Education Designed for You 

Whether you’re coming back to your studies after a long pause or starting college for the first time, we know that returning to school can feel overwhelming. That’s why Dominican’s online associate degree—developed with working professionals in mind—goes beyond typical two-year programs.  

Our online associate degree program offers flexible classes, personalized support and resources that make it easy for you to integrate seamlessly into Dominican. Our experienced faculty and staff understand the commitments of everyday life and are prepared to help you balance academic demands, full-time work and family responsibilities.   

In less than two years, you’ll earn your degree with a career-focused concentration and a guaranteed pathway into Dominican’s top-ranked bachelor’s programs without losing time or credits. 

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Program Overview

  • Start in the fall, spring or summer—choose the timing that fits your goals.
  • No prior college experience needed. 
  • 8-week courses offered year-round for efficient learning.
  • Study online so you can balance your studies with your other responsibilities.


 

  • Choose from one of four career-focused concentrations: nursing assistant, cybersecurity, translation and interpretation or legal studies. 
  • Be automatically admitted into our top-ranked bachelor’s degree program after graduation. 

Dominican University provided the opportunity for me to start an entirely new career. Many of my classmates were gaining more knowledge in the field that they were in, and some, like me, were starting completely different careers, doing things they had never done before."
 

Larry Spears
Dominican University Graduate

Your Goals. Your Path. Your Future. 

At Dominican, we believe that earning your degree shouldn’t be a challenge. Every course is designed to move you forward, whether your goal is to gain skills for your field of interest or transition to a four-year degree. As part of the program, you’ll choose a concentration in one of four in-demand areas—cybersecurity, nursing assistant, translation and interpretation or legal studies—that helps you gain in-demand skills through specialized coursework. Interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree? After completing your associate degree, you’ll be automatically admitted into Dominican’s top-ranked bachelor’s degree programs, offering a seamless transition that ensures no credits are wasted.


In-Demand Concentrations

In our cybersecurity concentration, you’ll harness the power of technology to take on tomorrow’s challenges. Take classes in subjects like digital forensics and ethical hacking, so you’ll be prepared to sit for the CompTIA Tech+, CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Security+ exams upon graduation or transition into majors like computer science or informatics at our River Forest campus.

In the healthcare track, you’ll prepare for employment as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) through both classroom and clinical education, so that you can take the certification competency exam in Illinois to become a licensed CNA upon graduation. This stepping stone can also provide you a starting point to transfer into our bachelor’s degree in nursing or other health-related majors at our River Forest campus.

Program Note: The CNA program includes required in-person laboratory, clinical and skills-based training components. Students should anticipate scheduled on-campus and clinical site participation.

Explore the legal system with a broad focus and gain a deeper understanding of communities’ most pressing needs, such as immigration. You’ll be prepared to work at law firms, nonprofit organizations, corporate legal departments, social justice advocacy groups and more. This concentration is also the perfect pathway for those seeking to become paralegals and prepare for the required certification exams.

Program Note: Some Legal Studies courses may require in-person class meetings, experiential learning activities, site visits or scheduled synchronous instruction.

Translators and interpreters effectively communicate the meaning and nuance of written and spoken words. This concentration will set you on the path for a purposeful career in a variety of multilingual settings and functions—from hospitals, offices, and courthouses to ad agencies, film studios and more. This pathway is geared toward students with native proficiency of spoken and written Spanish.

Students at table

A strong candidate:

  • Has a high school diploma or equivalent 
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher 
  • 1–2 years of professional work experience (preferred) 

If you don’t meet all the criteria above, don’t worry. If you’ve taken time away from school, changed careers or never had the chance to start college, you’re exactly who this program was built for. Please request more information, and we’ll walk you through your options to help you find the right starting point. 

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Financing Your Degree

Recognized as the #1 Best Value School in Illinois by U.S. News and World Report, Dominican University is committed to making higher education accessible for every student. Our low-cost, high-impact programs put meaningful career advancement within reach, so you can invest in your future without putting your life on hold. As a student at Dominican, you’ll find resources to help offset tuition and cost, including scholarships and student loans.


Personalized Support

At Dominican University, we understand that many adult learners are returning to school after years of managing real-world responsibilities. That’s why we offer a student-centered approach shaped by our Sinsinawa Dominican mission and strengthened by intentionally small classes, close faculty mentorship and hands-on learning.  

In our online associate degree program, you’ll always navigate this journey with an extensive support system—both in the classroom and beyond. You’ll have access to academic counseling, career coaching and experienced, full-time faculty who take the time to understand your life, commitments and goals. Together, we’ll build a personalized success plan that fits your schedule and supports your progress. 

Let’s get started! 

For more information,
please contact:

Chicago Campus Admission
chicago.admission@dom.edu
(708) 524-6800

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