All students complete the Sophia Program in Liberal Learning over their four years of study at Saint Mary’s College. Sophia is a vision of a liberal arts education that is uniquely Saint Mary’s. The program calls upon each student to understand the purpose of a liberal arts education and how it prepares her to make a difference in the world.
The Sophia Program has the following three foundational learning outcomes:
These learning outcomes cultivate both the mind and the heart, ensuring that a Saint Mary’s education includes the hallmark of a Holy Cross education. Thus, the Sophia Program provides knowledge and skills for the twenty-first century, underscoring the importance of women’s voices as well as the social responsibility and intercultural competence befitting global citizens and shaped by the distinctive tradition of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
What makes the Sophia Program distinctive?
The Program seeks to make learning intentional and integrated. It does this by transferring focus away from particular courses in a variety of disciplines that you must study to instead focus on the learning outcomes, or knowledge, skills, and abilities you should expect to gain from your general education experiences.
LO1 courses may be used to satisfy LO2 and LO3 requirements.
The following introductory-level courses are offered during fall semester 2022 and fulfill Sophia Program requirements:
(one course)
Courses that meet the Literature learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENLT 151W Inherited Tales (WP, WV) | 4 | |
| ENLT 151W Women and Embodiment: Disability, Medicine and Feminism (WP, WV) | 4 | |
| ENLT 151W Making Worlds from Words: Worldbuilding in Literature (WP, WV) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| HUST 103 Lives and Times (WV, SR) | 3 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the History learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 201 United States History to 1865 (WV, SR)(CTS for 72180 only) | 3 | |
| HIST 201W United States History to 1865 (WP, WV) | 4 | |
(two courses of the same language at a level appropriate to the student’s previous experience with that language)
Courses that meet the Modern Languages learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MLAR 101 Introductory Arabic I | 4 | |
| MLAR 103 Arabic Conversation and Reading I | 2 | |
| MLFR 101 Introductory French I | 4 | |
| MLFR 111 Intermediate French I | 4 | |
| MLIT 101 Introductory Italian I (WV, GL) | 4 | |
| MLIT 111 Intermediate Italian | 4 | |
| MLSP 101 Introductory Spanish I | 4 | |
| MLSP 111 Intermediate Spanish I | 4 | |
| MLSP 115 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers I | 4 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Philosophical Worldviews learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 110 Introductory Philosophy (CTS for CRN 72112 only) | 3 | |
| PHIL 110W Finding Meaning in the Madness (WP)(Half of Tandem with ART 211W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| PHIL 234 Hopeful Citizenship for the 21st Century (CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Religious Traditions I learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RLST 101 Introducing Religious Studies: World Religions in Dialogue (IC) | 3 | |
| RLST 101W Introducing Religious Studies: World Religions in Dialogue (WP, IC) | 4 | |
(one course, not normally taken in first year)
(one course)
Courses that meet the Historical Perspectives learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 241 Art History Survey I (WV, GL) | 3 | |
| ENVS 161 Introduction to Environmental Studies (GL, SR) | 3 | |
| ENVS 161 Keepers and Stewards: Our Planet, our Community (GL, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| GWS 207 Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies (WV, GL) | 3 | |
| HUST 205 Women's Histories, Women's Rights (CTS, WV, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| ICS 201 Introduction to Intercultural Studies (IC) | 3 | |
| MUS 243 Latin American and Latino Popular Music (GL IC) | 3 | |
| THTR 190 Special Topics in Theatre: Musical Theater Appreciation | 1-3 | |
(two courses)
Courses that meet the Natural Science learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 | |
| BIO 155 Foundations of Molecular Biology | 2 | |
| BIO 156 Foundations of Ecology and Evolution | 2 | |
| CHEM 121 Principles of Chemistry I (WV, CTS) | 4 | |
| PHYS 103 Science of the Olympics | 3 | |
| PHYS 111 College Physics I: Mechanics | 4 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Social Science I learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 253 Survey I: Culture and Language (SR, GL, IC) | 3 | |
| ENVS 217 Environmental Policy (SR) | 3 | |
| POSC 151W Issues in Political Community (WP, CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| POSC 160W Global Political Issues (WV, WP, GL, SR) | 4 | |
| POSC 201 American Politics | 3 | |
| PSYC 156 Introduction to Psychology: Culture and Systems | 3 | |
| SOC 255 Why Race Matters (CTS, SR, IC) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Social Science II learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 252 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| PSYC 157 Introduction to Psychology: Science for the Citizen | 3 | |
| PSYC 157 Psychology for (College) Life (CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 203 Climate Change: A Global Social Problem (CTS, GL, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 222 Contested Masculinities | 3 | |
(Single courses satisfying this requirement must be 3 credits. Multiple courses that fulfill the appropriate learning outcomes may be used to satisfy this requirement as long as they add up to at least 3 credits and come from the same discipline.)
