for non-Biological Sciences or non-Chemistry majors. Meets requirements for the Life Science portion of the California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential when taken in combination with PHYS 1000/PHYS 1005 and PHSC 2200/PHSC 2205.
  • PHSC 2200/ PHSC 2205: Recommended for non-Biological Sciences or non-Chemistry majors. Meets requirements for the Earth Science portion of the California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential when taken in combination with BIO 1400/BIO 1405 and PHYS 1000/PHYS 1005.
  • PHYS 1000/PHYS 1005: Recommended for non-Biological Sciences or non-Chemistry majors. Meets requirements for the Physical Science portion of the California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential when taken in combination with BIO 1400/BIO 1405 and PHSC 2200/PHSC 2205.

Students in some majors and minors with an expanded natural science requirement may double-dip those courses and are exempt from this requirement. Those are majors and minors offered by the following disciplines at Dominican: The Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dance, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences/Pre-Occupational Therapy, and Nursing.

 


5. Artistic and Creative Expression (ACE) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Develop competencies in creative thinking and artistic skills, and apply them to unique self or collective artistic expressions
  2. Design, create, present and/or perform works of art for an audience.
  3. Reflect on and articulate new insights gained about the creative process, artistic practice, and personal artistic expression or perspective.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

ART 1012Introduction to 2D Art and Design

4.00 units

ART 1013Introduction to 3D Art and Design

4.00 units

ART 1014Introduction to 4D Art and Design/Time-Based Media

4.00 units

ART 1015Painting: A Contemporary Approach

4.00 units

ART 1016Drawing: A Contemporary Approach

4.00 units

ART 1017Photography

4.00 units

ART 1018Printmaking

4.00 units

ART 1040Ceramics Studio

4.00 units

ART 1085/ART 3351Graphic Design I

4.00 units

ART 1292Digital Art & Storytelling

4.00 units

ART 3015Painting: A Contemporary Approach

4.00 units

ART 3016Drawing: A Contemporary Approach

4.00 units

ART 3017Photography

4.00 units

ART 3018Printmaking

4.00 units

ART 3040Ceramics Studio

4.00 units

ART 3119Art Fundamentals: Concept to Creation

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

ART 3308The Artist's Graphic Novel

2.00 units

 

ART 3812Art + Community

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

ART 3814Art + Environment

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

ART 4130Special Topics in Graphic Art

4.00 units

CMS 3456Podcasting

4.00 units

ENGL 2305/ENGL 3412Introduction to Creative Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3308Writing the Graphic Novel

2.00 units

ENGL 3330Writing Popular Genres

4.00 units

ENGL 3331Expressive Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3412/ENGL 2305Advanced Creative Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3402Drama Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3403/ENGL 3431Fiction Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3405Poetry Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3409Autobiographical and Biographical Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3410Creative Nonfiction Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3412/ENGL 2305Advanced Creative Writing

