engaged actively in the inquiry process, and in their own learning.
and literacy teaching skills in real classrooms early
on, building confidence for student teaching.
Become a Teacher
Many principals tell us that they put St. Catherine graduates' résumés at the top of the pile when making hiring decisions. That's not surprising — St. Kate's has been educating women to be teachers since 1913.
Our undergraduate education programs helps our students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for a successful, challenging and rewarding career in teaching, whether at the elementary or secondary level. STEM is an important component of our elementary teacher preparation programs.
Elementary Teaching (K-6)
STEM certificate
All elementary education majors at the University are required to complete a three-course STEM certificate. We are the first institution of higher education in the country to ensure that teacher candidates demonstrate competence in STEM fields through a certificate program that includes an engineering course.
We are taking our cue from practicing elementary teachers and deans of school of education. In a recent study, they agreed that elementary teacher education programs should require undergraduates to take more coursework – in both science and in science teaching methods.1
The STEM certificate comprises three cross-disciplinary, inquiry-based courses:
- Chemistry of Life
- Environmental Biology
- Makin’ and Breakin:’ Engineering in Your World
Each course is centered on one core discipline (chemistry, biology or engineering) with additional integrated themes. Courses are rigorous, hands-on and lab-based with a "contextual" curriculum that focuses students’ work on real-life problems such as climate change. Content is aligned with Minnesota and national teacher preparation standards and addresses changes in the Minnesota Academic Standards in Science that incorporate more STEM content and skills with an increased focus on engineering.
STEM certificate courses are team-taught by science and education professors emphasizing extensive hands-on activities, new technology and scientific equipment, and interdisciplinary teaching methods directly correlated to content.
Mathematics content is integrated into the STEM certificate courses, but two additional, required mathematics courses provide a solid foundation in teaching math for elementary teacher license candidates.
Fieldwork: the Environment and Literacy
All elementary education majors participate in two extensive fieldwork experiences prior to student teaching. One focuses on environmental education, called EcoSTARS. The second addresses literacy and the teaching of reading and writing.
The fieldwork assignments are each six weeks long and involve a team made up of a St. Kate's student, an exemplary teacher from an area elementary school and a St. Catherine education professor. With strong coaching from the team, our students learn how to design and deliver lessons. They get hands-on experience in real classrooms and valuable feedback well before it's time to student teach.
Read more about the EcoSTARS environmental education program »
Learn more about academic programs in elementary education »
Secondary Teaching (7-12)
Students pursuing a degree in secondary education have a wealth of resources at St. Kate's. They receive top-notch teacher preparation from the education department and gain deep knowledge of their chosen discipline from St. Catherine’s excellent academic departments.