The mission of St. Joseph’s College is to provide a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels; rooted in a liberal arts tradition that supports provision for career preparation and enhancement.

Illuminating Great Minds through Tradition, Innovation & Excellence

Since 1916, St. Joseph’s College (SJC) has been independent and co-educational while providing a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College aims to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. SJC is a liberal arts college in New York State, with campuses located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn, and in Patchogue, Long Island, along with an extensive presence in online education. The College offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 50 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs, and an enormous array of online options too.

SJC Brooklyn is at the center of one of the nation’s most diverse academic and cultural cities with quick access to such world-renowned institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. On campus, the Dillon Child Study Center, a teaching facility for child study majors and a pre-school for members of the community, was one of the first of its kind on the East Coast. SJC Brooklyn recently added a 40,000-square-foot Hill Center that features a 270-seat, NCAA-regulation basketball and volleyball court, conference rooms, a dance studio, an outdoor terrace, a fully equipped sports medicine suite and a 90-car underground parking garage.

SJC Long Island is a 32-acre lakeside campus featuring the John A. Danzi Athletic Center with an elevated track, six-lane pool, weight room, fitness center and NCAA regulated basketball court; the Business Technology Center; Callahan Library and a 24.8-acre outdoor field complex that is the home to several of SJC’s NCAA Division III teams.

Student Life at SJC

The office that administrates Student Life supports the mission of the College through sponsorship of programs and activities that prepare each student for a life of integrity, intellectual values, social responsibility, and service. They support the students to find ways to get involved on campus and in the community. In a quest to enhance the learning experience of a student through co-curricular activities, leadership, and social events, every individual is encouraged to join clubs and organizations, participate in sports, and work on special projects such as Alternative Spring Break.

The College hosts numerous educational and cultural events on its campuses throughout the year and often invites the surrounding communities to attend or participate. Some of the larger scale events are Presidential Lecture and the Khatib Lecture in Comparative Religion.

A Noted Historian of Opera, Music Aesthetics and Harmonic Theory 

Dr. Donald R. Boomgaarden is the eighth president of St. Joseph’s College of New York.  Previously, Dr. Boomgaarden served as the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Before arriving at Scranton, he was the dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts and David P. Swanzy Distinguished Professor of Music at Loyola University New Orleans, the only college devoted solely to performing arts in the entire 28-University Jesuit system.

Dr. Boomgaarden has authored books on interrelationships between philosophy and music, musical thought in eighteenth-century Britain and Germany, and articles and reviews in numerous scholarly journals.

Considering the plethora of benefits stemming from being a lifelong learner, it’s no wonder that upholding SJC’s reputation for creating lifelong learners is at the core of Dr. Boomgaarden’s mission. “St. Joseph’s students are not just getting a certificate or a diploma, they’re being prepared to go out and transform the world and make it a better place,” said SJC President Dr. Boomgaarden. “They’re learning to think critically. They’re learning to think creatively. And they’re learning to speak eloquently and to write beautifully.” With that in mind, Dr. Boomgaarden’s goal is to continue focusing on accomplishing those set in the strategic plan, which was established in 2015. This includes raising the visibility of the college, increasing enrollment and boosting fundraising efforts, among other institutional efforts.

Enlightening the Student’s Way to Success

SJC’s Office of Career Development and Engagement hosts various events – resume writing and job search workshops, lunch-and-learn series, job and internship fairs, interview preparation workshops, GRE overview classes, service opportunities and international job fairs – to help students and alumni learn about their skills and interests.

Dr. Boomgaarden foresees a reputation for SJC based on its nurturing and evolving approaches to teaching and learning, its commitment to excellence in academic and co-curricular programs, its inclusive community focused on both individual development and service to society, its outstanding faculty and staff, its attention to the emerging needs of local and global communities, and its reputation for distinction in ethical and value-centered higher education.

SJC prides itself on providing students with a well-rounded, balanced education and the achievements of its more than 35,000 alumni. SJC graduates work in a variety of industries, including health care and human services, education, STEM, hospitality, medicine, law, business, accounting, arts and entertainment. They continue to support SJC’s mission and continuously give part of their time through volunteerism, mentorships and philanthropic giving.

Financial Assistance for Students

More than 77 percent of SJC students receive financial aid successfully. The College offers dozens of undergraduate and graduate top-tier scholarships, scholastic achievement awards, academic achievement scholarships, grants and additional scholarships to help students with the cost of a higher education. In addition, SJC participates in the Federal Work Study program that provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.