Grace Thompson
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Catholic college located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of San Francisco. It was founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese as a diocesan college for boys and is one of the oldest colleges on the West Coast of the United States. The college has a small student body, with an enrollment of 1,943 undergraduate students, and offers a variety of academic programs, including popular majors such as business, psychology, and liberal arts and humanities. Saint Mary's College is known for its beautiful campus, small class sizes, and close-knit community, providing a transformative educational experience for its students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Institution | Private, Catholic college |
| Location | Moraga, California, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of San Francisco |
| Student Population | 1,943 undergraduate students |
| Acceptance Rate | 88% |
| Popular Majors | Business, Psychology, Liberal Arts and Humanities |
| Graduation Rate | 69% |
| Average Starting Salary for Graduates | $46,323 |
| Class Sizes | Small |
| Campus Culture | Athletics and basketball and baseball games are a large part of campus culture; women's sports are less emphasized |
| Religious Aspect | Chapel on campus, but attendance at mass or religious events is not mandatory; no religious moral code or mandatory religion classes |
| Notable Buildings and Landmarks | Soda Activity Center, Lefevre Theatre, St. Albert Hall Library, Brother Cornelius Art Center, Saint Mary's College Museum of Art, Hearst Art Gallery |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums |
| School Colors | Red and Blue |
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What You'll Learn
- Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Catholic college
- It was founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
- The college is located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles east of San Francisco
- Saint Mary's College Museum of Art is located in the Brother Cornelius Art Center
- The college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, liberal arts, and sciences
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Catholic college
Saint Mary's College of California is known for its small class sizes and close-knit community, which foster personal connections with professors and peers. The academic experience is generally viewed as challenging and engaging, with an emphasis on discussion-based learning. The college offers comprehensive academics in over 41 majors and minors taught by a nationally renowned faculty. The campus is also notable for its beauty and safety, with a cross at the top of a hill and a large concrete "SMC" on one of the surrounding hills, painted frequently by student groups. Athletics are a large part of campus culture, with a strong emphasis on attending basketball and baseball games, although women's sports are reportedly less emphasized.
The college is grounded in its Lasallian heritage and is committed to social justice, respect for all persons, and the power of education to transform lives. The Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action coordinates most community service activities on campus, which play a significant role in the life of the school. The academic calendar operates on a 4-1-4 schedule, which includes a January term during which students can travel, explore new ideas, or focus on personal change. The Saint Mary's varsity sports teams, nicknamed the Gaels, compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with school colours of red and blue.
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It was founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
Saint Mary's College is a private, Roman Catholic college located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles (30 kilometres) east of San Francisco in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. The college was originally located in Oakland, California, until it moved to Moraga in 1928 after a fire. Saint Mary's College offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programmes, including liberal arts, sciences, business, and education. The college is known for its small class sizes, close-knit community, and rigorous academics. It has a beautiful campus, with a cross at the top of a hill and a large concrete "SMC" on the surrounding hills. The campus atmosphere is safe, but some students have expressed dissatisfaction with the food and social life. The Catholic identity of the college is reflected in its buildings, with all buildings on campus except Assumption Hall being named after important figures in Catholicism or the school's history.
The college has a long history of Catholic influence, with the Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action coordinating community service efforts on campus. The college is also home to the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art, which houses a significant collection of artwork, including the renowned William Keith Collection.
Saint Mary's College is not overly religious in its daily operations. While it has a chapel on campus, attendance at religious services is not mandatory. The college welcomes students from diverse religious backgrounds and does not impose a religious moral code.
The college has produced notable alumni, including James A. Donahue, who became the first non-Christian Brother to serve as president in 2013. Saint Mary's College of California continues to be a well-regarded educational institution, consistently ranked among the top 10 West Coast universities.
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The college is located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles east of San Francisco
Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic college located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles (or 23 miles according to another source) east of San Francisco. It is a small institution with an enrolment of 1,943 undergraduate students. The college is one of the oldest on the West Coast of the United States, having been founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese as a diocesan college for boys. The campus was originally located in San Francisco and operated for several years under Archdiocesan direction. In 1868, the De La Salle Christian Brothers assumed direction of the school, and its student body quickly increased from 50 to 200 students. The first SMC bachelor's degrees were awarded in 1872.
In 1889, the campus moved to Oakland, to a facility known as "The Brickpile". The college remained there until 1928, when it moved to its current location in Moraga after a fire severely damaged the Brickpile. The Oakland site is now California Historical Landmark #676. During its first years in Moraga, Saint Mary's nearly went bankrupt, but eventually gained financial security when it was bought by Archbishop John Joseph Mitty. During World War II, the college was used by the United States Navy for the training of pilots.
