Departmental Scholarships

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Annual departmental scholarships have an award amount of $5,000 ($20,000 in total for four years of consecutive study) and are available to selected incoming first-year students.

Applicants must first submit their Saint Mary's application through the Common App before the admissions Early Action application deadline of November 1. The deadline to apply for a Department Scholarship is November 15.

All cited departmental scholarships are based on full time enrollment.

Application Steps

  1. Apply for Early Admission through the Common App by November 1. 
  2. Apply for a Department Scholarship through the SMC Applicant Status Page by November 15. Use your SMC Applicant username and password (these credentials will be provided to you via email after submitting the Common App).
  3. Email additional materials and letter(s) of recommendation (if required) to smcadmit@stmarys-ca.edu.
  4. Invited applicants must interview or audition with faculty from their department of interest on-campus during Scholarship Saturday on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Requirements by Department

 


Name of Departmental Scholarship

  Application Materials

Application Link

Accounting and
Business Administration

 

  • A brief 1-page essay (describing your academic goals and career pursuits)
  • Submit the self-nomination form
  • *Only a handful of students who self-nominate will be selected to interview*
  • **Declaration of SEBA major (Business Administration or Accounting) is required at entrance
Apply
Anthropology

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in their specific area (Anthropology, Applied Anthropology, or Archaeology)
  • A list of academic courses of prior study in related areas, along with other relevant experience (fieldwork, time spent abroad, family connection to specific cultures/subcultures, etc.)
  • A writing sample related to the desired area of study
Apply
Art Practice and Art History
(Brother Cornelius Visual Art Scholarship)

 

  • An essay (<500 words), describing the applicant’s interest and qualifications for the scholarship.
  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or others addressing the applicant’s qualifications.
  • A DVD or online portfolio of original work (artwork of other digital or traditional mediums). *Art Practice majors only.
  • List of software skills.
  • List of any relevant art projects including titles, durations, and synopses.
Apply
Chemistry

 

  • A letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s interest in science and/or chemistry 
  • A personal essay addressing all of the following (500 words or less): If you had the skills, technology, and resources to
    conduct any type of chemistry research, what question would you try to answer, and why? How would you go about the investigation?
Apply
Communication

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in their specific area (Communication Strategy or Media Making).
  • A list of academic courses of prior study in related areas, along with other relevant experience (school media, clubs and organizations, etc.).
  • A writing and/or multimedia sample related to the desired area of study.
Apply
Computer Science

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in Computer Science.
  • A list of activities, projects, and/or academic courses relating to Computer Science or programming that the student has undertaken either in or out of high school.
Apply
Data Science 
  • A 1-page cover letter explaining your interest in Data Science and how this scholarship will aid you in pursuit of your academic goals
  • A list of academic courses of prior study relating to Data Science, programming, statistics, etc. along with other relevant experience.
  • A list of software skills.
Apply
English

 

  • Two letters of recommendation, one to be written by the applicant’s junior or senior year
  • high school English teacher.
  • Two essays.
    • The first should explain (in 500 words or fewer) why the applicant wishes to major in English.
    • The second (1,000-1,250 words) should analyze a literary text.
  • Applicants may also include a sample of their creative writing.
Apply
Environmental Science

 

  • Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s interest in science and the environment.
  • A personal essay addressing all of the following (250 words for each):
  • Essay 1: What environmental issue(s) is most concerning to you?
  • Essay 2: How does this environmental issue impact communities and environments?
  • Essay 3: What scientific methods might we use to help solve these problems? Describe a scientific investigation that could help solve this problem.
  • Essay 4: What impact do you hope to make in addressing the issue you identified above OR other environmental issues?
Apply
Ethnic Studies

 

  • A cover letter (250-300 words) explaining the student’s interest in their Ethnic Studies, their post-graduation or career goals, and their community or campus-based social justice activities.
  • A list of prior or current academic courses of study in Ethnic Studies-related areas, along with other relevant experience (jobs, community volunteer, service learning, clubs and organizations, political advocacy/organizing, etc.).
  • A sample assignment from a previous course related to the Ethnic Studies. This could be a paper, an artistic project, a community-based project, etc.
Apply
Finance
  • Required departmental application materials:
  • A 1-page cover letter explaining your interest in Finance and how this scholarship will aid you in pursuit of your academic goals
Apply
Global and Regional Studies

