Seek Wisdom: Your Guide to Academics at Notre Dame

ACADEMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

EDUCATING THE

The University of Notre Dame was founded by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., a French missionary priest with incredible vision. For more than 180 years, we have been educating and empowering students based on his aspiration that, “This college will be one of the most powerful means for doing good in this country.”

Today, the story continues as Notre Dame, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, forms students in mind, body, and spirit.

Established in 1842

Campus: South Bend, Indiana

Global Presence Across 6 Continents

Top 5 in the nation for 4-year graduation rates

Top producer of Fulbright scholars for 9th consecutive year

EMBARK ON YOUR

Academic Inquiry and Self-discovery Lead to Wisdom

In literature and mythology, the hero’s journey leads the hero on a transformative adventure.

As a Notre Dame student, you are the hero of your story and your quest for wisdom is a journey of self-discovery. This principle guides our approach to academics, which begins with inquiry.

This is why we encourage you to ask:

ª What are my values?

ª Where do my talents lie?

ª How can my passions contribute to the greater good?

A Notre Dame education is designed around enduring questions and students are given the resources of a major research university to explore the answers. Within this environment, you will learn not only how to think, but also how to live fully.

Explore: admissions.nd.edu/academics

QUEST FOR WISDOM

Core Curriculum

Central to undergraduate education at Notre Dame is the core curriculum, a set of course requirements that apply to all students, regardless of major. It is the foundation for the University’s liberal arts education and exposes students to diverse modes of thought for approaching, analyzing, and understanding aspects of our lives and our world.

Moreau First Year Experience

Every first-year student at Notre Dame participates in a one-credit, two semester course sequence called the Moreau First Year Experience. The course fosters personal development by asking central human questions and discussing important contemporary topics, leading to meaningful conversations.

First Year Advising

As a first-year student, you will be assigned a dedicated advisor who provides support to ensure your optimal learning, engagement, planning, and progress throughout your first year at Notre Dame.

SOMEDAY Every Stride Was Once a

SOMEDAY

OUR APPROACH TO ACADEMICS FULFILLS OUR MISSION TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD

As a Notre Dame student, you’ll become part of a tradition of innovation that has produced Nobel Laureates, regularly graduates Fulbright Scholars, and makes continuous strides in major research areas. We develop new medical prostheses, initiate lead poison prevention, discover new stars, partner with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and research and manage turbine engines for sustainable energy production.

But our mission to act as a force for good in the world means that our success isn’t measured by accolades. It is measured by how well we serve humanity.

Notre Dame continues to make strides in research, having increased research spending by more than 400 percent in the last 10 years alone.

We are relentless pursuers of social justice through initiatives like these:

ª Center for Social Concerns – socialconcerns.nd.edu

ª Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights – klau.nd.edu

ª Pulte Institute for Global Development – pulte.nd.edu

ª Initiative on Race and Resilience – raceandresilience.nd.edu

ª ND Energy – energy.nd.edu

Our devotion to progress is expressed every day, in ways large and small, on campus and off, by faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Within our diverse community and despite many points of view, we all share this common purpose.

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILD A

BETTER WORLD

The School of Architecture educates students in the classical architectural tradition and teaches them to address critical issues facing the built environment through research, career preparation, and service. Our five-year professional degree program focuses on hand-drawing and drafting and includes an entire year of study in Rome, Italy. From sketch to skyline, you will learn through experience how to design and build a better world.

MAJORS

ª Architecture (5-year program)

CONCENTRATIONS

ª Architectural Practice and Enterprise

ª Furniture Design

ª Preservation and Restoration

Visit architecture.nd.edu

I love how we are taught to use our drawing and drafting skills to problem-solve and design for good.

Emily Fuchs ʼ25, Architecture

INNOVATION

FOR THE COMMON GOOD

The College of Science prepares tomorrow’s scientific leaders to think big while inspiring them to make a difference. Science students learn to share their knowledge and discoveries in ways that encourage collaboration, advance learning, and contribute to the common good.

MAJORS

ª Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics

ª Biochemistry

ª Biological Sciences

ª Chemistry

ª Environmental Sciences

ª Mathematics

ª Neuroscience and Behavior

ª Physics

ª Physics in Medicine

ª Preprofessional Studies

ª Science—Computing

ª Science—Education

ª Statistics

Visit science.nd.edu for a full list of majors and minors.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Joseph Heitzmann ’24, Biological Sciences

Professors fostered and encouraged my interests and passion for science.

The community around me drives me toward excellence and new innovations.

WHAT DOES HUMANITY NEED?

Notre Dame engineers are educated in ways that allow them to contribute solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges. Rigorous coursework, in-depth research, and service opportunities train leaders equipped to answer the question, “What does humanity need?”

