Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The Schools


 

School of Liberal Arts

The School of Liberal Arts offers an education that lasts a lifetime - one that honors cooperative as well as individual achievement. It promotes the application of learning to solve complex problems, and fosters creativity, self-awareness, and civic engagement. No matter what they study - the fine arts, the humanities, the social sciences - liberal arts students not only complete a degree in their chosen academic area, they also learn to think critically, gather and assess information, solve problems, express themselves with clarity and precision, and collaborate effectively with others.

The hallmark of the School of Liberal Arts is the preparation it gives students for lifelong learning. Technical skills may become obsolete over time, but the skills and values gained through liberal arts coursework will not. Almost every profession requires the intellectual habits of rational analysis, integrative thinking, and ethical decision-making. Today’s organizations value students with a liberal arts education because their knowledge, values, and skills prepare them for changing economic conditions.

Upon completion of the general College requirements and a major, the School of Liberal Arts at Saint Mary’s College confers the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science and the Bachelor of Arts degree in the following areas:

Anthropology  
Art & Art History 
Classical Languages 
Communication  
English  
Ethnic Studies 
Global and Regional Studies 
History  
Integral 
Justice, Community, and Leadership  
Kinesiology  
Performing Arts: Dance, Music, and Theatre  
Philosophy  
Politics  
Sociology  
Theology & Religious Studies  
Women’s and Gender Studies  
World Languages and Cultures  
 

Minors are available in all of the major disciplines as well as in archaeology, cinematic arts, community media, digital studies, East Asian studies, German studies, Italian studies, law and society and public history. Academic programs abroad are offered in both semester-long and summer programs.

In the School of Liberal Arts, Saint Mary’s College also offers LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals), a Bachelor of Arts degree-completion program for current and former professional dancers (with both hybrid and remote options); a Master of Arts degree in Communication; a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology: a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing; and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance.

School of Science

The School of Science has as its primary objective the development of a scientific and mathematical inquiring mind in the context of humanistic values. Students are introduced to fundamental scientific theories and their supporting data, and are encouraged to develop their powers of observation, synthesis, and analysis, as well as their quantitative skills. Familiarity with the scientific methods of knowing and investigative inquiry is enhanced through laboratory experiences and research opportunities.

Incoming first-years have the opportunity to join a residential community of science students. For details, see Living and Learning Communities .

The departments and programs of the School of Science are:


Biochemistry  
Biology  
Chemistry  
Environmental and Earth Science  

Health Science ​  
Mathematics and Computer Science  
Physics and Astronomy  
Psychology  
3+2 Engineering Program  
 

The academic programs of the School of Science are designed to provide preparation for a wide variety of scientific and professional careers. Graduates obtain advanced degrees (MS, PhD) in many mathematical and scientific disciplines, going on to serve in higher education and research. Graduates enter professional schools in health care areas such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, and pharmacy. They may pursue careers in all of the major fields of engineering through the 3+2 Engineering Program. Many graduates of the School of Science find satisfying careers in secondary schools, in business and industry, and in government service.

Saint Mary’s College confers the Bachelor of Science degree on completion of the general College requirements and a major concentration in one of the following areas: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, Earth science, mathematics, physics and psychology. In addition, the Bachelor of Science degree is awarded upon completion of the interdisciplinary major in health science. Students who wish to major in engineering may begin their studies at Saint Mary’s through the 3+2 Engineering Program, transferring after their junior year to an affiliated engineering program elsewhere. On completion of the engineering major, they receive a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s in addition to a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the affiliated university. See 3+2 Engineering Program . Saint Mary’s also confers the Bachelor of Arts degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, health sciences, mathematics and physics.

In the School of Science, Saint Mary’s also offers a Professional Science Master’s degree progran in Biotechnology. 

School of Economics and Business Administration

The School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA) provides student-centered business and management education taught by high quality faculty. Grounded in Lasallian principles and guided by the Liberal Arts tradition, we create collaborative, innovative and experiential learning and service opportunities for our students to maximize their potential as successful professionals creating a difference in their communities. SEBA is committed to the values that are central to Saint Mary’s College: academic excellence, personal integrity, ethical behavior, and respect for human dignity. 

As teachers, scholars, and mentors, we offer students a rigorous, innovative, and diverse learning experience by leveraging our practice-relevant, pedagogical, and discipline-based research. The concepts drawn from the various disciplines prepare students to be successful in the highly competitive, technologically complex, politically volatile, and culturally diverse global economy of the 21st century. Consideration of the ethical implications and social responsibilities of economic activity and business enterprise is an integral part of each major.

