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.
In the School of Liberal Arts, Saint Mary’s College 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. Details can be found on the Programs page.
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.
The academic programs of the School of Science are designed to provide preparation for a wide variety of scientific and technical careers. The School of Science offers a Professional Science Master’s in Biotechnology as well as a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science. Details can be found on the Programs page.
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, research active 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 program.
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 graduate programs offered by the School of Economics and Business Administration are listed on the Programs page.
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.
KSOE departments include Counseling, Leadership, and Teacher Education and they range from teaching and counseling licensure to degrees at the masters, educational specialist 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. 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 equity, social justice, collaborative learning, and community-based research. Details can be found on the Programs page.
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.
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