4.00 units

ENGL 3414Acting and Stagecraft

4.00 units

ENGL 3413Spoken Word

4.00 units

ENGL 3440Advanced Writing Seminar

4.00 units

ENGL 3650STA: Creative Arts at the Finca

4.00 units

HCS 3606STA: Creative Arts Retreat

4.00 units

MUS 1001Materials of Music and Performing Arts

4.00 units

MUS 1010/MUS 3010/MUS 5010Music Technology and Digital Composition

4.00 units

MUS 1012Piano: Healing Art of Music

4.00 units

MUS 1013Listen & Compose: Diverse World of Music

4.00 units

MUS 1400/MUS 3400Dominican (Winifred Baker) Chorale

1.00 unit

MUS 1402/MUS 3402A Cappella Workshop

1.00 unit

MUS 1407/MUS 3407DUofC Chamber Music Ensemble

1.00 unit

MUS 1408/MUS 3408Dominican Jazz Ensemble

1.00 unit

MUS 3010/MUS 1010/MUS 5010Music Technology and Digital Composition

4.00 units

MUS 3012Piano: Healing Art of Music

4.00 units

MUS 3013Listen & Compose: Diverse World of Music

4.00 units

MUS 3400/MUS 1400Dominican (Winifred Baker) Chorale

1.00 unit

MUS 3402/MUS 1402A Cappella Workshop

1.00 unit

MUS 3407/MUS 1407DU of CA Chamber Ensemble

1.00 unit

MUS 3408/MUS 1408Dominican Jazz Ensemble

1.00 unit

HONO 3013Listen and Compose: The Diverse World of Music

4.00 units

HONO 3119Art Fundamentals: Concept to Creation

4.00 units

HONO 3301Community Engaged Art

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

HONO 3412Creative Writing

4.00 units

HONO 3414Theater for Social Change

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

ARTS-CMS-ENGL-MUS-3XXX-5XXX-Creative Arts Retreat

2.00 + 2.00 Units

All Applied Music Private or Class Instruction in an Instrument or Voice

1.00-4.00 units

ART 3812 and ART 3814- The “ART + " series addresses specific issues impacting the local community and ways to harness the power of visual art to generate engagement and dialogue — particularly in communities of color and immigrant and low-income populations—around these issues. Coursework will emphasize both group and individual art making strategies, and can be taken by non-art majors.

Students in some majors and minors with an expanded creative arts requirement may double-dip those courses and are exempt from this requirement. Those are majors and minors offered by the following disciplines at Dominican: Dance and Music.

 


6. Social Sciences: Understanding Human Behavior (SSHB) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Effectively communicate an understanding of the research method(s) used by the discipline.
  2. Critically evaluate theory(s) in the discipline that have been put forth to explain some aspect of human behavior.
  3. Reflect critically on individual identity and responsibilities as citizens of diverse communities.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

ARTH 1014Global Visual Cultures: Seeing the World

4.00 units

ARTH 3014Global Visual Cultures: Seeing the World

4.00 units

BUS 1005Economics

4.00 units

ENGL 3001Linguistics

4.00 units

POL 1100American Politics, Policy & Society

4.00 units

PSY 1100Introduction to Psychology

4.00 units

 

7. Civic Knowledge and Engagement (CKE) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Identify and analyze no less than three of the following content areas: political structures, social systems, cultural trends, and/or historical change over time in the U.S. and/or other countries.
  2. Critically analyze a pressing political, social, or environmental issue using multiple sources of information. This analysis includes evaluating evidence through the interpretation of primary sources to develop informed arguments about historical and/or contemporary issues and/or drawing on community-based perspectives and experiences.
  3. Engage with local and local and/or global communities to build civic knowledge and skills, and reflect critically on their roles and responsibilities as members of diverse communities and societies.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

ENGL 3051Latin American Literatures

4.00 units

ENGL 3016Shakespeare for Social Justice

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

ENGL 3107Governing Bodies: Body Text and Contexts

4.00 units

HCS 1101Sociology

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HCS 1102Cultural Anthropology

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HIST 1001The Making of Today: Contemporary World History

4.00 units

HIST 1014Europe: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 1015/HIST 3015Africa: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 1016Latin America: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 1018/HIST 3018East Asia: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 1030Big History Lens on the Evolution of Human Cultures

4.00 units

HIST 1207Special Topics in Women's History

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HIST 1210History Lab: U.S. History to the 1890s

4.00 units

HIST 1211History Lab: U.S. History from 1890s to Present

4.00 units

HIST 1701Ethnicity and Race in United States History

4.00 units

HIST 3014Europe: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 3015Africa: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 3016Latin America: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 3018/HIST 1018East Asia: Past and Present

4.00 units

HIST 3207Special Topics in Women's History

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HIST 3701Ethnicity and Race in United States History

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HIST 3711U.S. Environmental History

4.00 units

PHIL 2101The Power of Words: Culture, Conditioning

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2102Social Movements and Cultural Response

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2121Education for Democracy

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2124Othering and Belonging

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

POL 1003American Politics Through Film

4.00 units

 

HONO 3030SL: Big History Lens on the Evolution of Human Cultures

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3102Cultural Anthropology

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3201International Relations: Conflict and Cooperation

4.00 units

HONO 3202Just Learning: Books Not Bars

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3203Empires and Colonization

