Undergraduate Education

Offer an unsurpassed undergraduate education that nurtures the formation of mind, body, and spirit

Goal II: Offer an unsurpassed undergraduate education that nurtures the formation of mind, body, and spirit

Context

“Education is the art of bringing a young person to completeness,” said Fr. Basil Moreau, the founder of the Holy Cross order who sent Fr. Sorin to found Notre Dame. Moreau established for Notre Dame and for all Holy Cross schools the ideal of educating the whole person. These institutions devoted themselves to the intellectual, spiritual, and moral education of the students, striving to lead them into truth.

This forms the hallmark of a Notre Dame undergraduate education—rigorous intellectual training with the cultivation of moral character and spiritual formation offered in a community distinguished by faith.

Our undergraduate program is anchored in excellent teaching, a traditional strength and defining characteristic of Notre Dame. Quality teaching—the nature of the personal exchange between professor and student—will encourage students to become fellow inquirers with the faculty, giving them the ability to form their own views, test their own theories, and stand their own ground in debate.

Our University curriculum is grounded in a liberal arts core while students achieve depth of learning in a chosen major. We are committed to enhancing the education of our students through opportunities for study abroad, community-based learning, and undergraduate research.

In addition to the teaching and guidance offered by professors in the classroom, a vital part of the education at Notre Dame is provided by life in residence halls and engagement in student activities, voluntary service, and social life. The Division of Student Affairs fosters a rich community life, encourages student development through programming and its support of student groups, and nurtures the physical and emotional well-being of our students through a variety of student services.

Diversity in all its forms is valued on our campus, and we strive to create a community where all feel welcome and the gifts of each enhance everyone.

Ultimately, the Notre Dame undergraduate experience will be magnified by the power of community, people with shared ideals and engaged in a vigorous conversation, and the recognition that education at a Catholic university confers an obligation to become knowledgeable, capable, charitable—to draw on all the intellectual, spiritual, moral resources of the University to lead a rich human life inspired by the Gospel that will help unify, enlighten, and heal.