Saint Marys College of California

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary’s College of California is one of the oldest colleges in the West. Saint Mary’s has been directed since 1868 by the Christian Brothers, the largest Catholic order dedicated exclusively to teaching. The founder of the order, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, is the patron saint of teachers. Saint Mary’s is shaped by three traditions: Catholic, Lasallian, and liberal arts. Our Catholic tradition encourages an appreciation of all faiths, a respect for the dignity of human life, a willingness to explore the mystery of existence, and an understanding of the whole person, mind and body, soul and spirit. Our Lasallian tradition encourages a commitment to social justice and to trans-formative teaching – a shared investigation of faith, reason, and the diversity of human experience. Our liberal arts tradition means that we are dedicated to profound reflection and worldly experience, critical thinking and global awareness, integrated scholarship and lifelong learning. Our academic program includes advanced study in 30 major fields – in the arts and humanities, the sciences and social sciences, education and business. Our labs and classes are small-averaging around 20 students and are student-centered, enabling intense discussion, lively debates, and a strong sense that ideas matter. Our rigorous core curriculum includes the Collegiate Seminar, a series of discussion-based classes examining the world’s great ideas. The January term program allows students to pursue a single specialized topic in depth. We are committed to experiential learning; students take advantage of an extensive study abroad program and internships, research, and service opportunities. Many of our nearly 200 full-time professors are internationally renowned for their research and scholarship; all are skilled teachers and dedicated mentors. \r\n\r\nSaint Mary’s is home to nearly 2,500 undergraduates from across the country and around the world. Our student body is unusually diverse; more than 40% of our undergraduates identify themselves as African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino American, or Native American. Our students are unusually active: they manage dozens of clubs and organizations, play on our 14 Division I teams, and coordinate our extensive recreation program. Our Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action is a nationally recognized center for social service; every year, nearly half of our students join a service project. Resident students live in thirteen residence halls and eight townhouse complexes; residential life is guided by trained student advisors, professional staff, and more than two dozen Christian Brothers.\r\n