St. Thomas Aquinas College

What is the history of St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private college in Sparkill, New York, founded in 1952 by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Its origins in teacher education help explain why education remains an important part of its academic identity, alongside programs in business, the sciences, and the liberal arts.

The college takes its name from Thomas Aquinas, the medieval scholar and theologian. It has developed from its original teacher-training purpose into a college offering undergraduate and graduate study. Prospective students should distinguish this Sparkill institution from other colleges and universities named for St. Thomas or St. Thomas Aquinas.

What are the faculties and departments at St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College offers undergraduate and graduate programs across the liberal arts and sciences, business, education, and professional fields. Students considering a major should check the current academic catalog for its degree requirements, course sequence, and any separate admission standards.

Examples of fields represented in the college's academic offerings include biology, psychology, communication, computer science, criminal justice, accounting, marketing, and teacher education. The distinction between a major and a career pathway matters here: an education degree, for example, may involve New York State certification requirements beyond ordinary graduation requirements, while a science major may require courses that must be taken in a particular order.

The college reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1. That institution-wide ratio can help describe its scale, but it does not establish the size of a particular class or guarantee access to a specific course or professor.

What is the location of St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College is in Sparkill, a community in Rockland County, New York. Its suburban location offers a different daily experience from attending college in New York City, even though the wider New York metropolitan area is within reach.

Transportation is a practical consideration. Students who expect to commute, take internships off campus, or travel into the city should compare their likely routes and schedules rather than assume that regional proximity means a short trip. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, subject to the college's current parking rules. Newark Liberty International Airport is a regional air-travel option, but students should check travel times for their particular route.

What is the mission and vision of St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College describes its educational mission in terms of liberal learning, professional preparation, and personal development. Its founding by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill is part of the college's institutional identity and informs its stated emphasis on learning, ethical reflection, and service.

Those are the college's aims, not measurable outcomes for every student. Applicants interested in the role of religious tradition in campus life can assess it through the curriculum, student activities, and the college's published mission statement rather than assuming that its historical affiliation determines every classroom or campus experience.