Michael Brooks
St. Mary's College of Maryland is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America. The college is independent of the University System of Maryland, having opted out in 1992. It is one of only two public honours colleges in the United States, offering 21 majors, 29 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. The college is not explicitly Catholic, but it does commemorate Maryland's first colony, which was founded under a mandate of religious tolerance by the colonial proprietor, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. This mandate allowed settlers of different faiths, including Protestants and Catholics, to live together during a time of religious persecution in England.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Mary's City, Maryland |
| History | Located on the original site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which was also the first capital of Maryland |
| Founding | Founded under a mandate by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, for religious tolerance between settlers of Protestant and Catholic faiths |
| Type of Institution | Public honors college |
| Curriculum | Offers 21 majors, 29 minors, 7 pre-professional programs, and a master's program in education |
| Graduation Rate | 81% overall graduation rate and 70% four-year graduation rate |
| Faculty | 150 full-time faculty, including 14 Fulbright scholars |
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 9:1, one of the lowest in the nation |
| Study Abroad | Approximately 46% of students study abroad |
| Research Centers | The Center for the Study of Democracy, The James P. Muldoon River Center, The Slackwater Center |
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What You'll Learn
- St. Mary's College is a public honors college
- It is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City
- The college is independent of the University System of Maryland
- St. Mary's City is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America
- The college has a 70% four-year graduation rate
St. Mary's College is a public honors college
As a public honors college, St. Mary's College maintains a core honors-level curriculum that all its students must complete, regardless of their major. The college offers 21 majors (with 5 more in development), 29 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. It also has a master's program in education. St. Mary's College has a strong focus on academic excellence, as evidenced by its high graduation rates. It boasts an 81% overall graduation rate and a 70% four-year graduation rate, the highest of any public institution in Maryland and the third-highest in the United States among public colleges.
The college has a rich history, dating back to the founding of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which was also the first capital of Maryland. St. Mary's City is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America, as it was founded under a mandate of religious tolerance by the colonial proprietor, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. The first settlers included both Protestants and Catholics during a time of religious persecution.
St. Mary's College has a strong academic reputation, with 150 full-time faculty members, including 14 Fulbright scholars. The college has produced 30 Fulbright research award winners in the past 20 years. It also has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, allowing for more personalized attention for students. Approximately 46% of St. Mary's College students take advantage of study abroad opportunities, with half of them studying abroad for a full semester or more.
In addition to its academic programs, St. Mary's College is home to several notable research and educational centers. The Center for the Study of Democracy is an interdisciplinary initiative jointly run by the college and Historic St. Mary's City. The college also houses the James P. Muldoon River Center, a biological research center located along the Saint Mary's River, which administers the Saint Mary's River Project and the university's geothermal operations. The Slackwater Center is another important institution at the college, focusing on the interdisciplinary study of the history, culture, and current events of St. Mary's County and other rural communities in the region.
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It is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City
St. Mary's College of Maryland is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which also served as the first capital of Maryland. St. Mary's City was the first North American colonial settlement founded with the specific purpose of providing a haven for people of both Catholic and Protestant faiths during a time of religious persecution of Catholics in England and the British Isles.
The colony was founded under a mandate by the colonial proprietor, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, that the settlers respect each other's religious differences. The first governor of the colony, Leonard Calvert, was himself a Roman Catholic. St. Mary's City became the capital of the new Maryland colony and remained so for sixty-one years, from 1634 until 1694 or 1695.
The original settlement is the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in the United States. At its peak, it had between 500 and 600 residents, and as the colony expanded, the town remained the capital. Representatives travelled from across the colony to participate in the Maryland General Assembly, the colony's first legislative body.
St. Mary's City is now a large public access historic interpretation area with four public museums and a re-creation of the original colonial capital and the original settlers' village. It has several living history museums, with staff in period dress providing theatrical and scientific historical interpretation. There are also public archaeological site displays, reconstructed colonial buildings, a working colonial farm, and a fully working replica of The Dove sailing ship, one of the two original settlers' ships that established the first Maryland colony.
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The college is independent of the University System of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which was also the state's first capital. The college is independent of the University System of Maryland, having opted out in 1992. However, it joined the University of Maryland Academic Telecommunications System (UMATS) in 2006, which interconnects the University System of Maryland with other networks, including the Internet and Internet2.
