For Information Contact:
Director of Admission
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
574-284-4587
800-551-7621 (toll-free)
Fax: 574-284-4841
E-mail: admission@saintmarys.edu
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$24,958
Room and Board:
$8,580
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,800
Notre Dame, Indiana
Overview
One of the oldest Catholic colleges for women in the United States, Saint Mary’s College was founded in 1844 and continues to be sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The College has long been recognized as a pioneer in exploring with integrity and imagination the roles of women in society. Today, Saint Mary’s enjoys a national reputation for academic excellence and vitality of campus life.
With more than 1,500 students from forty-five states and nine countries, Saint Mary’s brings together women from a wide range of geographical areas, social backgrounds, and educational experiences. International and minority students compose 8 percent of the student body.
Saint Mary’s College’s liberal arts emphasis enhances a comprehensive curriculum. Strong programs in the humanities and sciences are complemented by professional programs in business administration, education, nursing, and social work; majors in the fine and performing arts; and courses of preprofessional study that prepare students for law school, medical school, or advanced study in other health professions.
Small classes (median size: 16) and a low student-faculty ratio (11:1) encourage student participation in class discussions, collaboration with faculty members, and preparation for real-world challenges. The College enjoys a unique co-exchange program with the University of Notre Dame.
Location and Community
Saint Mary’s 275-acre campus, set alongside the Saint Joseph River, has great natural beauty. The College, located just across the street from the University of Notre Dame, just north of the city of South Bend, and just 90 miles from Chicago, is at the hub of much activity. Students from Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame form a dynamic intercollegiate community. South Bend provides sites for internships and practicums and opportunities for volunteer service.
Academic Life
Graduation from Saint Mary’s College requires successful completion of at least 128 semester hours of credit with a minimum quality point average of 2.0. Every student must also complete a comprehensive examination in her major, which may take the form of a thesis, a research or creative project, or a written or oral examination, depending on the discipline. All students must demonstrate writing proficiency by satisfactorily completing a writing-intensive “W” course, usually in the first year, and an advanced portfolio of writings in the major discipline, usually as seniors.
Students spend approximately one third of their time in general education courses in humanities, fine arts, foreign language, natural and social sciences, theology, and philosophy. Remaining course hours are devoted to their major and electives or minors. The College assists those students interested in pursuing independent study or research and internships.
Saint Mary’s has 128 full-time and 80 part-time faculty members. About 92 percent of the faculty members hold earned doctorates or other terminal degrees; of these, most teach first-year students as well as upper-division students. Faculty members work with students in all phases of college life, including academic counseling.
Through Saint Mary’s international study programs, students can study with Irish students at the National University of Ireland Maynooth, just outside Dublin. They can absorb Italian art and culture on Saint Mary’s campus in the center of Rome, or experience Southeast Asia and the Far East with the India-based Semester Around the World Program.
Students can spend a month during the summer based in London, earning credit hours while also traveling to other European countries.
Saint Mary’s students may also enroll in the Spanish language programs of the Center for Cross-Cultural Study in Seville, Spain, or in the French language and culture study in Dijon, France. A new exchange program with the Australian University of Notre Dame has just begun.
Saint Mary’s students may study in Austria and other countries through a cooperative program with the University of Notre Dame.
A student majoring in political science has the opportunity to spend a semester at the American University in Washington, D.C. Saint Mary’s also participates in student- and faculty-member exchange programs with the University of Notre Dame and members of the Northern Indiana Consortium for Education.
Majors Offered:
Saint Mary’s College offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Music degrees.
For a Bachelor of Arts degree, students may choose majors in art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, economics, elementary education, English literature, English writing, French, history, humanistic studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology, Spanish, statistics and actuarial mathematics, and theater.
A Bachelor of Science degree may be obtained in biology (with concentrations in cellular/molecular biology, environmental biology, and general biology), chemistry, computational mathematics, mathematics, nursing, and statistics and actuarial mathematics.
The Bachelor of Music degree program, which is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music, offers concentrations in applied music and music education. For talented art students, Saint Mary’s offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in several media.
The Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offers a major in accounting, business administration (with concentrations in accounting, finance, international business, management, and marketing) and a major in management information systems.
Superior students who are candidates for either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree may design a program of study outside the traditional department structure.
For women interested in engineering fields, a dual-degree program offered in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame leads to a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from Notre Dame in one of seven areas.
Saint Mary’s education department, accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, offers certification in elementary and secondary education.
In addition, the College offers more than forty minors in a variety of fields, including American studies, information science, justice studies, Latin American studies, urban studies, and women’s studies.
