The St. Mary’s Project (SMP) is a year-long, 8-credit, capstone of study at St. Mary’s.

SMPs are an independently designed and executed course of study. Working in close conjunction with one or more professors, in or outside of the department, students have the opportunity to explore, in depth, a question or idea that entrances and intrigues them.

An SMP may take the form of a research paper or a creative expression of the arts. It may include collaborative work and build upon components of internships, study-abroad programs, and other experimental formats, as well as traditional research skills.

Biology SMPs

A year-long intensive study of a particular topic, culminating in a written thesis.

May involve:

• laboratory research performed with a member of the Biology Department faculty at St. Mary’s
• research conducted off-campus as a part of an internship or summer research program at another institution
• library research on data collected by others to address a novel question

All students present their SMP to the Biology Department as either an oral or poster presentation.

For some students, their SMP leads to a publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.