About the College

Blending the theory and practices taught in the Schools of Education, Information Studies, and Social Work, along with the Master of Arts in Mediation and Conflict Resolution program, the College of Applied Social Sciences (CASS) offers an exciting opportunity for students to reach across the social sciences and attain a multifaceted, hands-on education that will prepare them to do transformative civic work. We emphasize acquiring skills, knowledge and experiences that result in getting things done, engaging in real-world problems, and advocating for social justice.

CASS faculty provide connections across fields and recognize that genuinely impactful civic work requires people with diverse perspectives and expertise to find common and higher ground. The College contributes to the University’s goal of graduating intellectually curious and engaged students who will carry with them an enthusiasm for lifelong learning in a complex, ever-changing world.

Mission

The College of Applied Social Sciences (CASS) prepares and educates professionals in the Sinsinawa Dominican tradition to take on important and rewarding work towards the global common good. The College advocates for social and economic justice and equitable educational opportunities, connects persons and communities to information and resources, and generates new knowledge which empowers individuals and diverse communities to positively transform society.

Vision

As a College we aspire to be a global leader in interdisciplinary professional education, preparing students to make a difference for individuals and society.

Goals

The goals of CASS are:

  • To provide ethically engaged interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate education across the spectrum of the College’s disciplines and fields of study that reflects the mission and values of the university.
  • To promote critical thinking and analytical reasoning in research, application of knowledge, and development of professional skills.
  • To develop and use the knowledge of their respective disciplines, and develop the professional skills of their respective disciplines.
  • To provide rigorous reflective-experiential curricula for community-centered leadership.
  • To develop the skills necessary for effective community-centered leadership, and demonstrate an intellectual interest in communities around the globe.
  • To hold to the highest standards of professional practice, including national accreditation and/or state board approval for programs where appropriate.
  • To promote collaborative interdisciplinary and community partnerships for reciprocal impact.
Learning Goals and Outcomes

Students will:

  • Think critically, and apply analytical reasoning skills to research,
  • Develop and use the knowledge of their respective disciplines, and develop the professional skills of their respective disciplines,
  • Develop the skills necessary for effective community-centered leadership, and demonstrate an intellectual interest in communities around the globe, and
  • Collaborate in an interdisciplinary fashion within Dominican University and with community partners.
Commitment to Anti-Racism

The College of Applied Social Sciences is committed to anti-racism and that includes supporting research and conversations that disrupt structures in higher education that normalize and facilitate oppression, that enable and activate equity-minded practice, and that helps us all develop in our critical consciousness around social justice.

The College of Applied Social Sciences is proud to sponsor the CRTcollective, whose vision is to provide an inclusive outlook on critical race theory with roots in historical representation and ethical considerations to engage and encourage continuous dialogue and scholarship while building a collaborative movement of intellectual advocates and activists addressing injustice.