College History

About Nazareth College | Academic Vision Statement | College History | College Mission & Vision Statement

Since its founding in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth College has awarded more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees.

A co-educational, independent liberal arts college offering nearly 40 major undergraduate programs of study and 16 master's degrees, Nazareth has consistently ranked among the top colleges and universities in the region and the nation for value and quality.

Nazareth College's five founders, each talented teachers, scholars, and members of the Sisters of St. Joseph, envisioned a college for women committed to educating students for life and for careers and fostering a dedication to community service. The college's first class of 25 young women began their studies in September, 1924, in a mansion known as the "Glass House" on Lake Avenue in Rochester. During these early years, Nazareth College offered liberal arts-based B.A. and B.S. degrees.

The Glass House

Four years after Nazareth College opened, enrollment had swelled to 107 and a more spacious facility at 402 Augustine Street, known as the "Old College," became Nazareth's home for 14 years. Nazareth moved to its present-day campus adjoining the Sisters' Motherhouse on East Avenue in Pittsford in January, 1942.

By the early 1940s, Nazareth College had expanded its academic programs to prepare students for careers in scientific research, teaching, and social service. During World War II, Nazareth's course offerings reflected the patriotism and dedication to the war effort characteristic of the times. A four-year degree program in Nursing initiated in 1942 and offered until 1964 was the precursor to a post-R.N. program established in 1977. Religious course offerings also changed with the times. A department of Sacred Theology founded in the 1940s concentrated on Catholic study; in the 1960s it became the department of Religious Studies, with a new focus extended to other religions.

Graduate study at Nazareth debuted in the 1950s with programs in Education, Music Education, English, and History. Although this cluster of graduate studies was suspended a decade later, a revitalized graduate division offering Master of Science in Education courses in Elementary Education premiered in 1971. Eventually, Special Education, Reading Education, Early Childhood Education, and similar programs were created in response to the growing demand for teachers with these specialties. In 1994, Nazareth College added a Master of Science degree program to its graduate curriculum; today the college offers five programs leading to a Master of Science degree, 11 that lead to a Master of Science in Education and a program for Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.

During the 1970s, Nazareth College became co-educational and independent of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Although individual members of the order are still employed by Nazareth, there is no official affiliation between the college and the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the two organizations pursue their own fund-raising initiatives. The 1970s also saw the birth of Nazareth's Academic Year Abroad program, which currently gives students the opportunity to live and study in Italy, France, or Spain.

The following decade Nazareth expanded its human services offerings and became widely known for its constellation of therapy programs that includes Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology/Communication Science and Disorders, and a five-year degree program in Health Sciences/Physical Therapy.

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Over the years, Nazareth College made significant additions to the facilities on the East Avenue campus to keep pace with increasing enrollment. The Lorette Wilmot Library is considered one of the most technologically advanced facilities of its kind in the region. The Nazareth College Arts Center built during the 1960s was later expanded to include four auditoriums and two art galleries. A multi-purpose community center was completed in 1976. Today Nazareth College has more than 20 buildings, including three foreign language houses (Casa Italiana, Casa Hispana, and La Maison Francaise) and a German Cultural Center, a newly expanded fitness center, and an oversized gymnasium.

Nazareth College's long-standing commitment to community service dates back to its earliest days. Today, more than 90 percent of Nazareth students volunteer their time in a variety of community settings, including schools, day care centers, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and food banks.

While intercollegiate sports did not debut at Nazareth until 1974, today the college boasts thirteen teams that compete at the Division III level, including men's and women's basketball, golf, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and field hockey.

Of the over 20,000 Nazareth College alumni who reside in every state and 24 foreign countries, almost 70 percent are employed in service professions including education, health care, social work, and counseling. Current enrollment stands at more than 1,500 undergraduates; 2,900 including part-time and graduate students.

In the spring of 2000 Nazareth College announced plans to purchase 73 acres of land and five buildings from the Sisters of St. Joseph. The acquisition, which is adjacent to the current campus, has doubled total campus acreage and allow for major expansion to accommodate a planned increase in enrollment. New additions to the campus include new residence halls, track and field facilities, a new stadium and the Golisano Academic Center.