4.00 units

HONO 3711U.S. Environmental History

4.00 units

 

8. An Examined Life (EL) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Analyze contemporary issues with attention to their ethical dimensions and the application of theory to practice.
  2. Demonstrate an awareness of differing values, ethical perspectives, and moral agency
  3. Develop ethical arguments to advocate for social change.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

 
ENGL 3038Feminist Disability Ethics in Literature

4.00 units

PHIL 2103Ethics, Leadership & Meaning

4.00 units

PHIL 2104Ethics from the Margins

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2105Ethics of Housing and Homelessness

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2106Ethics of Citizenship and Immigration

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 2107Ethics and Society

4.00 units

PHIL 2109Healthcare Ethics and Equity

4.00 units

PHIL 2110Environmental Ethics

4.00 units

PHIL 2114New Technologies: Ethics and Social Justice

4.00 units

PHIL 2123Ethical Being, Being Ethical

4.00 units

PHIL 2520Self, Community and Ethical Action

4.00 units

PHIL 3103/HONO 3503Ethics, Leadership and Meaning

4.00 units

PHIL 3109Healthcare Ethics and Equity

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

PHIL 3110Environmental Ethics

4.00 units

PHIL 3114New Technologies: Ethics and Social Justice

4.00 units

PHIL 3123Ethical Being, Being Ethical

4.00 units

PHIL 3520Self, Community and Ethical Action

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

RLGN 3182Ethics: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Applications

4.00 units

HONO 3105Ethics of Housing and Homelessness

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3204Virtuosity: Cultivating Moral/Ethical Character

4.00 units

HONO 3206Social Justice and Ethical Action

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3500Self, Community, and Service

3.00 units

HONO 3503/PHIL 3103Ethics, Leadership & Meaning

3.00 units

 

HONO 3505SL: Ethics from the Margins

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

HONO 3503/PHIL 3103Ethics, Leadership & Meaning

3.00 units

HONO 3500Self, Community, and Service

3.00 units

 
 

9. Purpose and Meaning (PM) (4 units)

Students will:

  1. Identify key features of at least one religious, spiritual, or philosophical point of view;
  2. Contextualize those key features (e.g., historically, culturally, politically);
  3. Analyze the relevance of those key features in relation to societal issues.

Courses that Fulfill the Requirement

ARTH 3193Structures of Faith

4.00 units

DANC 3001/RLGN 3001Dance and Spiritual Expression

4.00 units

ENGL 3090American Transcendentalism

4.00 units

PHIL 3205Classic and Contemporary Philosophy

4.00 units

PHIL 3125Human Being, Being Human

4.00 units

POL 3012Religious Nationalism

4.00 units

RLGN 3001/DANC 3001Dance and Spiritual Expression

4.00 units

RLGN 3003Art and the Sacred

4.00 units

RLGN 3008Jewish and Christian Origins

4.00 units

RLGN 3009Life and Death

4.00 units

RLGN 3010Meditation and Mindful Action

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

RLGN 3012Religious Nationalism

4.00 units

RLGN 3022The Power of Compassion and Forgiveness

4.00 units

RLGN 3075Religion and Social Theory

4.00 units

RLGN 3076Religion & Social Movements

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

RLGN 3120The Rhetoric of Belief

4.00 units

RLGN 3132Women, Religion and Sexuality

4.00 units

RLGN 3155Liberation Theologies

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

RLGN 3170Ecology and Religion

4.00 units

RLGN 3177Buddhism and Beyond

4.00 units

RLGN 3178The World's Religions

4.00 units

RLGN 3179Myth, Symbol and Ritual

4.00 units

RLGN 3181Social Justice: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Foundations

4.00 units

RLGN 3186Faith-based Social Teachings

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

RLGN 3187Understanding Islam

4.00 units

RLGN 3381Religion and Globalization

4.00 units

RLGN 3712/HIST 3712Religion in American History

4.00 units

HONO 3140Structures of Faith

4.00 units

HONO 3155Liberation Theology

4.00 units

Must have SL Designation to fulfill CORE Requirement

 

HONO 3192World Religions

4.00 units

HONO 3900American Transcendentalism

4.00 units