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in their specific area (Global Studies, Region: East Asia, Region: Europe, or Region: Latin America)
  • A list of academic courses of prior study in related areas, along with other relevant experience (time spent abroad, family connection to the specific region, fieldwork, service immersion, etc.)
  • A writing sample related to the desired area of study
Apply
History

 

  • A list of history classes taken in high school including the titles of texts read in each class.
  • Essay 1: 500 words addressing your interest in studying history.
  • Essay 2: 250 words describing your leadership ability experience.
  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers, at least one being from a history teacher.
Apply
The Integral Program of Liberal Arts
(the Integral Program)

 

  • Two letters of recommendation from individuals testifying to the applicant’s interest in the Integral Program.
  • A portfolio illustrating a commitment to inquiry-based reading and discussion of primary texts.
  • Applicants are invited to be inventive in constructing their portfolios.
  • A short cover letter (no more than 250 words) introducing the portfolio and indicating the student's interest in the Integral Program.
Apply
Justice, Community & Leadership

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s commitment to social justice and equity and and among communities.
  • A list of academic courses of prior study in related areas, along with other relevant experience (clubs and organizations, service learning, community engagement, political organizing/activism, etc.). For the teacher education tracks, please include experience working with children and/or youth.
  • Applicants may include a writing sample in the desired area of study (optional)
Apply
Mathematics
(Bro. Dominic Barry Math Competition)

 

  • Students interested in participating in the Scholarship Competition must participate in the competition to be eligible to receive the scholarship.
Apply
Performing Arts
Auditions Required

 

  • Annual merit-based scholarships of $5,000 are available to selected incoming first-year students who major or minor in Theatre, Dance, or Music.
  • Every four years, Performing Arts offers the East Bay Performing Arts Scholarship, which is a full-ride scholarship (tuition, room, and board) to an East Bay incoming first-year student who plans to major or minor in Dance, Music, or Theatre and is of African descent or identifies as Black. This year, applications are open for this scholarship
Apply
Philosophy

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in Philosophy
  • A list of academic courses of prior study, along with other relevant experience (clubs and organizations, personal explorations, etc.)
  • Applicants may include a writing sample related to the study of Philosophy
Apply
Physics

 

  • Students will be asked to participate in a virtual lab activity. You must participate in the virtual lab activity to be eligible to receive the scholarship.
Apply
Politics

 

  • A letter of recommendation from an individual testifying to the applicant’s interest in politics.
  • A personal essay (<750 words) addressing the applicant’s interest in politics and providing
  • evidence in the form of personal experience, study, service, and/or career expectations.
Apply
Sociology

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in Sociology
  • A list of academic courses of prior study, along with other relevant experience (clubs and organizations, personal explorations, etc.)
  • Applicants may include a writing sample related to the study of Sociology
Apply
Teachers for Tomorrow: Teaching Credential Pathways

 

  • A brief reflection (no more than 500 words) on why you want to be a teacher. It can reflect on teachers who have inspired you, or how you see yourself making a difference, or what motivates you to be an educator.
Apply
Theology and Religious Studies

 

  • A personal essay of (<1000) words addressing the following:
    • Your interest in pursuing theology and/or religion, providing evidence of such interest in the form of personal experience, study, service, or career expectations.
    • Describe why Saint Mary’s College would be a good place to pursue the study of theology and/or religion.
  • Two letters of recommendation addressing your intellectual interests in studying theology and/or religion.
    •  At least one of which should be from an academic professional (e.g. teacher or guidance counselor).
Apply
Women and Gender Studies

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in Women's and Gender Studies.
  • A list of academic courses of prior study, along with other relevant experience (clubs and organizations, personal explorations, community organizing/activism, etc.).
  • Applicants may include a writing sample related to the study of Women's and Gender Studies (optional)
Apply
World Languages

 

  • A cover letter (250 words) explaining the student’s interest in language study.
  • A list of academic courses of prior study in the language, along with other relevant experience (time spent abroad, family connection to the language, etc.).
  • Two documents of language skill and interest level, either two letters of recommendation from high school teachers OR one recommendation letter and one recognized examination (AP, IB).
  • Applicants may include a writing sample in the desired language of study.
Apply