Program Policies

Students have the option to use the Dominican account (option 1) or have their Dominican email forwarded (option 2) to a personal email account. Email is a mechanism for official communication within the Dominican University of California.  Therefore all students at Dominican University of California MUST have a Dominican Student Email account set up and working. Having email lost as a result of redirection does not absolve a student from the responsibilities associated with communication sent to their official DU e-mail address. 

Students are expected to adhere to the Academic Honesty Honor Code stated in the Catalog. 

Students should practice academic integrity in all of its forms, including abstaining from plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic misconduct. The University reserves the right to determine in any given instance what action constitutes a violation of academic honesty and integrity. 

Clear Academic Standing for all students is defined by Dominican University policy as the condition of maintaining a minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.  A grade of “Pass” will constitute at least a grade equivalent of “B” for Supervised Teaching experience courses. 

Students must achieve a minimum grade of a B or higher to pass a course.

A Professional Standards Committee (PSC) may grant a Teacher Candidate’s request to substitute prior coursework (maximum 8 units) for a required credential course when prior university course work is the equivalent of the program requirements (including meeting the SB 2042 program standards). To request a substitution of a required credential course, a candidate must provide the PSC with the following information:

• Provide a request in writing, indicating for which course the exemption is requested.

• Provide a copy of an official transcript, showing the prior course work.

• Provide a copy of the syllabus for the course intended for substitution.

• If a student takes a Leave of Absence for more than one academic year (not including students who return to finish the Master’s degree completion), they will lose the merit scholarship; an appeal process will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Due to rapidly changing information and knowledge in the field of education, prior coursework may no longer meet the program requirements after a leave of absence. Re-enrolling students may be required to retake courses. To return, the student will be required to submit the EDU Re-Admission Form along with a Registration form and academic plan/degree checklist (obtain from credential analyst or faculty advisor).

Candidate progress on the TPA will be monitored in the Preparation for Supervised Teaching and the Student Teaching Seminar (EDU 5180/5280 and EDU 5185/5285/5385).  If students do not pass the TPA while completing required coursework they will be required to remain enrolled at the University in a two-unit TPA Completion support course (EDU 5005) that carries a tuition charge to be paid by the student. If a student requires financial assistance for this course, please contact Julie Grellas at julie.grellas@dominican.edu. Students will receive 20 hours of contact time with faculty to complete their TPAs in this course. Students may take EDU 5005 up to five times.

Test scores from other colleges/universities are not a part of the Dominican University of California transcript and must be requested from the appropriate testing agency or institution; copies may not be obtained from Dominican (Academic Catalog).

For more information see  Approved Amendments to Title 5 Regulations Pertaining to the Period of Validity of Examinations for Certification; Keep several official copies of your transcripts for job applications. 

After completing the preliminary credential coursework at Dominican University, students continue with summer coursework to complete their Master’s degree, which consists of two additional MS Core Courses (8 units).

For students who do not directly continue their enrollment in the summer after completing the preliminary credential coursework, or who only take the first Core MS Course:  

1. File a Dominican leave of absence with the registrar’s office.

2. Submit the EDU Re-Admission Form when returning. 

3. Apply for graduation in Colleague in the semester prior to the completion of all coursework.  

4. Students must complete all MS degree requirements in a 6-year period (from the first semester of the credential program to the completion of the MS Core Courses). 

5.  Summer graduates will walk in the December Graduation Ceremony.  

Students who have finished all coursework except supervised teaching (EDU 5185/5285/5385) may enroll in the summer MS Core Courses (EDU 5910 & 5920). However, the MSED will not be conferred until supervised teaching is successfully completed.