Aquinas College

Origins and establishment of Aquinas Junior College

The roots of Aquinas College date to 1928, when the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia established St. Cecilia Normal School to provide professional training for sisters preparing for the teaching apostolate. In 1929, the normal school became affiliated with The Catholic University of America, making it one of the first Catholic teacher-training institutions in the region to establish such a relationship. As the number of sisters engaged in teaching ministries grew throughout the twentieth century, the need for a degree-granting institution dedicated to teacher preparation became increasingly evident.

In 1961, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia founded Aquinas Junior College on the present campus along Harding Pike in Nashville. The college replaced the normal school and expanded its mission by admitting members of the public in addition to religious sisters. The inaugural class included nursing students from St. Thomas School of Nursing, members of the Dominican congregation, and lay students. The institution became coeducational in 1962.

During its early decades, the college developed a variety of academic and professional programs designed to address educational and workforce needs in Middle Tennessee. Programs included liberal arts studies, teacher education, nursing, allied health professions, business, and criminal justice. Aquinas also sponsored lecture series and continuing education opportunities that connected the college with the broader Nashville community.

Accreditation and expansion

In 1971, Aquinas Junior College received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate degrees. The college continued to expand its academic offerings while strengthening its reputation for teacher preparation and Catholic education.

In 1994, approval was granted to offer bachelor's degrees in education. The institution became a four-year college and adopted the name Aquinas College. During the following years, additional bachelor's degree programs were introduced in areas such as liberal arts, business, and nursing.

Approval to offer master's degrees in education was granted in 2012, further expanding the college's role in preparing teachers, school leaders, and educational professionals. Over time, the college increasingly concentrated its resources on teacher formation and Catholic educational leadership, reflecting the growing needs of Catholic schools throughout the United States.

Twenty-first century

In the twenty-first century, Aquinas has broadened its service to the Catholic Church through catechist formation programs, a certificate program for first-year seminarians, professional development opportunities for educators, conferences, summer institutes, and outreach initiatives. These programs support religious sisters, seminarians, Catholic school teachers, catechists, and lay leaders from across the country.