MAJORS

ª Aerospace Engineering

ª Chemical Engineering

ª Civil Engineering

ª Computer Engineering

ª Computer Science

ª Electrical Engineering

ª Environmental Engineering

ª Mechanical Engineering

For a full list of majors and minors, visit engineering.nd.edu.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Trey Lane ’24, Mechanical Engineering

I’m grateful for the mentorship and bonds I've been able to form inside and outside of the classroom.

MENDOZA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

GROW THE GOOD IN BUSINESS

Undergraduates in the Mendoza College of Business benefit from a top-ranked business college recognized for academic excellence. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in critical business skills while graduating leaders who can solve problems in today’s global economy.

MAJORS

ª Accountancy

ª Business Analytics

ª Finance

ª Marketing

ª Strategic Management

Visit mendoza.nd.edu/undergraduate for a full list of majors and minors.

Isabella Tardio ’25, Strategic Management and Psychology

My favorite thing about being in Mendoza is knowing I am part of a much bigger mission.

The people and culture within this school inspire me to be my best both technically and morally, which is a truly priceless experience.

Notre

Thomas Musgrave ’25, Political Science

STUDY EVERYTHING DO ANYTHING

The humanities, languages, arts, and social sciences come together in the College of Arts and Letters. Students benefit from cross-disciplinary study, the real-world application of ideas learned in the classroom or lab, and how to read, write, and think critically about global issues.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

MAJORS

ª Africana Studies

ª American Studies

ª Anthropology

ª Arabic

ª Art History

ª Chinese

ª Classics

ª Computer Science

ª Design

ª Economics

ª Education, Schooling, and Society*

ª English

ª Film, Television, and Theatre

ª French

ª Gender Studies

ª German

ª Greek and Roman Civilization

ª History

ª International Economics

ª Italian

ª Japanese

ª Latino Studies*

ª Mathematics

ª Medieval Studies

ª Music

ª Neuroscience and Behavior

ª Philosophy

ª Philosophy and Theology

ª Political Science

ª Pre-Health*

ª Program of Liberal Studies

ª Psychology

ª Romance Languages and Literatures

ª Russian

ª Sociology

ª Spanish

ª Studio Art

ª Theology

Visit al.nd.edu for a full list of majors and minors.

* Only offered as a supplementary major: Supplementary majors are pursued in conjunction with a primary major.

Dame is truly committed to the undergraduate education. The opportunities to study, research, and collaborate with professors and students alike are unmatched in developing your intellectual and vocational skills!

ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF

HUMAN DIGNITY

Students who choose a major or minor through the Keough School of Global Affairs grow to understand the interconnected nature of world challenges.

Students learn to advance the cause of human dignity by developing their toolkit of strategic, analytic, and relational skills. They participate in global experiences and gain firsthand knowledge of the ideas, peoples and disciplines in government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector.

MAJOR

ª Global Affairs

SUPPLEMENTARY MAJORS

ª Asian Studies

ª Peace Studies

MINORS

ª Asian Studies

ª Civil and Human Rights

ª European Studies

ª International Development Studies

ª Irish Studies

ª Peace Studies

ª Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation

KEOUGH SCHOOL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Irasema Hernandez Trujillo ʼ24, Political Science and Global Affairs

The Keough School of Global Affairs has offered me a new understanding of peace and justice, one that proposes solutions that consider the “whole person” using integral human development.

LEADING EXPERTS MENTORSWHO

ARE ALSO

On your quest for wisdom, you will be aided by professors who are some of the world’s leading experts in their fields. Beyond their research accomplishments and accolades, Notre Dame faculty are first and foremost your teachers, mentors, and partners in intellectual discovery.

Our professors are not just passionate about their areas of study—they are passionate about teaching. They will push you to consider new perspectives, help you identify meaningful research and internship opportunities, and offer guidance as you prepare to become an educated agent of change.

NOTRE DAME FACULTY BY THE NUMBERS

27 PROFESSORS

have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the nation’s leading learning academy.

90%

of full-time faculty have terminal degrees or doctorates.

#1

IN NEH FELLOWSHIPS

Notre Dame faculty members have won more fellowships (68) from the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1999 than any other institution in the country.

9:1 Student to faculty ratio.

INNOVATE . INQUIRE . CREATE .

Gospel singers build bridges. Lacrosse players develop apps. Playwrights research thermodynamics.

Along your path thus far, you have likely learned that inspiration doesn’t conform to disciplines. Creative intellectuals follow their curiosity wherever it leads. But ideas need encouragement and resources to give them free rein.

As a Notre Dame student, your ideas are supported by the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE), among other campus units. This center is a hub for intellectual exploration and creative expression. CUSE funds research, offers advising, and helps students apply for prestigious awards, like the Fulbright and Rhodes Scholar programs.

