OpenFieldSt. Mary's College of Maryland · St. Mary's City, Maryland, United States
St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) is the designated public honors college of Maryland, located on the historic riverfront where Maryland was founded in 1634 in St. Mary's City. Acclaimed nationwide for offering an elite private liberal arts college experience at a public university cost, SMCM is celebrated for its waterfront marine science, colonial historical archaeology, atomic physics, and nationally ranked sailing team.
SMCM provides an intensive liberal arts curriculum centered on the signature 'St. Mary's Project' (SMP)—an independent eight-credit capstone research thesis. Its scenic 361-acre waterfront campus features the Marine Science Research Center, modern physics optics laboratories, and contiguous archaeological excavation sites exploring 17th-century colonial history.
Undergraduate admissions evaluate high school academic rigor, writing essays, intellectual depth, and leadership on a test-optional basis (average incoming GPA 3.6). The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) requires an accredited bachelor's degree with a 3.0+ GPA, subject matter prerequisites, and academic recommendations.
Intensive one-year cohort graduate program leading to Maryland initial teacher certification, featuring a full-year clinical internship in regional public schools.
Hands-on waterfront degree utilizing the St. Mary's River estuary and Chesapeake Bay research vessels for oyster restoration, water quality analysis, and benthic community surveying.
Distinguished undergraduate physics program specializing in laser cooling, atom interferometry, quantum optics, and acoustics, culminating in a year-long St. Mary's Project thesis.
Comprehensive computing curriculum emphasizing algorithm analysis, computer systems, machine learning, and human-computer interaction in an intimate honors college setting.
Nationally acclaimed historical archaeology program in partnership with Historic St. Mary's City, providing direct fieldwork excavating 17th-century colonial sites and Indigenous settlements.
Undergraduate summer research fellowship investigating submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) recovery, blue crab population dynamics, and estuarine microplastics in the lower Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.
President & Biochemist
Office of the President
Dr. Jordan serves as the seventh President of St. Mary's College of Maryland, an accomplished biochemist and national leader in undergraduate STEM research educ...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Physics
Department of Physics
Dr. Adler is an optical physicist researching meteorological optics (rainbows, halos), laser scattering, and the intersection of science and science fiction lit...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Anthropology & Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Dr. King is a prominent historical archaeologist specializing in early colonial Chesapeake history, Indigenous and European intercultural interactions, and hist...
View researcher profile ↗OpenField is an independent research platform not officially affiliated with St. Mary's College of Maryland. Information reflects public documentation reviewed on 2026-10-16. Students must verify application deadlines, fee structures, and prerequisite details directly with official university admissions departments before applying.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial policy · Submit corrections