Apply to the Program
Students wanting to major or minor in Education needs to complete an Admissions process with the Department. This admissions process occurs usually during a student’s sophomore year. Students seeking both Elementary Education and Secondary Education are expected to complete this process.
- Completed background check with no felonies
- Earned GPA of 2.50 or above (cumulative, licensure content area and department coursework)
- Earned writing score of 24+ out of 30 in EDUC 111
- Completed application package (see Application Materials below)
- Completed Connection Session with an Admissions Committee Member (scheduled after applications have been submitted)
Students that fall short of these requirements are still encouraged to apply to the program. Talk to your advisor with questions and see also acceptance to the program section (below).
Students must ensure the following documents have been completed and submitted to the Education Department prior to the application deadline.
Items to complete:
- Dispositions form (self-reflection and faculty review are usually completed during EDUC 111. Candidates can check in Taskstream to make sure these two items will be submitted).
- Teacher Shadow
- Complete a teacher shadow experience of at least 35 hours.
- Candidate completes a teacher shadow reflection paper and submits to Taskstream (select Erica Karger-Gatzow for evaluator in Taskstream). [Teacher Shadow Reflection Assignment Instructions]
- Evaluation of candidate completed by cooperating teacher. Candidates will send their cooperating teacher the link to the Evaluation: Teacher Shadow Evaluation by Cooperating Teachers
- Reference Evaluation for Education Program Admission (2nd reference).
- References can be completed by a faculty member within the Education or a different department, coach, advisor, or supervisor of your choice.
- Candidates will share this link with the person completing their reference: Reference Evaluation for Education Program Admission
- Education Department Application form
Workshops are available to explain the Admissions process to candidates.
Topics include:
- Assistance completing the admissions application
- Accessing GPA and writing scores
- Meet members of the admissions committee
- What to expect of the admissions process
Candidates are strongly encouraged to attend a workshop- those who attend experience a smoother admissions process!
The Education Department will formally notify students the outcome of the admissions process 3-5 business days before Registration begins for the following semester. There are three potential outcomes:
Acceptance
Candidate meets all necessary conditions for admission to the program.
Next step:
- Complete the Major/Minor Acceptance form with the Registrar’s Office to Officially declare your Education major/minor.
Conditional Acceptance
Candidate meets most of the necessary conditions for admission to the program and has a plan to complete the rest.
Next Steps:
- Complete the Major/Minor Acceptance form with the Registrar’s Office to Officially declare your Education major/minor.
- Fulfill requirements outlined in outcome letter.
Denial
Candidate is missing application materials and/or falls short of conditions for admission.
- Students may reapply for admission to the Education Department the following semester if there has been a significant improvement in their application materials. Students are allowed to apply up to two times.
- The applicant will be expected to resubmit a new Admissions Application for re-examination.
Students have 30 days to appeal an admissions decision (see appeals section below).
If a student wishes to appeal the formal decision of their status with the Education Department, or any of any of the conditions that have been set for full acceptance, the student may appeal to the Appeals Committee. A student does not need to appeal an Admissions Committee decision to apply again a following semester; that process is explained in the “Applying Again” section of this page.
Appeals Process
Within 30 school days:
- Meet with your Education Department advisor or another Education Department faculty/staff member to plan your appeal.
- Within 30 school days of receiving formal notice from the Department, submit to the Department Chair a signed electronic copy of a letter requesting a meeting with the Appeals Committee about the decision. The letter must include:
- Description of the decision you are appealing
- Summary of the grounds on which you are seeking the appeal.
- Name of one CSB+SJU faculty/staff member who will attend the meeting with you.
*If you miss the 30 school day window for submitting an appeal, you can re-apply to the department a following semester.
Steps that will take place after your letter is received:
- With in 5 school days of receiving the letter requesting an appeal, the Department Chair will forward an electronic copy of the letter to the Chair of the Appeals Committee for review.
- Within 10 school days of receiving the letter, the Chair of the Appeals Committee will determine whether there is cause for a meeting.
- If cause is determined, a meeting will be scheduled to occur within 20 school days. You will be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, this could occur via telephone or videoconference. You are encouraged to invite your chosen CSB+SJU faculty or staff member to the meeting.
Appeals Committee Meeting process:
The purpose of the meeting is to have the student’s voice be included in the Committee’s reconsideration of a decision.
- The Chair of the Appeals Committee will first summarize the Education Department’s decision in question.
- You will be asked to share any extenuating circumstances on which the appeal is based.
- Committee members and your faculty/staff representative will not speak on your behalf, but can ask you questions to better understand your situation.
- After you have had the opportunity to address all questions, you and your faculty/staff representative will be excused from the meeting and the committee will meet to review the information provided.
Notification of Decision:
- Within 24 hours of the meeting, the Chair of the Appeals Committee will notify you of the decision.
- If you believe the appeals process to have been unfair, you may appeal directly to the Dean or the Director of Academic Advising.
Reapplying to the program
- A student is only allowed to apply to the program a total 2 times.
- The reapplication process is for a student that had previously applied for admission to the CSB+SJU Education Department and was denied.
- A student is allowed to reapply during the next department application period.
Items needed to reapply:
- Complete a new admissions application in Forms Manager
- Two new references for faculty with whom you’ve worked with during the previous year. Reference form for Admission to Education Department
- All additional application materials and tasks completed in traditional application process (see above)
- Complete a Reapplication Form that includes answering these questions:
- What reasons do you have for pursuing teacher licensure?
- What are areas of growth since your previous application?
- What areas for future growth and improvement do you plan to target?
- What strategies, resources and/or supports do you plan to use to be successful in the program?
All materials for reapplication have the same deadline as the traditional admissions process.
Please contact the Education Department Program Coordinator with any questions.
Erica Karger-Gatzow LICSW
Program Coordinator, Education Department
Henrita Academic Building 125F
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
37 S. College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
[email protected]
320-363-5508
College of Saint Benedict
Saint John’s University
Leah VanOverbeke
Department Coordinator
CSB HAB 125
320-363-5709