The Saint Mary's College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) is located on campus in the Brother Cornelius Art Center. In 2021, the museum was awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to museums in the United States. SMCMoA cares for a permanent collection of over 5,000 objects, including the William Keith Collection, which features over 200 works by the renowned California landscape artist.
Saint Mary's College offers comprehensive academics in over 41 majors and minors, including Business, Psychology, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Sciences. The college is committed to social justice, respect for all persons, and the power of education to transform lives. It offers small class sizes, close-knit community, and professors who know students by name. Saint Mary's provides ample hands-on research programs, internships, and career opportunities in Silicon Valley and beyond.
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Saint Mary's College Museum of Art is located in the Brother Cornelius Art Center
Saint Mary's College is a Catholic college located in California. It has a stunning campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, with buildings named after important figures in the Catholic religion or significant people in the school's history.
The Saint Mary's College Museum of Art is located within the Brother Cornelius Art Center on this campus. The museum was previously known as the Hearst Art Gallery, which underwent extensive renovations and expansion in 2011. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and showcases a permanent collection of over 5,000 objects, including the renowned William Keith Collection.
The Saint Mary's College Museum of Art has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century when the college began collecting art. The museum's collection was founded by Professor Brother Fidelis Cornelius Braeg in 1934 and initially featured landscape paintings by the California artist William Keith. Brother Cornelius also authored the definitive biography of William Keith, titled "Old Master of California", after collaborating closely with the artist's widow, Mary McHenry Keith.
The Brother Cornelius Art Center, which houses the museum, is named after this influential professor. The museum rotates exhibitions twice a year, displaying pieces from its permanent collection, travelling exhibitions, and the work of emerging California artists. All exhibitions and public programs are free and open to the public, making art accessible to the community.
The Saint Mary's College Museum of Art is an integral part of the college's commitment to art and culture, enriching the educational experience of its students and contributing to the cultural landscape of the region.
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The college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, liberal arts, and sciences
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Catholic college located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles (or 23 miles by another source) east of San Francisco in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is one of the oldest colleges on the West Coast of the United States, having been founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese as a diocesan college for boys. The college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, liberal arts, and sciences.
The School of Liberal Arts and Humanities is one of four schools at Saint Mary's, the other three being the School of Science, the School of Economics and Business Administration, and the Kalmanovitz School. The college offers 41+ majors and minors taught by a nationally renowned faculty. Undergraduate fields of study include liberal arts and sciences, accounting, business administration, visual and performing arts, environmental studies, communications, and religious studies. A bachelor's degree in nursing is offered jointly with the nearby Samuel Merritt University. Engineering programs are conducted in conjunction with other universities.
Saint Mary's also offers master's degree programs in business, finance, education, counselling, creative writing, leadership, and exercise science. In addition, the college awards a doctoral degree in educational leadership. The college's acceptance rate is 88%, and popular majors include business, psychology, and liberal arts and humanities.
Saint Mary's College provides ample hands-on research programs, internships, and career opportunities in Silicon Valley and beyond. The college's Lasallian heritage and commitment to social justice, respect for all persons, and the power of education to transform lives are central to its educational experience. The academic calendar operates on a 4-1-4 schedule, with a January term dedicated to concentrated courses, experimental classes, off-campus programs, travel courses, and independent study.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Mary's College in Moraga, California is a private, Roman Catholic college.
St. Mary's College was founded in 1863 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese as a diocesan college for boys. It is one of the oldest colleges on the West Coast of the United States. The college was originally located in San Francisco and later moved to Oakland in 1889, where it was known as "The Brickpile". In 1928, the college moved to its current location in Moraga, California.
Notable buildings on the St. Mary's College campus include the Chapel, Dante Hall, Galileo Hall, the Soda Activity Center, and the Lefevre Theatre. There is also the St. Albert Hall Library and the Brother Cornelius Art Center, which houses the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art.
St. Mary's College offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduate fields of study include liberal arts, sciences, business administration, visual and performing arts, environmental studies, communications, and religious studies. The college also offers master's degree programs in business, finance, education, counselling, creative writing, leadership, and exercise science, as well as a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
St. Mary's College is known for its small class sizes and close-knit community. Students appreciate the personal connections they make with professors and peers. The campus atmosphere is described as beautiful and safe, with a strong emphasis on athletics, particularly basketball and baseball. However, there have been concerns raised about the college's handling of racism and the lack of energy in social life.