SEBA’s curricula consist of coherent groups of courses that balance analytical skills with critical thinking, theory with practice, and technical skills with people skills. The curricula not only provides the mathematical and information-technology skills needed for advanced coursework and careers but it also prepares graduates to manage and lead diverse organizations that are part of business, cultural, and natural ecosystems. 

The business school offers distinguished undergraduate programs in Accounting Business Administration , Data Science , and Economics . The business school confers the following degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Accounting , the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration , the Bachelor of Science in Data Science , and the choice of a Bachelor of Arts  or Bachelor of Science in Economics . Our Business Administration majors have an opportunity to choose a concentration in any of the following areas: Marketing , Finance , Global Business , Entrepreneurship , and Business Analytics . In addition, Business Administration majors can choose an interdisciplinary concentration in Digital Media  or  Intercultural-Interfaith Leadership . Economics students may choose concentrations in Sustainability or International and Development.

SEBA career services offers a wide variety of workshops, ranging from interviewing techniques, time management, resume writing, and cross-cultural to technology, social media, and other seminars that prepare our students as they pursue different career paths. In addition, a number of student clubs and organizations are available for SEBA students where they can develop professional and leadership skills.

The business administration and accounting programs are accreditted by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This higher tier of accreditation is recognized by businesses worldwide as the preeminent marker of quality amongst business schools. 

SEBA also offers graduate degree programs, which include the Professional MBA, Executive MBA, Global EMBA, Online MBA, MS in Finance, MS in Accounting, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Management and Technology, and an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration.

Kalmanovitz School of Education

The Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE) and its programs enjoy a stellar reputation for educational excellence and innovation due to its unique student-centered learning environment. Through the practice of shared inquiry, active collaborative learning, and community engagement, students are empowered to lead change according to the principles of social justice and the common good.

Saint Mary’s College’s commitment to training teachers began in 1967, when coursework and field experiences leading to a secondary teaching credential were established. In 1971, the elementary education program began, and master’s degree programs formed soon after. Counseling Leadership began in 1978, and the Department of Education became the School of Education in 1985. In 2000, an Education Doctorate (EdD) in Educational Administration, now Educational Leadership, became the first doctoral program at Saint Mary’s College; and in 2014, the Graduate Leadership Department, which includes bachelor’s and master’s degrees in leadership, became part of the KSOE. As of fall 2019, in collaboration with the School of Liberal Arts and School of Science, offers three undergraduate teacher education credential pathways: Education Specialist Multiple Subject , and Single Subject (4+1) .

KSOE departments include Counseling, Leadership, and Teacher Education and they range from teaching and counseling licensure to degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels

The KSOE prepares students annually for certificates, credentials, and degrees. A bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies is offered for working adults. Master’s degrees are offered in education, teaching leadership, general counseling, marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling, school counseling, school psychology, career counseling, college student services, leadership, and educational leadership. The Teachers for Tomorrow program, in collaboration with the School of Liberal Arts’ (SOLA) Justice Community and Leadership (JCL) program, features undergraduate teacher education pathways. Credential and certificate programs are offered in eight areas recognized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: administrative services, teaching leadership, multiple subjects (K-8), single subject (secondary), Spanish bilingual teaching, school counseling, school psychology, and special education. The Educational Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership features an emphasis on social justice, collaborative learning, and community-based research.

Three academic centers are housed in the KSOE: The Center for Environmental Literacy (CEL), The Leadership Center, and the Comprehensive Literacy Center. The Center for Environmental Literacy explores and promotes educational programming and professional development opportunities for educators to integrate science and the arts into academia curricula designed for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as for Saint Mary’s College research and coursework. CEL promotes environmental education in schools and communities worldwide. River of Words, CEL’s signature program, provides tools for teaching environmental literacy to children, teens, and teachers through art and poetry. The mission of the Leadership Center is to enhance leadership capacity to meet the unique challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. The programs integrate contemporary academic theories of leadership and organizational change with proven, practical, action-based approaches to serving communities, organizations, and society. The Comprehensive Literacy Center within the Kalmanovitz School of Education is proud to serve as the West Coast training center for the professional development of teacher leaders in the United States who implement the Reading Recovery® practice in their classrooms. Reading Recovery is an early intervention program for first graders who are at risk for learning to read and write.