St. Mary's College of Maryland

What is the history of St. Mary's College of Maryland?

St. Mary's College of Maryland traces its origins to St. Mary's Female Seminary, established in 1840 as a memorial to Maryland's first colonial settlement. The institution later became coeducational, developed into a four-year college, and was designated Maryland's public honors college in 1992.

That history helps explain the college's present identity: it is a public institution with a liberal arts curriculum, rather than a private religious college. Its location beside Historic St. Mary's City connects campus life with the site of Maryland's first capital, founded in 1634.

What are the faculties and departments at St. Mary's College of Maryland?

St. Mary's College of Maryland organizes its undergraduate teaching across the arts and humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, and social sciences. It offers bachelor's degrees in fields ranging from English, history, and music to biology, computer science, psychology, economics, and public policy.

The college also offers interdisciplinary study, including environmental and marine-related subjects, and a graduate pathway in teaching. Students should use the current academic catalog to check which programs are majors, minors, or graduate credentials: a subject appearing in a course list is not necessarily available as a standalone degree.

A defining academic feature is the St. Mary's Project, a substantial independent project completed by students in many majors. Prospective students who want undergraduate research or creative work should compare individual departments' project requirements and faculty advising arrangements.

What is the location of St. Mary's College of Maryland?

St. Mary's College of Maryland is in St. Mary's City, a small community in southern Maryland beside the St. Mary's River. The campus has a rural waterfront setting next to Historic St. Mary's City, not an urban college setting.

Students can expect fewer walkable commercial options than they would find at a city campus. Off-campus errands, internships, and travel may require a car or advance transportation planning; first-year students are permitted to register a car on campus. The college's proximity to the Chesapeake Bay also shapes opportunities in environmental study, boating, and outdoor recreation.

What is the mission and vision of St. Mary's College of Maryland?

St. Mary's College of Maryland describes its mission in terms of providing a public liberal arts education with an honors-college approach. Its stated priorities include intellectual inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, civic responsibility, and preparation for life beyond college.

The college is public and not religiously affiliated. Its mission is best understood as a statement of educational aims, not evidence that every student has the same academic or career outcome. Applicants can evaluate how those aims appear in a particular major through its curriculum, advising, research options, and opportunities for applied learning.