School of Liberal Arts | Saint Mary's College

School of Liberal Arts

Making a Difference, Making a Life

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. In the School of Liberal Arts, you can follow that curiosity and shape your own unique path. We offer more than 30 majors in the humanities, social sciences and the arts that you can pair with one or two of our 39 minors in everything from Sports Media to Law and Society to Art Conservation. If you choose, you can refine your skills and professional identity with one of our 6 certificates in subjects like digital photography, professional writing and ethics.

Whatever path you choose, you will learn to think critically, communicate effectively, and approach complex problems with creativity and empathy. 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!

Graduate and Professional Programs

MFA in Creative Writing

MFA in Dance

MA in Communication

MA in Kinesiology

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

Photo of students talking to Javier Zamora at JSM Organics

What is the Human Cost of Food? Saint Mary’s Students Find Answers By Looking Where What We Eat is Grown

Crossing the Commencement Stage as this Year’s Valedictorian: Dominic Fleming ’25

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

Give to SOLA

Art Preservation students looking at a painting

Direct your giving to SOLA

Gifts to a program in the School of Liberal Arts play an important part in sustaining our academic mission. Such support is essential to the ongoing strength of our programs. You will be supporting:

Performing Arts to create opportunities for off-campus performances.
Tuition Assistance Program for current and former professional dancers in LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals), a national bachelor of arts degree program.
Scholarships for emerging writers in the MFA in Creative Writing Program.
Professional exploration, development, and internship for post-graduation success through LAB, the Liberal Arts Bridge program.
Faculty and student scholarly travel grants through the Dean's Fund for Academic Distinction.
Internships for students at the Smithsonian Institute, and educational partnerships with local schools promoting public history to future Gaels.

To learn more, please contact Heidi Stornetta Butler, Executive Director of Gifts, at (925) 631-8666.

Give Now

Contact Us

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

Karen Chew, Operations Manager
Dante 109, 631-4145

Faculty