Saint Mary's College of California

The College was 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 bachelors’ degrees were awarded in 1872. Recognizing that the paths to knowledge are many, Saint Mary's College of California offers a diverse curriculum that includes the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, education, business administration and nursing, serving traditional students and adult learners in both undergraduate and graduate programs. As an institution where the liberal arts inform and enrich all areas of learning, it places special importance on fostering the intellectual skills and habits of mind, which liberate persons to probe deeply the mystery of existence and live authentically in response to the truths they discover. This liberation is achieved as faculty and students, led by wonder about the nature of reality, look twice, ask why, seek not merely facts but fundamental principles, strive for an integration of all knowledge and express themselves precisely and eloquently.