St.Joseph`s College started its journey with the formation of St.Joseph`s High School that began functioning in 1868 A.D. In 1884 A.D the School was elevated to the status of a college, under the affiliation of the University of Madras. According to records of the District Gazetteer, South Arcot District, St. Joseph`s College was a premier educational institute and also the only college in the district during nineteenth century. However due to several problems, including financial constraints, it was again reverted back to the status of a high school in 1909. After long drawn efforts for revitalising it as a college, it again was retroverted back as St. Joseph`s College of Arts and Science. His Excellency Bhishma Narain Singh, the then Governor of Tamil Nadu, had inaugurated it on 11 October 1991.
Bearing the Motto "Labor Omnia Vincit", meaning `Work Conquers All`, the college strives diligently to pass on value based education, with the focus of building integral personality of the student as a whole. With passage of time, St.Joseph`s College has moved ahead to fulfill its benevolent feats, taking resort to others` cooperation and support.
St.Joseph`s College offers undergraduate Courses (U.G) in subjects like- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Bio-Chemistry, Commerce, Bank Management and History. Bachelor of Computer Application (B.C.A) is also offered. It is offered to the male students who have enrolled in the day session of St.Joseph`s College. For female students of the evening session courses at undergraduate level include-- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Bio-Chemistry, Commerce, Microbiology. Another course is Bachelor of Computer Application (B.C.A). Post Graduate Courses (P.G) courses that are offered both to its male and female students include-- Master of Computer Application (M.C.A), M.Sc in Computer Science, M.Sc in Information Technology (I.T), M.Sc. in Chemistry, M.Sc. in Mathematics, M.Com.
St.Joseph`s College and its several departments like- B.B.M., Biochemistry, Chemistry, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Statistics, Tamil, Zoology, are well served by a team of efficient and qualified teachers.
St. Joseph`s College has a campus library that is put up in a separate building that encircles a total area of nearly two thousand sq. m. General stock section, a reading hall and a periodical section are present in this library. The library has a huge collection of more than six thousand volumes of books in different titles. The library also subscribes to national periodicals and journals. Every operation is done wholly through computers, providing photocopying facilities to the students and staff. Apart from these facilities like internet browsing, reprographic facility or old question papers for reference are also provided. The library remains open throughout the week, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The collection includes twenty thousand volumes of books and multiple copies. To stock national and international journals and periodicals, an individual reference section is maintained by the library.
The seminar hall is also a part of the infrastructure of St. Joseph`s College. It is air conditioned, well-equipped with echo free facility and a seating capacity of one hundred and twenty people at a time. It has various equipments like LCD projector, Document camera, Laptop computer, CD player, VCR and Tape Recorder. Interestingly, the LCD projector of the hall has an established connection with a satellite TV.
There is another hall, equipped with all essential facilities and also a seating accommodation of more than two hundred people. Events of the state level, national level and also international level including paper presentation, quiz and so on are organised here. Beyond the academic curriculum students are motivated to play various games and practice athletic events in the wide expansive playground, located inside the campus of St. Joseph college. Students take part enthusiastically in various games like cricket, hockey, basketball, volleyball, football and badminton etc.
A Gymnasium is also present. There is a grand indoor auditorium that is named Petrine Jubilee. It is a multipurpose hall used for various purposes like- academic celebrations, cultural programmes and sports. The Auditorium is fully operational with audio system and audio control panels. Programmes conducted by associations like Youth Red Cross (YRC), Rotaract Club, Red Ribbon, National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Extension Programme, All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) helps the students to imbibe a spirit of serving the society. Various facilities like counselling centre, placement cell, helps stay in the campus quite a soothing one.