AQUINAS COLLEGE
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
The College
Located on the eastern edge of the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas enjoys all of the advantages of Michigan's second-largest city and is just a 3-hour drive from Detroit or Chicago. The Aquinas College campus is an interesting blend of early-nineteenth-century architecture coupled with modern-day structures. The campus abounds with natural beauty; it has been called the most beautiful small campus in Michigan. Its ninety species of trees, winding woodland paths, and inviting creeks and ponds create a peaceful 107-acre environment that students of all ages find welcoming. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids in 1886, Aquinas has a Catholic heritage and a Christian tradition. The Dominican tradition of working and serving remains alive at Aquinas. It is lived out by Aquinas students who volunteer their time and talents in the Grand Rapids community and by those who travel to places such as Oaxaca, Mexico; Appalachia, Kentucky; or any of a dozen other service learning project sites. An ability to see the world from different perspectives is the hallmark of an Aquinas-educated student. Aquinas, a coeducational liberal arts college, offers an approach to learning and living that teaches students unlimited ways of seeing the world. That is why every Aquinas student enrolls in the humanities program, a two-semester exploration of the best that has been thought, written, composed, and painted. And as students find their way in the world of thought, the core curriculum in natural science ensures that they discover the workings of the physical world as well. An Aquinas education makes graduates more employable. Each year, almost 200 Aquinas students find businesses, government agencies, and other organizations eager to offer field experience and internship opportunities. Students can write press releases, keep sports statistics, and travel around the country with such organizations as major league soccer; work on historic preservation projects with the Michigan Bureau of History in Lansing; or learn about politics from the inside as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. Nine out of 10 applicants recommended by the Aquinas premedical advisory committee are admitted to medical school, and 19 of 20 are accepted into other graduate programs. In all, more than 90 percent of Aquinas seniors find jobs or enroll in graduate school soon after graduation. Aquinas sees a liberal arts education as career preparation. The Aquinas general education plan exposes students to the necessary skills that enable them to become critical thinkers, articulate speakers, strong writers, and effective problem solvers. Aquinas faculty members insist that students carry values as well as skills into the workplace. The College's curriculum, with its more than forty majors, is designed to provide students with both breadth and depth and to foster a thirst for knowledge and truth and a spirit of intellectual dialogue and inquiry. Coupled with nationally recognized internship programs, it prepares students to both live and work in the rapidly changing world of today and tomorrow.
Arriving from places as near as Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Detroit and as far as Japan and Brazil, the 2,300 students include 1,300 full-time, 500 part-time, and 500 graduate students. The Insignis program at Aquinas encourages students of exceptional academic ability to participate in social and intellectual activities such as lectures and receptions for visiting scholars and trips to places of cultural interest. Aquinas offers more than forty student organizations, ranging from intramural teams and departmental clubs to a wide variety of musical groups, student publications, and service organizations.
In addition to its undergraduate degrees, Aquinas also offers Master in the Art of Teaching, Master in Education, Master in Science Education, and Master of Management (with concentrations in marketing, organizational development, health-care management, and international business) degrees.
Location
Aquinas' location in Grand Rapids allows students to reap the benefits of west Michigan's economic, educational, and cultural center. The city is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Great Lakes region. Grand Rapids combines big-city excitement and small-town charm. There are cosmopolitan amenities ranging from four-star hotels and restaurants to top-notch cultural facilities and entertainment venues. In addition to established attractions such as the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the Van Andel Public Museum, an expanded zoo, the 5,500-seat Fifth Third Park stadium for Whitecaps minor-league baseball, and the 70-acre Fredrik Meijer Gardens, recent attractions include the more than 12,000-seat Van Andel Arena, home to the Grand Rapids Griffins IHL hockey team and a venue for nationally known music concerts and performances. These major facilities add to the list of popular points of interest, festivals, and special events. With nearly half a million residents, there are abundant recreation, arts, and cultural opportunities available.
Majors and Degrees
Aquinas College offers the following undergraduate degree programs: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts in general education, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in sustainable business, and Bachelor of Science in international business. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is offered in collaboration with the University of Detroit Mercy and St. Mary's Health Care. Majors and programs of study are offered in accounting, accounting/business administration, art, art/business administration, art history, biology, business administration, business administration/communication, business administration/sports management, chemistry, communication, community leadership, computer information systems, conductive education, drawing, economics, education, English, environmental science, environmental studies, French, geography, German, health, history, international studies, Japanese, journalism/publications, Latin, learning disabilities, mathematics, medical technology, music, not-for-profit management, organizational communication, painting, philosophy, photography, physical education and recreation, physics, political science, pre-engineering, printmaking, psychology, sculpture, social science, sociology, Spanish, studio art, sustainable business, theater, theology, urban studies, and women's studies. Preprofessional courses are available in dentistry, law, and medicine.
