St. Thomas Aquinas College

The College strives to develop students who are not only generally educated but also possess advanced knowledge in specialized areas, are prepared for further study, and have the background to undertake fulfilling careers. To earn a bachelor's degree, students must complete a total of 120 semester hours, including a minimum of 51 credits in a core curriculum; complete all requirements for the specific major; and complete the final 30 hours at St. Thomas. The College awards up to 30 credits for life experience and up to 30 credits for achievement on the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). The College operates on a semester calendar (quarterly on the M.B.A. level). Students may enroll in classes in the fall, winter (a one-month session), spring, and summer (three separate sessions). Classes are scheduled during the day and evening, and students are permitted considerable academic flexibility in planning their programs.

Students can pursue independent study and internships, and many majors require a field practicum. The College maintains an active Center for Academic Excellence as a resource for enhancing academic performance, and students are encouraged to meet regularly with faculty advisers for academic guidance and career direction.

Several programs supplement the traditional academic areas. The College has a widely recognized program for college-age learning-disabled students, called the Pathways Program (at an additional cost). The College also participates in the New York State Higher Education Opportunity Program and provides an Honors Program for exceptionally qualified students with a limited number of full-tuition-scholarships.

The Honors program is designed to provide a highly challenging academic program for students of superior academic ability, based on their high school grades, course content, and standardized test scores. Qualified students will enroll in a series of honors courses, beginning with special sections of Freshmen English and followed by courses on particular topics, including those of an interdisciplinary nature. Acceptance into the Honors Program will qualify the student for a full tuition scholarship, as well as a study abroad at Oxford University. All completed applications are reviewed for eligibility. No separate application is required.

The Higher Education Opportunity Program is for New York State residents only. This program provides financial support from New York State and the College for students who meet specific criteria as outlined by the New York State Education department. Visit our link to the College's HEOP program to obtain details on eligibility. If you believe you are eligible, then you should check the box titled HEOP on the College application.

Pathways is a comprehensive, structured support program serving selected St. Thomas Aquinas College students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders. A summer program is required. Interested students must apply to both the College and Pathways program.

Study abroad opportunities are available through affiliations with other institutions.

St. Thomas Aquinas College's School of Business offers accounting (and accounting as a dual degree with an M.B.A. degree), business administration, finance, hospitality management, marketing and sport management. Minors are offered in business administration, marketing, economics, human resource management, international business, and management information systems. Specializations are in management relations/industrial and organizational psychology.

The School of Arts & Sciences offers degrees in the humanities, mathematics, natural and social sciences. Programs are available in art therapy, art and graphic design, communication arts, English, creative writing, philosophy and religious studies, Romance languages, Spanish, mathematics, computer science, biology, exercise science, forensic science, medical technology, natural sciences, criminal justice, psychology, therapeutic recreation, social science, and history. There are specializations in biology, chemistry, and physics. Minors include art therapy, biology, chemistry, communication arts, computer information science, criminal justice, English, fine arts, graphic design, history, journalism, mathematics, performing arts, physics, public relations, religious studies, Spanish, social media, sociology, therapeutic recreation, and writing. A full listing of all programs can be found online at stac.edu.

The School of Education offers programs in birth to grade 6 early childhood, and childhood education, the same plus special education, and grades 7-12 adolescence education, the latter offering certification in biology, English, history, mathematics, science and technology, natural science with either biology or chemistry, social sciences, and Spanish. An art education program with certifications in grades K-12 is offered as well as a middle school extension that adds to either the elementary or secondary degree, enabling the student to certify for all middle school grades. An Educational Studies program is also offered.

The College offers a five-year dual-degree program in mathematics/engineering with the George Washington University (GWU) or Manhattan College. Students study at St. Thomas for three years. After completion of their final two years at either GWU or Manhattan, they earn a B.S. in mathematics from STAC and a B.S. in engineering from one of the other two institutions. The College also offers several dual-degree options in biology: a dual degree in biology (B.S. from STAC) and biomedical engineering (M.S. from Polytechnic University), a dual degree in biology (B.S. from STAC) and physical therapy (D.P.T. from New York Medical College), a dual degree in biology (B.S. from STAC) and chiropractic (D.C. from New York Chiropractic College), and a dual degree in biology (B.S. from STAC) and podiatry (D.P.M. from New York College of Podiatric Medicine). There are several other strategic alliances, such as preferred admission to St. John's University School of Law in New York and a similar program with Barry University School of Law in Florida that includes scholarship funds. St. Thomas seeks out additional strategic opportunities for its undergraduate and graduate students on a regular basis; students should contact the College for information about new alliances.