Courses that meet the Creative and Performing Arts learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 Drawing I | 3 | |
| ART 103 Design Lab (CTS) | 3 | |
| ART 125 Silkscreen (WV) | 3 | |
| ART 211W Living Through Clay (WP) (Half of the Tandem with PHIL 110W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| ART 216 Introduction to Furniture Design | 3 | |
| ART 224 Video Art (WV) | 3 | |
| ART 236 Sustainable Textiles (SR) | 3 | |
| ART 266 Introduction to New Media | 3 | |
| COMM 103 Introduction to Communication (CTS for sections 72006 and 72148)(WV for sections 72155 and 72148) | 3 | |
| COMM 103W Introduction to Communication (WP)(WV for CRN 72205 only) | 4 | |
| DANC 145 Ballet Technique: Beginning | 2 | |
| DANC 148 Jazz Technique: Beginning | 2 | |
| DANC 245 Ballet Technique: Intermediate | 2 | |
| DANC 345 Ballet Technique: Advanced | 2 | |
| ENVS 232 DIY: The Sustainable City Project (SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| ENWR 202 Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 | |
| ENWR 202W Introduction to Creative Writing (WP) | 4 | |
| MUS 111–131 Applied Music: Private Lessons — Instrumental or Voice | 1 or 2 | |
| MUS 150: Voices in Time (WV, CTS) | 3 | |
| MUS 201 Collegiate Choir | 1 | |
| MUS 203 Belles Voix | 1 | |
| THTR 135 Introduction to Theatre | 3 | |
| THTR 205 Introduction to Acting (WV) | 3 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Professional Arts learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HUST 220 Humanities at Work: Using Your Humanities Training in the 21st Century (WV) | 3 | |
| SLP 220 Introduction to Communicative Disorders (WV, SR, AEL) | 3 | |
| SW 202 Introduction to Social Work (WV, SR) (CTS for CRN 71352 only) | 3 | |
(one course)
Courses that meet the Mathematical Arts learning outcomes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 102 Liberal Arts Mathematics | 3 | |
| MATH 104 Finite Mathematics | 3 | |
| MATH 113 Survey of Calculus | 4 | |
| MATH 131 Calculus I | 4 | |
| MATH 133 Theory & Application of Calculus | 4 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 211W Living Through Clay (CP, WP) (Half of the Tandem with PHIL 110W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| ENLT 151W Making Worlds from Words: Worldbuilding in Literature (HL, WP, WV) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| ENVS 161 Keepers and Stewards: Our Planet, our Community (HP, GL, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| ENVS 232 DIY: The Sustainable City Project (CP, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| HUST 205 Women's Histories, Women's Rights (HP, CTS, WV, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| PHIL 110W Finding Meaning in the Madness (PW, WP)(Half of Tandem with ART 211W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| PHIL 234 Hopeful Citizenship for the 21st Century (PW, CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| POSC 151W Issues in Political Community (SSI, WP, CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| PSYC 157 Psychology for (College) Life (SSII, CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 203 Climate Change: A Global Social Problem (SSII, CTS, GL, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 255 Why Race Matters (SSI, CTS, SR, IC) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
(one course) Most students fulfill this requirement during the fall semester of their first year. If a CTS does not fit into a student's fall semester, there are additional CTS courses offered in the spring semester.
Critical Thinking Seminars are spread throughout the curriculum so that students can select from a wide range of different disciplines and knowledge.
Courses that meet the Critical Thinking Seminar requirement:
(The courses listed below also fulfill an LO1 requirement.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 103 Design Lab (CP) | 3 | |
| CHEM 121 Principles of Chemistry I (NS, WV) | 4 | |
| COMM 103 Introduction to Communication (CP) (WV for CRN 72148 only) | 3 | |
| HIST 201 United States History to 1865 (HH, WV, SR) (CTS for CRN 72180 only) | 3 | |
| HUST 205 Women's Histories, Women's Rights (HP, WV, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| MUS 150 Voices in Time (CP, WV) | 3 | |
| PHIL 110 Introductory Philosophy (PW) (CTS for CRN 72112 only) | 3 | |
| PHIL 234 Hopeful Citizenship for the 21st Century (PW) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| POSC 151W Issues in Political Community (SSI, WP) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| PSYC 157 Psychology for (College) Life (SSII) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 203 Climate Change: A Global Social Problem (SSII, GL, SR) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SOC 255 Why Race Matters (SSI, SR, IC) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3 | |
| SW 202 Introduction to Social Work (WV, SR,) (CTS for CRN 71352 only) | 3 | |
(one course) Students generally fulfill this requirement during the fall or spring of their first year.
Many students find it helpful to take a W course in a field that engages them; they discover they enjoy writing, and make more progress, when the course topic is one they especially want to explore. All W courses fulfill a Sophia Program requirement and provide the opportunity to earn the Basic W.
Courses that meet the Writing Proficiency requirement:
(The courses listed below also fulfill an LO1 requirement.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 211W Living Through Clay (CP) (Half of a tandem with PHIL 110W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| COMM 103W Introduction to Communication (CP) (WV for CRN 72205 only) | 4 | |
| ENLT 151W Inherited Tales (HL, WV) | 4 | |
| ENLT 151W Women and Embodiment: Disability, Medicine and Feminism (HL, WV) | 4 | |
| ENLT 151W Making Worlds from Words: Worldbuilding in Literature (HL, WV) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| ENWR 202W Introduction to Creative Writing (CP) | 4 | |
| HIST 201W United States History to 1865 (HH, WV) | 4 | |
| PHIL 110W Finding Meaning in the Madness (PW) (Half of a tandem with ART 211W) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 3.5 | |
| POSC 151W Issues in Political Community (SSI, CTS) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE | 4 | |
| POSC 160W Global Political Issues (SSI, WV, GL, SR) | 4 | |
| RLST 101W World Religions in Dialogue (RTI, IC) | 4 | |
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