Associate degrees are also available, including the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science.
Academic Programs
In addition to their major and minor fields of study, students take an integrated skills course called Inquiry and Expression. This course spans the first semester freshman year and has an emphasis on writing integrated with reading critically, oral communication skills, critical thinking, library/electronic research methods, computer utilization, and basic quantitative reasoning. The thematic content is American Pluralism: The Individual in a Diverse America. Sophomores take a yearlong course in the humanities. As juniors they are required to take 3 hours in Theological Foundation. Students are also required to be proficient in a second language through the 102 level. There also is a distribution plan in the general education plan covering social science; history/philosophy; natural world; artistic and creative studies; technology; and health, physical education, and recreation. A career/professional development component begins in summer orientation and is apportioned over four years; topics include assessment of students' strengths, skills, and interests; development of goals, a learning plan, and setting a direction; focus on the individualwellness, personal finances, and leadership/team skills; awareness of careers, professions, and graduate study; information on making and maintaining a professional portfolio and resume; participating in a professional/career mentor program; career fairs and networking; and experiential learning (choices include internship, service learning, service trips, and study abroad). The College follows a two-semester calendar with a summer session. Aquinas also accepts credit through CLEP and Advanced Placement.
Off-Campus Programs
Students have the option of participating in the Dominican College Campus Interchange Program. Cooperating colleges are Barry University in Miami, Florida; Dominican College in San Rafael, California; and St. Thomas Aquinas College in Spark Hill, New York. Students can increase their foreign language skills through cultural-immersion programs in Costa Rica, France, Japan, Spain, or Germany. Two Aquinas faculty members accompany 25 students to Aquinas' study center in Tully Cross, Ireland. Students have the opportunity to earn a full semester of credit, travel abroad, and live in a rural Irish community. The curriculum is centered on several aspects of Irish studies.
Academic Facilities
The Woodhouse Library resources include a public access catalog, audiovisual materials, circulation and course reserve materials, reference services, and interlibrary loan services (free access to more than 60 million books and documents from libraries across the country). Students will find centrally located PC-based labs having more than 150 Pentium computers with additional PCs in such areas as residence halls and the Cook Carriage House. The lab technology works in a network environment to allow access to standard applications such as Windows 2000, Microsoft Office XP, and Web-based e-mail, as well as more than eighty-five discipline specific applications; printing to high quality laser printers; and access to multimedia technology. Labs are open seven days a week and are staffed by trained assistants. Albertus Magnus Hall of Science features the handicapped-accessible Baldwin Observatory and a greenhouse. Other facilities include the Cook Carriage House; a student center; and the modern Art and Music Center, featuring a dark room, a 200-seat recital hall, an art gallery, and a sculpture studio. The Jarecki Center for Advanced Learning offers network plug-ins every few feet and provides the latest in technology. Three new apartment buildings have opened, providing another housing option. The Aquinas Performing Arts Center is a $7-million facility providing a state-of-the-art theater venue.
Costs
For 200506, tuition is $17,926, and room and board are $5824, for a total of $23,750. Other expenses, including books, travel, and personal supplies, average $2000.
Financial Aid
Aquinas College awards both merit-based financial assistance and traditional need-based assistance to qualified students. The Spectrum Scholarship Program was developed to recognize students' achievements in academics, leadership, and service. More than 90 percent of entering freshmen receive some form of financial assistance. The College administers the traditional grant and loan programs, including Federal Stafford Student Loans and Federal PLUS loans. Athletic grants are also available. The College participates in the Facts Tuition Management Plan. This plan assists students in paying costs over a period of time. To apply for financial assistance, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Faculty
Aquinas faculty members are teachers first: while research plays an important part in the Aquinas faculty development, teaching remains the number one priority. In addition to teaching, faculty members serve as academic advisers, mentors, and advisers to various clubs and organizations on campus. With a student-professor ratio of 13:1, faculty members give individual attention and assistance to students. All classes and labs are taught by faculty members, not graduate assistants. Approximately 90 percent of Aquinas faculty members have doctoral or terminal degrees.
Student Government
The Student Senate is the governing body of Aquinas students. Senators are chosen by securing twenty-five signatures of students in support of their involvement. These students have both voice and vote on issues facing the College's Academic Assembly. The senate is responsible for many of the academic, social, recreational, and cultural activities brought to campus.
Admission Requirements
Freshman and transfer applications are received on a rolling basis. A candidate for admission to Aquinas is considered on the basis of academic preparation, scholarship, and character. Admission depends on a number of factors, including high school academic record and ACT or SAT I test scores. Transfer students must present a minimum 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Paper and online applications do not require an application fee. The admissions office reserves the right to review applications on a case-by-case basis. Curriculum, extracurricular activities, and any extenuating circumstances are considered in the decision. Letters of recommendation are encouraged but not required.
Application and Information
For further information, interested students should contact:
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