School of Liberal Arts | Saint Mary's College

School of Liberal Arts

Making a Difference, Making a Life

A liberal arts education ignites curiosity, sharpens critical thinking, and fosters adaptability in a rapidly changing world. At Saint Mary's' College, a liberal arts education is a commitment to developing the whole person—curious, capable, and ready to lead in a changing world.

Our students explore ideas across disciplines, learning to think critically, communicate effectively, and approach complex problems with creativity and empathy. We offer majors, minors and certificates in the social sciences, arts and humanities to offer a broad, flexible foundation. Studying the liberal arts at Saint Mary's will prepare you for a meaningful career and also for a life of purpose and informed citizenship. Come explore with us!

Undergraduate Departments

Anthropology

Communication

Ethnic Studies

The Integral Program of Liberal Arts

Media Production

Politics

Women's and Gender Studies

Art and Art History

Creative Writing

Global and Regional Studies

Justice, Community, and Leadership

Performing Arts

Sociology

World Languages and Cultures

Theology & Religious Studies

Writing Studies Program

Graduate and Professional Programs

MA in Communication

MA in Kinesiology

MFA in Creative Writing

MFA in Dance

Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP) Program

Career Readiness

Gain the experience and confidence needed for a successful transition to life after graduation.

Internship Information and Funding

Gain real world experience in a variety of fields.

Workshops and Events

LAB workshops and one-on-one sessions help SOLA students develop job-ready skills and materials.

School of Liberal Arts Highlights

Saint Mary's student Kian Tanner '27 seated on a bench by a redwood

In Their Own Words: How Kian Tanner’s Commitment to Tackle Climate Change Led Him to Take Part in Landmark Lawsuit

Sociologist At Work: Nicole Brown Celebrates Female Activists in Her New Book, ‘We Are Each Other’s Business’

Callista Yu posing for photo on SMC campus

In Their Own Words: Callista Yu ’25 on ‘Resilience’ and Rewriting Her Story

2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards: Meet the Honorees

Kiana Paredes with the San Francisco City Hall in the background

Kiana Paredes ’27 on Her “Life-Changing” Summer in the Courtroom—and How SMC’s Liberal Arts Bridge Program Made It Possible

Making Family History: Ashley Hernandez ’23 on Graduate School, Looking for Support When You Need It, and Advocating for Community Mental Health

Political Scientist at Work: Corey Cook on Being a Go-to Analyst in an Election Shaped by Bay Area History and Politics

In Their Own Words: Lydia Miller’s Summer in the Studio Taught Her ‘How to Be a Working Artist Today’

Scholar at Work: How Sunayani Bhattacharya Turns the Focus of Literary Analysis onto the Reader, Connecting Past with Present

Panetta Intern Michael Hurley ’26 Is Getting Out of the Classroom—and into a Congressional Office

In Their Own Words: Alex Chester-Iwata ’21 on Life Onstage and Off—and How SMC Provided Just the LEAP She Wanted

Contact Us

Molly Metherd, Interim Dean
Dante 109B, x. 4166
mmetherd@stmarys-ca.edu

Karen Chew, Operations Manager
Dante 109, 631-4145

Faculty

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