St. Mary’s Projects
The St. Mary’s Project— our most popular undergraduate research opportunity — is a culminating project of original
research, scholarship, or creative performance
undertaken in the senior year. Approximately 60% of our students complete a St. Mary’s Project.
Examples of St. Mary’s Projects
St. Mary’s Undergraduate
Research Fellowships (SURF)
SURF is an eight-week summer program at St. Mary’s College in which students from a variety of disciplines work on self-chosen research topics with guidance from faculty mentors. The SURF program culminates in July with a SURF symposium, a group of presentations to the St. Mary’s community.
Info About SURF
Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU)
The REU program is a six week research experience in mathematics and computer science available to sophomores and juniors. This paid summer internship allows students to perform more focused research in their areas of interest.
Info About REU

Professor Kirsten Deane-Coe’s contemporary bioscience class was at St. Johns pond Thursday measuring the amount of terrestrial habitat loss that would occur under projected sea level rise by year 2100.
Field Research
Our historic campus at Maryland’s first capital provides a breadth of field study opportunities for students. Affiliations with Historic St. Mary’s City and nearby Jefferson Patterson Park provide students rich opportunities to engage in internships, independent studies, senior projects, and hands-on professional research. You can participate in a local dig at our archaeology lab.