Adult Degree Completion (ADC) Programs (BA)
Dominican University of California’s Adult Degree Completion (ADC) Program is designed so adults may complete an undergraduate degree while continuing to fulfill career and family responsibilities. The mission of the ADC Program is to meet the higher educational needs of adult learners through a range of degree programs and support services which embrace the experience of adults returning to the classroom, making the learning process transformational.
All ADC courses are accelerated and meet on weekday evenings and/or on Saturdays. Most evening classes are offered Monday through Thursday allowing students with considerable discretionary time to take a full-time course load of 12 semester units. Some majors are offered in hybrid format, with almost half of the weekly sessions are delivered online, reducing the students' need to come to campus. In addition to attending weekly classes, students should expect to spend three hours outside of class for course preparation for every one credit (unit) weekly.
Degree programs are interdisciplinary, multicultural, and global in focus. The curriculum integrates theory and practice, is outcome-based, and incorporates experiential, interactive, and collaborative learning components. To earn the bachelor’s degree an ADC student must complete all degree requirements including electives, General Education and major requirements.
Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy General Education requirements prior to undertaking more advanced courses in the major subject area.
ADC Program Majors
ADC students must declare an intended major when they apply for admission. To change a major, students submit a Declaration of Major form, with all required signatures, to the Registrar’s Office. Bachelor’s degrees for students in the ADC Program are offered in the following majors:
- Literary and Intercultural Studies
- Literary and Intercultural Studies to accelerated MA in Humanities (4+1)
- Leadership and Management
- Management BA to MBA (4+1)
- Psychology
ADC major courses are offered year round on a rotating basis. To expedite time to degree, students should expect to attend classes part-time during the Summer Session.
ADC Program Minors
Students in the ADC Program can round out their educational experience with a minor in one of the following areas:
• English Literature
• Humanities and Cultural Studies
• Leadership Studies
• Psychology
Some minors in the Undergraduate Day Program may also be an option for ADC Program students, provided that there is space in courses in which students are interested in attending and the student is available to take the additional coursework scheduled during the time offered, and is given approval.
ADC students may choose from a menu list of courses each semester, including Summer Session, and enroll either part-time or full-time. Students enrolled in the ADC Program are permitted to take some of their required elective units in Undergraduate Day Program courses, on a space available basis.
Initial Coursework
In the first semester of coursework at Dominican, students enroll in the required courses that assist them to strengthen the academic skills they will need to complete their degree programs. All first semester students will enroll in HCS 3160 Foundations: American Pluralism and may enroll in additional General Education, elective, or major core courses.
General Elective Units
Elective units may be taken in any discipline in the ADC curriculum. Elective units may also be earned through Prior Learning Assessment options, see below. ADC students may be permitted to take elective units may be taken in non-ADC undergraduate programs on a space available basis.
Prior Learning Assessment
Through Prior Learning Assessment, students can identify and validate their lifelong learning endeavors. Prior Learning Assessment coordinates the University’s options for demonstrating learning that occurred outside the college classroom. These options include learning accomplished outside the traditional academic setting and demonstrated through the Experiential Learning Portfolio process, standardized examinations including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Excelsior College Examination Program (formerly Regents PEP), DSST (formerly known as Dantes), and ACE/PONSI recommended courses.
Eligibility for the course ENGL 3442 Critical Inquiry and Reflective Writing and for the Experiential Learning Portfolio program requires students have a minimum of 6 years life experience since completing high school.
See the Experiential Learning Portfolio section and Credit Policies in the Credit for Prior Learning section of this catalog for additional information.