St. Mary's College has a unique relationship with Maryland's history and heritage. Since 1840, the college has been charged with researching, interpreting, and memorialising the state's early history and the struggle for democracy. This includes a focus on the area's religious significance as the birthplace of religious freedom in America. The colony was founded under a mandate of religious tolerance by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, allowing both Protestants and Catholics to settle during a time of persecution for the latter.
As an independent institution, St. Mary's College has developed its own academic programs and curriculum. It offers 21 majors (with 5 more in development), 29 minors, and seven pre-professional programs, in addition to a master's program in education. The college maintains an honours-level curriculum that all students must complete, regardless of their major. This focus on academic excellence has resulted in impressive graduation rates, with an 81% overall graduation rate and a 70% four-year graduation rate, the highest of any public institution in Maryland.
The college also boasts an impressive faculty, with 150 full-time members, including 14 Fulbright scholars. This has been recognised through awards, such as the college's ranking as the third-highest number of faculty Fulbright winners in the US for the 2011-2012 academic year. The low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1 further enhances the quality of education at St. Mary's College, allowing for more personalised instruction and mentorship.
In addition to its strong academics, St. Mary's College encourages students to gain international experience, with approximately 46% of its students studying abroad, often for a full semester or more. The college also has unique partnerships and initiatives, such as the Center for the Study of Democracy, a joint initiative with Historic St. Mary's City, and the James P. Muldoon River Center, a biological research centre located along the Saint Mary's River. These partnerships provide students with diverse opportunities for research and engagement beyond the traditional classroom setting.
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St. Mary's City is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America
St. Mary's College of Maryland is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which was also the state's first capital. St. Mary's City is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America.
The colony was founded under a mandate by Cecil Calvert, the colonial proprietor and 2nd Baron Baltimore, that settlers must practice religious tolerance towards one another. This mandate was unprecedented at the time, as England had been plagued by religious conflict for centuries. The first settlers were Protestants and Catholics, the latter of whom were experiencing persecution.
As the colony expanded and settlements spread throughout eastern Maryland, St. Mary's City remained the capital. Representatives from across the colony travelled there to participate in the Maryland General Assembly, the colony's first legislative body.
Today, St. Mary's College of Maryland, in partnership with Historic St. Mary's City, runs the Historical Archaeology Field School, an internationally recognised institution. The field school has worked on over 300 archaeological dig sites in the St. Mary's City area in the last 40 years.
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The college has a 70% four-year graduation rate
St. Mary's College of Maryland is located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which was also the state's first capital. The college is independent of the University System of Maryland, having opted out in 1992. However, it joined the University of Maryland Academic Telecommunications System (UMATS) in 2006.
St. Mary's College has an impressive 70% four-year graduation rate, the highest of any public institution in Maryland. This rate is also the third-highest in the United States among public colleges. The college offers a comprehensive academic program with 21 majors, 29 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. It also boasts a master's program in education and an 81% overall graduation rate, including students who take longer than four years to complete their studies.
The college's curriculum emphasizes honors-level coursework for all students, regardless of their major. With a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, one of the lowest in the nation, students benefit from a highly supportive and personalized learning environment. The college's faculty is distinguished, with 14 current Fulbright scholars among its ranks, and the college has earned 30 Fulbright research awards in the past two decades.
St. Mary's College's location in St. Mary's City holds significant historical value. Known as the birthplace of religious freedom in America, the original colony of St. Mary's City was founded under a mandate of religious tolerance by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. This mandate allowed settlers of different faiths, including Protestants and Catholics, to coexist peacefully during a time of religious persecution in England.
The college actively engages with its historical context through initiatives like the Center for the Study of Democracy, a joint project with Historic St. Mary's City. Additionally, the Historical Archaeology Field School, run in partnership with the city, offers students hands-on experience in exploring the area's rich colonial past.
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Frequently asked questions
No, St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public honors college. It is, however, located on the site of Maryland's first colony, St. Mary's City, which is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America.
St. Mary's City was Maryland's first colony and its first capital. It was founded under a mandate of religious tolerance by the colonial proprietor, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. The first settlers were Protestants and Catholics during a time of persecution of the latter.
St. Mary's College offers 21 majors, 29 minors, and seven pre-professional programs. It maintains an honors-level curriculum that all students must complete, regardless of their major. The college also offers a master's program in education.
St. Mary's College has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, and approximately 46% of its students study abroad. The college has a high graduation rate, with 81% of students graduating in four years or less.
