A Brief History of Aquinas College
Rooted in Catholic heritage, Aquinas College has a history founded on Dominican Tradition.
Owned and administered by the Dominican Sisters of the of St. Cecilia Congregation, the
history of the College actually began its remote preparation with the establishment of the
Saint Cecilia Congregation in 1860 at the request of Nashville's second bishop, James Whelan, O.P.
The College first began at the Motherhouse of the Sisters in 1928 as Saint Cecilia Normal
School for the education of the Sisters to prepare them for their teaching apostolate.
The school was affiliated with the Catholic University of America in 1929.
In 1961, the Saint Cecilia Normal School was replaced with Aquinas Junior College. Two significant
milestones in the institution's history occurred at this point: the College was moved from Saint
Cecilia Motherhouse to its present location on a beautiful 83 acre campus, and it was opened to
the public. The first students registered were from nearby Saint Thomas Hospital School of Nursing.
In 1971, the College was granted accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to
award the Associate Degree. In 1994 Aquinas Junior College changed its status to a four-year
college when approval was given to offer a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts (Teacher
Education). Along with educating the young sisters of the Congregation, the College has
provided area schools with lay teachers who have been prepared with a strong foundation
professionally and spiritually.
Since its founding in 1961, the College has been alert to both the permanent and the changing needs of the Nashville community. Sensitivity to those needs and to the needs of the Church led to the establishment of the degrees that Aquinas offers. Today, Aquinas College has grown to a four-year institution excelling in the education of liberal arts students, future teachers, nurses and individuals in the field of business.
Aquinas College recognizes that its identity and mission spring Ex Corde Ecclesiae
(From the Heart of the Church). The strategic plan of the College has recently articulated
our Vision for the future: "In 2015, Aquinas College is nationally recognized as a model
of Catholic liberal arts higher education."
Did you know?
In 1784 the land that is now The Dominican Campus was granted to Isaac Johnston by North Carolina for services rendered during the American Revolution. At that time Tennessee was part of the "Tar Heel" state, not gaining independent statehood until 1796.
Related Links
Community traditions in the St. Cecilia Congregation »