On May 19, 1961, the San Antonio Light reported that the six young men receiving their industrial engineering degrees at St. Mary’s commencement exercises “will be the first engineering class graduating from the only school in San Antonio currently offering such a degree.” Three years later, graduate courses leading to master’s degrees in three engineering fields were added.

It’s not surprising that engineering education is among the many unique educational contributions made by the Marianists in San Antonio. Starting with the introduction of a pre-engineering program in the early 1950s, engineering education at St. Mary’s has expanded to include several degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

At the dedication of the Richter Center for Mathematics and Engineering in October 1967, Southwest Research Institute President Martin Goland stated, “It seems to be eminently fitting that St. Mary’s University, with its century-old tradition of scholarship in the humanities and sciences, should now be turning its attention to the areas of technology.”

The Marianists responded to their founder, the Blessed William Joseph Chaminade’s admonition that “new times call for new methods” by constantly reviewing the curriculum and adding programs that best met the needs of both students and society. Hence, students of today in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology can pursue degrees in traditional programs such as electrical and industrial engineering, or in newer fields of computer and software engineering.

Since that class of six earned the first engineering degrees awarded by a San Antonio school 41 years ago, more than 650 bachelor’s and master’s engineering degrees have been awarded to St. Mary’s students.