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The program of study at the undergraduate College leads to the bachelor of arts degree. The curriculum is divided into courses which meet general education requirements, courses in the major and elective courses. The general education requirements include courses which develop liberal arts skills, a required core, either the Lasallian Core Traditions Program or the Lasallian Honors Program, and a set of courses selected by the student and organized within content areas. This curriculum empowers its students to become life-long learners, competent in an area of disciplinary or professional study, enabled with critical thinking skills, and predisposed to use this knowledge for service and leadership.
Graduation Requirements
To earn the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree, a candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
- Earn at least 122 semester credits.
- Achieve at least a 2.000 GPA in all courses taken in the major at Saint Mary’s University and in all courses taken at Saint Mary’s University. Courses taken means all courses attempted, including those in which the student received grades of F.
- Achieve at least a 2.000 GPA in all courses taken for a minor.
- Complete at least 45 semester credits in courses numbered 300 and above.
- Earn at least 60 semester credits in academic residence at Saint Mary’s.
- Spend the final year in academic residence at Saint Mary’s University unless enrolled in an approved off-campus program.
- Apply no more than 4 semester credits of music ensembles toward the minimum graduation requirement of 122 semester credits.
- Apply no more than 4 semester credits of 100 and 200-level music lessons toward the minimum graduation requirement of 122 semester credits.
- Apply no more than 4 semester credits of TA175 R-P Lab I, TA185 C-P Lab I, DA175 R-P Lab I, TA375 R-P Lab II, TA385 R-P Lab II, DA375 R-P Lab II, TA385 R-P Lab II, DA375 R-P Lab II toward the minimum graduation requirement of 122 semester credits unless required for your major.
- Complete two physical education or dance classes;
- Satisfy the mathematics initial requirement.
- Complete the general education program (a core, content areas, and skills requirements) in effect at the time of matriculation.
- Complete at least one major program.
General Education
The Cores
Grounded in the liberal arts, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the Lasallian heritage, the general education program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota equips students with knowledge, skills and dispositions that complement their majors. Saint Mary’s University’s general education program prepares students to pursue with passion intersections and connections among disciplines; develop as informed citizens; act from a sense of social responsibility; and engage with a world of complexity, diversity and change.
Both the Lasallian Core Traditions Program and the Lasallian Honors Program are grounded in the university mission and the Lasallian dispositions of faith, zeal, service and community. These four commitments underscore the ultimate aim of the programs: to awaken and nurture the intellectual, spiritual and personal development of learners in preparation for lives of service and commitment to social justice.
All students must complete either the Lasallian Core Traditions Program or the Lasallian Honors Program. Both programs contain interdisciplinary, non-departmental courses, and each curriculum acts as a force for integration within the specialization of the major and the diversity of electives.
Lasallian Core Traditions Program
The Lasallian Core Traditions Program is the required core taken by the majority of the students in the undergraduate College. The program provides an educational experience for students which is common, integrated and interdisciplinary. Students acquire and refine the knowledge, skills and Lasallian Catholic values needed to describe, evaluate and respond appropriately to different perspectives on real world issues, problems and themes.
Students must complete the 12-credit-hour Lasallian Core Traditions Program to graduate from Saint Mary’s University. First-year students take LCT140 ; sophomores take LCT225 ; juniors take LCT375 ; and seniors take LCT475 . See the Lasallian Core Traditions Program course descriptions in the department/program listings.
Lasallian Honors Program
The Lasallian Honors Program is the general education core program for honors students. It is designed to provide an intellectually stimulating experience for bright and motivated students who wish to engage in “shared inquiry” in small, interdisciplinary classes. The hallmarks of the honors program are in-depth discussions of the Great Books and other notable texts of the Western and Eastern cultural traditions; service learning, with some of our 10 community partners; experiential learning in the fine arts; and participation in a community of learners who desire to grow intellectually, spiritually and creatively. Students are required to maintain a minimum 3.200 cumulative GPA in order to remain in good standing in the Lasallian Honors Program. First-year students take LH105 and LH155 ; sophomores take LH205 and LH255 ; juniors take LH305 and LH355 ; and seniors take LH405 and LH455 . See the Lasallian Honors Program course descriptions in the department/program listings.
Content Areas
The content area component of the general education program includes a broad exposure to the liberal arts in academic disciplines. Courses are carefully coded into content areas. Students taking the Lasallian Core Traditions Program must complete course work in all coded areas. Students in the Lasallian Honors Program must complete one faith traditions course, one natural scientific systems course with a lab, and one quantitative systems course.
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