Engaged Students

Our students are as adventurous outside the classroom as they are in it...

Living/Learning

Saint Mary's views studying abroad as a rewarding educational and cross-cultural experience. The College offers student a wide variety of study-abroad options, and nearly half of students study abroad. Programs such as Saint Mary’s Study Abroad, the Lasallian International Programs Consortium, and Saint Mary’s Exchange allow students to continue to utilize their financial aid while studying abroad, and the College subsidizes half the cost of airfare.

Students and faculty can take advantage of opportunities for academic exploration and enrichment during the school’s January term. Options include travel courses, guided instruction on campus, courses at other 4-1-4 colleges, and independent-study projects.

Internships are available to all students and are coordinated through the career center. San Francisco and Oakland offer opportunities for students to intern in every field, as do the surrounding cities of Walnut Creek and Livermore. Companies frequently come to campus to conduct interviews with students seeking internships.

Saint Mary’s students can also participate in service-learning courses. Students enrolled in these courses become volunteers, often for nonprofit agencies. As a result, students gain real-world experience while performing service to the community.

Great Teaching

Students are the priority for faculty on this campus...

Personal Attention

For more than 130 years, Saint Mary’s has been guided by the Christian Brothers, the Catholic Church’s oldest order dedicated exclusively to teaching. The most popular majors at Saint Mary’s are business, communications, social sciences and history, liberal and civic studies, and psychology. The business program combines theoretical and practical knowledge, and business majors benefit from professors who have significant experience in their field.

Every student participates in four years of the Collegiate Seminar program. It introduces students to the works of poets, philosophers, scientists, and historians who have shaped the Western world. Throughout the seminars, students engage in discussion and writing, and are encouraged to read actively, think critically, listen well, converse in a spirit of cooperation and to reflect upon and refine their ideas and opinions.

With an average class size of 20 students, classes tend to be close-knit and engaged in cooperative learning. One marketing course focuses on cooperative learning by taking on an organization as a client and developing a marketing strategy for them. The class works together to receive a passing grade, which is determined by the organization’s acceptance or rejection of the class’s proposed marketing strategy. No class has failed yet.

The new science building, Brousseau Hall, is a research and teaching hub with seventeen cutting-edge labs, a seawater tank, and an environmental chamber. The observatory includes a sixteen-inch-diameter research telescope, a robotic mount, and a real-time video feed into astronomy labs. Students can perform research with professors during the school year or join the College’s summer research program.

The inquisitive nature of Saint Mary’s students leads to group discussion and friendly debate. There are 26 Christian Brother faculty members, and the rest of the faculty is seen as partners in the mission. Because of this, professors not only teach students but also mentor them.

Academic Programs
Accounting, Anthropology, Art and Art History, Biochemistry, Biology, Business [Administration, Honors, Financial Services, International Business and Marketing], Chemistry, Classics, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering (3+2 program), English and Drama
Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, French, Greek, Health Science, History, Integral Program, International Area Studies, Kinesiology, Latin, Liberal and Civic Studies Program, Mathematics, Nursing (2+2), Performing Arts [Music, Dance and Theatre], Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Pre-Dental, Pre-Law, Pre-Medical, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Veterinary, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Theology and Religious Studies, Women’s Studies.

Vibrant Community

Whatever their backgrounds, Saint Mary’s students find ways to connect...

Get Involved

Saint Mary’s is located in Moraga, 20 miles east of San Francisco, on a 420-acre campus. Students enjoy the moderate climate and take advantage of the hiking and biking trails, several parks, and two shopping centers in Moraga. On campus, the beautiful landscape is highlighted by grassy areas and patios where students get together and study. The campus is self-contained and safe, and students can walk from one end of campus to the other.

Residence options include traditional residence halls, living-learning communities and themed residence halls. A science-themed hall and an honors-themed hall are open to freshman, while two Lasallian Communities are open to sophomores and juniors. The Lasallian Communities live out the college’s commitment to the Lasallian tradition of social justice and outreach. Students in this community learn about faith, prayer, and spiritual practice, and participate in regular community nights and service teams.

Saint Mary’s student body is very diverse, and cultural nights are often hosted by clubs such as the Asian Pacific American Student Association, the Black Student Union, and the Latin American Student Association. There are more than 50 clubs and organizations on campus. Saint Mary’s speech and debate club each year wins a number of awards and distinctions.

The Saint Mary’s College Hearst Art Gallery draws students and members of the surrounding community to its exhibitions throughout the year. Theater performances, athletic events, guest speakers, events in the chapel, and concerts are also hosted on campus.

Successful Outcomes

If you want the business and social skills to succeed, Saint Mary’s is the place to start...

Moving Forward

The career center at Saint Mary’s is responsive and available to students from the beginning of their time at the College to the end. From offering help with resume building, interview skills, and job searching and tracking, to coordinating a career fair and student interviews with companies, the career center is helpful through the entire employment process. Most alumni find jobs in the local area because of the variety of work options in the Bay Area. Alumni stay active in the College and often attend homecoming as well as an alumni welcoming event for seniors.

Saint Mary’s graduates have an outstanding record of admission to graduate and professional schools—including a 100 percent acceptance rate into medical schools—and many alumni have found meaningful work in high technology, advanced research, and health and medicine.

Notable alumni include Laura Garcia-Cannon, anchorwoman for NBC-11; Shirley Griffin, executive vice president of Wells Fargo Bank; Robert Hass, poet laureate of the United States from 1995 to 1997; Harry Hooper, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame; George P. Miller, member of Congress from California from 1945 to 1973; Nicholas Moore, retired chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers; and Don Perata, former majority leader and California State senator.