FROM CONCEPT TO CONSTRUCTION

We build a unique community around students with an exceptional diversity of skills, passions, perspectives, and backgrounds—because that’s what the world needs: all of us using our time and talents for the greater good.

These and many other campus resources support discovery, innovation, and creativity so you can make your big ideas a reality.

TURBOMACHINERY LABORATORY (NDTL)

Professors and students at this world-class turbomachinery research and testing facility study and test components for gas turbine engines. These are used by commercial and military aircraft, power plants, and the oil and gas industry.

DIGITAL VISUALIZATION THEATRE

Located in the Jordan Hall of Science, the Digital Visualization Theatre allows students to explore 3D models of complex molecules, view the internal structure of the human body revealed by CT or MRI medical imaging, and hurtle through outer space from campus to the edge of the observable universe.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH COMPUTING

This state-of-the-art High Performance Computing (HPC) facility offers resources like the Geospatial Analysis Laboratory, the Green Cloud, an energyefficient computational grid, and VisArray, a visualization framework for rendering scientific data.

INNOVATION, DE-RISKING, AND ENTERPRISE ACCELERATION (IDEA) CENTER

The IDEA Center is where student entrepreneurs, inventors, subject matter experts, and researchers come together to take innovative ideas from inception to the marketplace.

CENTER FOR ENHANCED WIND ENERGY DESIGN (EWIND)

EWiND researchers develop revolutionary designs that incorporate virtual aerodynamic shaping for enhanced wind energy systems. The outdoor laboratory offers opportunities for investigations into the sciences of fluid dynamics, acoustics, fluid-structure interaction, and much more.

Park-Notre Dame has launched 172 companies with a collective value of approximately $250 million.

DEBARTOLO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

This hive of creativity supports the scholarship, teaching, and practice of the performing and cinematic arts. It houses six performance venues, film editing bays, a recording studio, costume shop, rehearsal studio, and set design rooms with drafting tables.

The IDEA Center at Innovation

MISSION DRIVEN

MISSION DRIVEN

Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns offers the International Summer Service Learning Program (ISSLP), a four-credit, eight-week community-based program. Students are invited to experience and interpret global issues through the critical lenses of Catholic social tradition and social analysis. Participants serve at one of 34 sites in 21 countries.

Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns offers the International Summer Service Learning Program (ISSLP), a four-credit, eight-week community-based program. Students are invited to experience and interpret global issues through the critical lenses of Catholic social tradition and social analysis. Participants serve at one of 34 sites in 21 countries. socialconcerns.nd.edu

Visit socialconcerns.nd.edu for more information.

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD,

FIRST NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY KNOWS NO BOUNDS

Notre Dame educates global citizens prepared to take on the world’s biggest challenges. “Go further” is our motto because learning doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom. Instead, we expand the classroom to include study abroad, U.S. and international internships, student clubs, and service. Our global University community supports you both on campus and off. And, through our experiential learning programs, you’ll have a wealth of opportunities to shape your worldview. Your experiences won’t just help you understand the world—they will inspire you to change the world.

OVER 70% of students study abroad

60+ IN 30+ COUNTRIES

SEMESTER AND ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAMS

TOP 10 in the U.S. for study abroad participation

20 U.S. and international summer programs

studyabroad.nd.edu

1500+ international students at Notre Dame

issa.nd.edu

11 120 projects funded by Notre Dame international grants

Global Gateways and Centers from Beijing to São Paulo

international.nd.edu/global-network

YOU

YOUR FIRST YEAR AT NOTRE DAME

Every adventure begins with a single first step. Your first year at Notre Dame will be filled with many first steps and, as our alumni can tell you, you will remember them—always. The challenging courses you take on a whim, the clubs you join, the late night study sessions in the library—they are all milestones on an adventure that will shape who you become and bond you with a community of fellow travelers.

ACTIVITIES NIGHT CLASS VISIT GROTTO

FIRST FOOTBALL GAME

DECLARE A MAJOR

ATTEND

STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

FISHER REGATTA

TO THE

PRE-THANKSGIVING MEAL AT THE DINING HALL

SPRING BREAK

SPRING REGISTRATION ADVISING

FINAL EXAMS READING DAYS

COURSE SELECTION ACADEMIC ADVISING

RESIDENCE HALL ASSIGNMENT

EXPLORE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

VISIT THE CAREER CENTER

DECK YOUR HALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS

READING DAYS FINAL EXAMS

CHRISTMAS BREAK

ON TO YEAR TWO

VISIT NOTRE DAME

Schedule an on-campus visit, take a virtual tour, or read our student blogs.

Learn more: admissions.nd.edu/visit