st mary of the woods art therapy

Off-Campus, Catholic Liberal Arts Education at SMWC

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Online Colleges with High Graduation Rates.

Ranked the Midwest’s 21st best choice by the U.S. News & World Report, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is the oldest private, nonprofit ACCU member in Indiana that grants four associate, 33 bachelor’s, and five master’s degrees, including 25 fully online, at a 7:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the B.S. in Equine Studies has a 120-credit, four-year hybrid plan overseen by Dr. Penny Quinn where Pomeroys can compete on the Western Equestrian Team, join 4-H Club, study abroad in Ireland, and care for 48 college-owned horses. Directed by Dr. Wendy Walter, the 120-credit B.S. in Special Education leads to the PreK-3 or K-6 Mild Intervention license online with eight- or 16-week classes from Learning Assessment to Behavior Analysis plus student teaching and FTA membership.

Online on Desire2Learn since Fall 2015, the Master of Healthcare Administration has started its 36-credit sequence headed by Dr. Michelle Ruiz each October with accelerated eight-week, 500-level courses like Long Term Care Management and Information Systems for AAHAM certification. Chaired by Dr. Jill McNutt, the M.A. in Art Therapy crafts a 54-credit, AATA-accredited online curriculum that requires three in-person residencies each year and 600 clock hours of internships, such as Riley Hospital or Hope in Healing, to fulfill counseling licensure.

Other Saint Mary-of-the-Woods programs include the A.S. in Paralegal Studies, B.S. in Environmental Science, B.S. in Information Technology, B.A. in Theology, B.A. in English, B.S. in Accounting, M.A. in Music Therapy, and M.S. in Nursing.

About Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College originated on October 22, 1840, when Saint Mother Theodore Guerin arrived in Indiana from Ruille-sur-Loir, France, to build a women’s academy. In 1846, the Sisters of Providence successfully received a state charter for Saint Mary’s Female Institute. Originally founded for postsecondary certificates, it awarded the first Bachelor of Arts in 1899. In 1908, Sister Mary Theodosia was famously cured of cancer when visiting Mother Theodore’s tomb at the Academy. Two decades later, it adopted the current Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College name. By 1973, SMWC launched its well-known Women’s External Degree. In 2000, the M.A. in Art Therapy became Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s earliest graduate program. Five years after, SMWC utilized distance technology to establish online education. On October 15, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI made Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Indiana’s first saint. In 2015, the Board of Trustees changed SMWC to coeducational status.

Endowed for $10.4 million, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College now employs 130 faculty teaching 1,577 undergrad and 126 post-grad Pomeroys from 33 states online or on the 311-acre Sugar Creek Township campus of Vigo County with 20+ clubs like Mu Phi Epsilon for 74 percent retention. In 2012, SMWC received the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce’s Community Health Champion Award. In 2018, SMWC had a Next Generation Hoosier Educator Award recipient. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 too. The U.S. News & World Report named Saint Mary-of-the-Woods the 233rd best online undergrad school. On WalletHub, SMWC boasts America’s 296th best career outcomes and 336th safest campus. College Factual picked SMWC 111th for special education, 272nd for professional writing, and 165th for paralegal studies programs.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Accreditation Details

On May 12, 2015, the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council formally notified Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College that the Level III accreditation status was extended through 2024-25 under the 16th president, Dr. Dottie L. King, who received the Indiana Commission for Women Torchbearer Award. Located 178 miles north via State Road 63 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). The Academic Affairs Office also lists the following degree-specific approvals:

  • American Art Therapy Association
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • American Music Therapy Association
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
  • Society for Human Resource Management

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Application Requirements

Getting into Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is classified “minimally difficult” by Peterson’s though only 434 of the 578 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 75.1 percent acceptance. First-year Pomeroys must exhibit college readiness with a secondary or GED diploma. Completion of four English, three math, and three social science units is strongly suggested. The Class of 2022 presented an average high school GPA of 3.16. The middle 50th percentile had ACT composite scores of 17-22. Mid-range admitted SAT scores were 890-1070. Woods Online makes transfers test-optional with 24+ college credits and GPAs above 2.0. The Music Therapy Equivalency program seeks Bachelor of Music graduates with 2.5 or better GPAs. Online RN to BSN cohorts must hold current registered nursing licensure. Transition to Teach students must present a minimum 220 CASA or 310 GRE score. GPAs of 2.5-3.0 are only acceptable with five years of relevant experience. The M.A. in Art Therapy has 30 credits of prerequisite courses, including Abnormal Psychology and Introduction to Drawing.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College conveniently has a rolling admission process year-round. Decisions are generally made within 7-10 business days after submission. Graduate programs may take up to 30 days. Current semester start dates are August 20th, January 13th, and May 11th. Woods Online courses begin every eight weeks for bimonthly enrollment. Accordingly, complete the SMWC or Common Application online for $0. Forward official transcripts to One Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Saint Mary of the Woods, IN 47876. Submit testing results via SAT/GRE code 1704 or ACT code 1242. Send supplemental materials, such as the 500-word essay, current resume, 20-image art portfolio, two recommendations, and music audition tape. Contact (812) 535-5106 or [email protected] with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is billing traditional full-time undergrads $29,950 annually. Part-time campus study incurs $496 per credit. Bachelor’s majors cover the $550 general fee each year. Room and board for the Greater Terre Haute dorms like Le Fer Hall adds $11,240 yearly. Education programs have a $225 one-time fee. Music and music therapy students pay a $1,999 one-time fee. SMWC budgets $1,600 for books and $3,040 for personal expenses. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $45,514 on-site or $34,600 if commuting. Woods Online typically charges $496 per credit. RN to BSN tuition is $297 per credit. Master’s Web-based courses are $565 per credit. Other graduate programs cost $710 per credit. The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture is uniquely priced $450 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Rooney Library connects 100 percent of new full-time SMWC Pomeroys to tuition assistance averaging $25,870 each for $3.41 million combined. Institutional funds include the Woods Online Scholarship, Legacy Grant, Yellow Ribbon Scholarship, Musician of Promise Scholarship, Sister Sue Pietrus Memorial Scholarship, Sister Marie Brendan Harvey Scholarship, Mildred & Harry Martin Scholarship, Sister Mary Thomasetta Scholarship, Catholic Faith Scholarship, Wabash Valley High School Scholarship, and Center for Leadership Development Scholarship. The President’s Scholarship gifts $10,500 annually to undergrads with minimum GPAs of 3.5-4.0. The Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Scholarship has a November 22nd deadline to pick four on-campus students for full-tuition coverage and an iPad. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA forms coded 001835. The 21st Century Scholars Program provides up to $21,000 for Indiana residents taking 30+ credits each year.

Explore 10 accredited departments conferring 40+ flexible, faith-based degrees placed 180th overall by Washington Monthly at the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College website.