Facilities and Resources
Students have abundant access to technology systems, software, and services. Residence halls and classrooms are wired for network access and secure wireless network access is available in many public areas on campus. Computer labs for students are available in several campus buildings, as well as computer “collaboratories” where students and faculty members can conduct online research in groups in a classroom setting. Extensive support services are available to students and faculty and staff members for instructional, administrative, and network systems. Faculty members make significant use of information technology resources for teaching, research, and scholarship.
The modern Cushwa-Leighton Library houses an outstanding collection of 228,012 volumes. It includes offices, study areas, an after-hours study lounge, a media center, computer facilities, the College archives, and a rare book room.
In addition to extensive biology, chemistry, and physics lab facilities, laboratories for psychology research and for foreign language study and practice are available to students. Art studios, music practice rooms, the O’Laughlin Auditorium, and Moreau’s Little Theatre provide ample space for fine arts creation, practice, and performance.
The professionally staffed Early Childhood Development Center on campus provides education and psychology majors with an unusual opportunity to work with young children. Other facilities include the Madeleva classroom building, Science Hall, Havican nursing facility, and Moreau Art Galleries.
Campus Life
Approximately 80 percent of Saint Mary’s students live on campus in five residence halls, each with its own distinctive character. Upperclass students may live off-campus while seniors may choose to live in Opus Hall, apartment-style living on campus. Residence halls offer a full calendar of activities, from twice-yearly dances to discussions with professors. The College has a new student center, a dining hall, and a clubhouse for extracurricular activities. All residence halls have chapels, and the Church of Loretto is on campus.
Students are active at every level of campus governance and share in community decision making. There are voting representatives on the president’s two highest advisory boards, the Student Affairs Council and the Academic Affairs Council. A student is a voting member of the College Board of Trustees. Student government sponsors many extracurricular and cocurricular activities.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
As an NCAA Division III school and a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Saint Mary’s sponsors varsity teams in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. Club sports, cosponsored with Notre Dame, include equestrian, gymnastics, lacrosse, skiing, and synchronized swimming. In addition, Saint Mary’s offers many intramural sports.
The College’s Angela Athletic Facility contains multipurpose courts for tennis, volleyball, and basketball; a training and fitness center; and racquetball courts. The campus has an indoor swimming pool, outdoor tennis courts, and athletic fields for both soccer and softball.
Expenses
Expenses for the 2005–06 academic year include tuition and fees, $24,358; room and board, $8180 (double occupancy); and miscellaneous expenses (books, transportation, and living costs), $2625.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
The College strives to make a Saint Mary’s education available for every student by offering eligible students financial aid packages that may include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Competitive scholarships, awarded solely on academic merit, as well as those determined by a combination of financial need and academic achievement are available. Last year, more than 87 percent of Saint Mary’s students received more than $25 million in financial assistance, more than $11 million from the College alone.
All applicants for financial assistance must complete the Financial Aid PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year that they desire assistance. Applications for assistance must be received at the processing center by March 1 to be given priority consideration. Decisions concerning financial aid are made as soon as possible after a student has been accepted.
Admission Requirements / Application
Applicants for admission to Saint Mary’s College should be graduates of an accredited high school and should ordinarily have completed a four-year program of 16 or more academic units. These academic units must include 4 units of English, 3 units of college-preparatory mathematics, 2 units of one foreign language, 2 units of social science, and 2 units of laboratory science. The remaining units should be in college-preparatory courses in the previous areas. An applicant’s credentials should include an academic transcript showing current rank and senior-year subjects, a counselor/administrator recommendation, SAT or ACT scores (at least one test should include the new writing portion), and an essay.
Home-schooled students are encouraged to apply for admission and should contact the Admission Office for details.
An interview with an admission officer is recommended. Saint Mary’s encourages students to visit the campus. The Admission Office can make arrangements for students who wish to attend classes or stay overnight.
Superior students who have studied for advanced placement may begin sophomore-level courses in their first year. Mature, well-qualified students who wish to enter college after three years of high school may apply for early admission. Saint Mary’s College also grants deferred admission upon request to candidates who are accepted in the normal application process
Saint Mary’s has two application and notification programs: early decision and modified rolling admission. Highly qualified students who have selected Saint Mary’s as their first choice for admission may apply under the early decision program. The application deadline is November 15, and the notification date is December 15. Students who apply for modified rolling admission and whose application files are complete on or before December 1 are notified of the admission decision in mid-January. Candidates are encouraged to apply by the end of their junior year of high school or in the fall of their senior year. Applications are accepted, however, as long as space is available.
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