Set on a scenic stretch of road two miles south of the Pennsylvania line, Mount Saint Mary's University, or the Mount as it is affectionately called, is America's second-oldest Catholic college. Founded in 1808 by Father John DuBois, a French priest, the school was divided into three sections: A preparatory school for young boys, a college and a seminary. In 1973, the Mount admitted women for the first time.
The Mount is sometimes called the "Cradle of Bishops" because it educated many early Catholic leaders, including John Hughes, New York's first archbishop, who spearheaded the building of Saint Patrick's Cathedral; and John McCloskey, the first native-born American cardinal. More than 30 Catholic dioceses in America have been directed by at least one Mount graduate.
The Mount's non-clerical graduates are successful as well. Alumni include Matthew McHugh, nine-time U.S. Congressman from New York; Njuguna Mahugu, Kenya's ambassador to the United Nations; Agnus McGlade Berenato, head coach of women's basketball at Georgia Tech; and Susan O'Malley, president of the NBA's Washington Wizards and WNBA's Washington Mystics.
Mount Saint Mary's has 16 men's and women's teams in NCAA Division I. The Mount manages to attract top athletes who are interested in getting a good education at a place where they won't get lost in the crowd. In fact, the Mount has won three Commissioner's Cup awards since joining the Northeast Conference in 1989. The Cup is given annually to the school whose athletic teams collectively have the best overall performance in conference play.
While its athletic programs often receive the most recognition, the Mount also places a great deal of emphasis on its academics. The college's core curriculum comprises almost half of each student's required course work. The four-year sequence of courses includes study in Western Civilization, philosophy, theology, foreign languages, math, and social and natural sciences.
The college has strong programs in business, the physical sciences, education and language, among others. A joint program with Johns Hopkins University allows students to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing in five years. The yearlong Freshman Seminar helps students develop reading, writing and critical thinking skills that are essential to their future success at the college. An honors program provides additional academic challenge, and the Mount sponsors its own study abroad programs in Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Italy.
The Mount has impressive facilities for a college its size. The Knott Athletic Recreation Complex contains a 3,500-seat arena, indoor basketball and tennis courts, a 25-meter swimming pool, handball/racquetball courts, and exercise, training and sports medicine facilities. The Student Union Building houses a dining hall, a snack bar, gathering places and a bookstore.
Located 20 miles north of Frederick and 12 miles south of historic Gettysburg, Pa., the Mount is unequivocally rural. Off-campus housing in the area is limited, so approximately 83 percent of students live on campus in traditional dorm-style rooms, suites and apartments. The three buildings of the Apartment Towers are occupied mostly by seniors.
Due to its remote location, students tend to remain on campus for social activities. There are more than 50 clubs for students to join, ranging from the academic (English, French and accounting clubs) to cultural (Latin American Student Association, Mount Irish Society) to recreational (equestrian club, chess team, karate club). As would be expected from a Catholic college, ministry and community service play a major role in students' free time.
For students who want a good education, like a peaceful environment, have strong values and a commitment to society, and enjoy creating their own fun and developing close friendships, the Mount is apt to please. With its academic excellence, strong athletics, tradition, and accessibility to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the Mount is a small liberal arts school that offers its students big opportunities.
The Mount is sometimes called the "Cradle of Bishops" because it educated many early Catholic leaders, including John Hughes, New York's first archbishop, who spearheaded the building of Saint Patrick's Cathedral; and John McCloskey, the first native-born American cardinal. More than 30 Catholic dioceses in America have been directed by at least one Mount graduate.
The Mount's non-clerical graduates are successful as well. Alumni include Matthew McHugh, nine-time U.S. Congressman from New York; Njuguna Mahugu, Kenya's ambassador to the United Nations; Agnus McGlade Berenato, head coach of women's basketball at Georgia Tech; and Susan O'Malley, president of the NBA's Washington Wizards and WNBA's Washington Mystics.
Mount Saint Mary's has 16 men's and women's teams in NCAA Division I. The Mount manages to attract top athletes who are interested in getting a good education at a place where they won't get lost in the crowd. In fact, the Mount has won three Commissioner's Cup awards since joining the Northeast Conference in 1989. The Cup is given annually to the school whose athletic teams collectively have the best overall performance in conference play.
While its athletic programs often receive the most recognition, the Mount also places a great deal of emphasis on its academics. The college's core curriculum comprises almost half of each student's required course work. The four-year sequence of courses includes study in Western Civilization, philosophy, theology, foreign languages, math, and social and natural sciences.
The college has strong programs in business, the physical sciences, education and language, among others. A joint program with Johns Hopkins University allows students to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing in five years. The yearlong Freshman Seminar helps students develop reading, writing and critical thinking skills that are essential to their future success at the college. An honors program provides additional academic challenge, and the Mount sponsors its own study abroad programs in Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Italy.
The Mount has impressive facilities for a college its size. The Knott Athletic Recreation Complex contains a 3,500-seat arena, indoor basketball and tennis courts, a 25-meter swimming pool, handball/racquetball courts, and exercise, training and sports medicine facilities. The Student Union Building houses a dining hall, a snack bar, gathering places and a bookstore.
Located 20 miles north of Frederick and 12 miles south of historic Gettysburg, Pa., the Mount is unequivocally rural. Off-campus housing in the area is limited, so approximately 83 percent of students live on campus in traditional dorm-style rooms, suites and apartments. The three buildings of the Apartment Towers are occupied mostly by seniors.
Due to its remote location, students tend to remain on campus for social activities. There are more than 50 clubs for students to join, ranging from the academic (English, French and accounting clubs) to cultural (Latin American Student Association, Mount Irish Society) to recreational (equestrian club, chess team, karate club). As would be expected from a Catholic college, ministry and community service play a major role in students' free time.
For students who want a good education, like a peaceful environment, have strong values and a commitment to society, and enjoy creating their own fun and developing close friendships, the Mount is apt to please. With its academic excellence, strong athletics, tradition, and accessibility to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the Mount is a small liberal arts school that offers its students big opportunities.