Academics

Maria College is a nonprofit, independent, coeducational institution founded in 1958 by the Sisters of Mercy. Serving over 1,000 traditional and nontraditional students with day, evening, weekend and online classes.
A student/faculty ratio of 14:1, an unwavering commitment to the liberal arts, and highly contemporary, career-oriented programs make Maria a unique choice for students in the Capital Region whether they choose to work in their field of choice or transfer to a 4-Year College or University.

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Bachelor’s of Science Degree is awarded to those who complete 120 credits, 60 Liberal Arts and 60 credits in the major. The RN-BS Degree in Nursing is a bachelor’s completion program that accepts 60 credit hours from the associate degree programs in nursing and requires students to complete 60 credits at the bachelor’s level.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

The Associate in Applied Science Degree is awarded upon completion of occupationally oriented or career curricula. The course of study leading to this degree is an organized curriculum, including a minimum of 22 semester hours of credit drawn from the humanities, the natural and the social sciences, distributed with a balance among those three major areas.

Associate in Arts (AA)
Associate in Science (AS)

The Associate in Arts and Associate in Science Degrees are awarded to those students who complete a general education curriculum in Liberal Arts. The course of study for these degrees is designed to develop judgment and understanding about human beings’ relationship to the social, cultural and natural facets of their total environment. The curriculum is organized to include four general education areas: the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Religious Studies and Philosophy. The Liberal Arts degree has a minimum of 48 credit hours in these four areas for an Associate in Arts Degree. The remaining 16 credit hours may be free electives.

The Education Transfer Program Degree has a minimum of 50 credits in these four areas for an Associate in Arts Degree. The remaining 14 credit hours are education courses in educational theory and practice, which will transfer to four-year education programs. Eleven of the Liberal Arts credits are cross-listed as education credits so a graduate may leave the program with a total of 25 education credits.

The General Studies Degree has a minimum of 32 semester credit hours in these four areas for an Associate in Science Degree. The remaining 32 credit hours may be free electives.

Certificate

Maria College’s Certificate Programs allow students who wish to achieve personal enrichment and career development goals the opportunity to learn specific skills, and gain the experience and confidence needed to advance in their chosen careers. Maria offers Certificate Programs in Bereavement Studies, Gerontology, Paralegal, Practical Nurse (LPN Training) and Teaching Assistant.

Day Division

Maria offers a 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, 2-Year Degree Programs (Accounting, Early Childhood Education, Education Transfer Program, Management, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Liberal Arts, General Studies) and Certificate Programs (Bereavement Studies, Gerontology, and Teaching Assistant).

Evening Division

The evening division offers degree programs primarily for those students whose work or family schedules preclude day enrollment. Evening division courses are identical in content and level to those offered in the day division, and are scheduled in three-hour blocks, Monday through Thursday, usually once a week. All evening degree programs are planned to span a three-year period, although students may take fewer courses each semester and extend the program over a longer period of time. The following degrees can be earned in the evening division: Accounting, General Studies, Liberal Arts, Management, and Nursing. Certificates in Bereavement Studies, Gerontology and Teaching Assistant are also offered.

Weekend College

This innovative degree-granting division primarily serves working adults for whom day and evenings schedules have been an obstacle to continuing their education. Weekend College students can usually complete degrees in the same two-year time frame as traditionally enrolled day students, by attending classes in three-hour time blocks on Saturday and Sunday, every other weekend, year round. The following degrees may be earned in Weekend College: Accounting, General Studies, Liberal Arts, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Paralegal. Certificates in Bereavement Studies, Gerontology, Paralegal, Practical Nurse (LPN Training) are also offered.

Online Courses

As part of the mission to deliver high quality instruction, Maria’s Online Learning courses are offered in convenient scheduling formats. Students with family and work obligations have the opportunity to take college courses in a nontraditional learning environment that allows them to complete course work at locations and times that are convenient. While most work is done from remote locations, some courses may require on-campus meetings for labs or exams. Most courses span the timeline of a regular semester. Click on Course Schedule to view a complete list of online courses.