Liberal Arts Curriculum

As a public college of the liberal arts, St. Mary’s College of Maryland aims to educate its students in a variety of literacies (e.g., means toward being competent in a society).  These dimensions account for breadth (via our LEAD Curriculum) and depth (via students’ majors) of disciplinary literacy, as well as other areas relevant both to students’ academic work and to life in the twenty-first century: interpretive and expressive literacy, community literacy, cultural literacy, information literacy, and professional literacy.

Undergraduate Institutional Learning Outcomes

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has identified institutional learning outcomes informed by its institutional mission and core values. These outcomes are the foundational structure that defines and organizes the learning opportunities for all undergraduate students at the college. The institutional learning outcomes articulate what all graduates are expected to be able to do in each literacy upon earning a baccalaureate degree from the College.

Disciplinary Literacy

• Graduates of SMCM will demonstrate understanding of varying perspectives in a breadth of disciplines in the liberal arts.
• Graduates of SMCM will demonstrate sophisticated expertise in at least one discipline in the liberal arts.

Interpretive & Expressive Literacies

• Graduates of SMCM will demonstrate proficiency in a variety of interpretive & expressive literacies.
  • They will communicate effectively in writing and in speech.
  • They will engage effectively in critical thinking and/or deploy effective and/or creative problem-solving skills.

Information Literacy

• Graduates of SMCM will effectively integrate the processes that support the locating, valuing, and ethical application of information.

Cultural Literacy

• Graduates of SMCM will effectively examine the changing nature of social and cultural experiences, and the way we shape and are shaped by culture.

Community Literacy

• Graduates of SMCM will effectively engage as citizens in local, regional, global, learning, or professional communities.

Professional Literacy

• Graduates of SMCM will develop skills and knowledge to facilitate an informed and professional transition into multiple contexts beyond the college classroom.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

The College awards the bachelor of arts/bachelor of science degree upon successful completion of all requirements, including the LEAD Curriculum program and one or more of the designated majors. The LEAD Curriculum program offers the student a broad understanding of several fields of knowledge. The major provides the opportunity to pursue one field in depth. Students who complete the requirements for more than one major, as determined by the appropriate academic departments, will have that fact recorded on their permanent records.

A liberal arts education equips the student for employment in a wide variety of spheres. For example, many St. Mary’s graduates enjoy successful careers in business, the government, the arts, education and the sciences. Many students plan for graduate study in academic fields or for training in such professions as law and medicine.

Bachelor of Arts

• •  Anthropology, BA
• •  Art, BA
• •  Asian Studies, BA
• •  Business Administration and Management, BA
• •  Economics, BA
• •  English, BA
• •  Environmental Studies, BA
• •  History, BA
• •  Performing Arts, Integrated Performing Arts Concentration, BA
• •  Performing Arts, Music Concentration, BA
• •  Performing Arts, Theater, Dance, & Performance Studies Concentration, BA
• •  Philosophy, BA
• •  Political Science, BA
• •  Public Policy, BA
• •  Spanish, BA
• •  Student Designed
• •  Student-Designed Chinese, French, or Latinx and Latin American Studies, BA

Bachelor of Science

• •  Biochemistry, BS
• •  Biology, BS
• •  Chemistry, BS
• •  Computer Science, BS
• •  Dual Degree Program
• •  Marine Science, BS
• •  Mathematics, BS
• •  Neuroscience, BS
• •  Physics, BS
• •  Psychology, BS
• •  Sociology, BS

Master of Arts in Teaching

• •  Teaching, MAT

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Teacher certification is available through the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in the following areas:

• Early childhood with elementary certification
• Elementary grades 1-6
• Secondary certification in English, history/social studies, math, biology, chemistry, physics, and theater
• K-12 certification in art, music, or modern foreign language
• Special Education

The MAT program is a year-long, full-time, and intensive program leading to both eligibility for certification and the master’s degree.  Please see the MAT section for complete information.

Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

General College Requirements

1. Completion of at least 128 credit hours (credits), including at least 44 credit hours of upper-level (300- and 400-level) courses, with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00, both on an overall basis and in those courses that meet major requirements.
2. At least 30 of the last 36 credit hours of academic work toward the degree at St. Mary’s College must be completed by credits earned from St. Mary’s College courses. With the permission of the Academic Policy Committee, this provision may be waived for students engaged in departmentally approved off-campus learning experiences.
3. The LEAD Curriculum requirements
4. The requirements for a major field of study
5. Good standing with respect to the Code of Student Conduct.

Degree Candidacy

To be a candidate for a degree, a student must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at some time during the 12 months preceding graduation.

Participation in the Commencement Ceremony

Only students who have successfully completed all General College Requirements as noted above and have been verified as complete by the department of their major and the registrar are allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. In some instances, students may have all requirements completed for one major but maybe missing requirements for an additional major at commencement.  Students will be allowed to participate at commencement with the completed major noted in the commencement program and diploma.  The student will be eligible to finish the additional major as long as the student has no more than eight credit hours of required course work remaining to satisfy the second major requirements, and can complete the required coursework in one calendar year. All minor requirements must be completed before graduation.

Degree Conferral Dates

Degrees are conferred at the end of August, mid-January, the end of the fall semester, and the end of the spring semester.  However, there is only one commencement ceremony that takes place in May.