Years to Complete the Program

This is a one-year program completed with a cohort that begins and progresses through coursework together. However, if students need additional time to complete their program, all coursework must occur within seven years of the start of the first course taken in the program.

Transfer Credits

Recognizing Prior Montessori Training

In the Montessori Education & Leadership program, students earn graduate credit for their completed Montessori certificate or diploma. Individual certificates or diplomas earned through MACTE-accredited teacher preparation programs are evaluated and granted graduate credits at St. Catherine University. Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood/Primary, Elementary, or Adolescent credentials are all eligible for the 15 graduate credits. 

Note:  Students who have any questions about MACTE accreditation are referred to www.MACTE.org.

Progression Policy

In order to remain in good standing, students must fulfill the following:

• maintain an overall 3.0 grade point average.
• earn a grade of B– or better in each graduate course.
• successfully complete each assignment.
• adhere to the department’s criteria for professional/ethical behavior, integrity, honesty, personal behavior, respect for others, and the Minnesota code of ethics for teachers.

Conditions for Probation

Students will be placed on probation for one term for any of the following reasons:

• lack of attendance and participation (90% attendance is required in the entire program).
• a grade lower than a B– earned in any course.
• overall GPA is less than 3.0.
• failure to fulfill the department’s criteria for professional/ethical behavior, integrity, honesty, personal behavior, respect for others, or violations of the Minnesota code of ethics for teachers.
• violation of the Institution’s policy on academic integrity (Note: St. Catherine expects all students and faculty to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Any act of academic dishonesty threatens the value of all scholastic endeavor.)
• violation of the Institution’s policy on student conduct.

A student must complete the next segment of the program with grades of B- or better.

At the end of the probationary period, the student may be removed from probation, placed on extended probation or suspended

In addition, removal from probation will occur when the following program conditions have been met:

• Incomplete, F, or other grades below B- converted to B- or better.

The Admissions and Retention Committee will identify the conditions of academic probation in writing. Failure to meet the written conditions for probation or to bring the grade point average to 3.0 by the end of the term on academic probation will result in automatic suspension from the program under ordinary circumstances.

Under extraordinary circumstances, students may petition in writing to repeat a course, but may not take the next courses in sequence unless the petition has been approved and the conditions for continuance agreed upon. Decisions regarding petitions will be made by the Admissions and Retention Committee.

Removal from Probation

A student must complete the next segment of the program with grades of B- or better. If the student does not qualify for removal from probation but shows significant improvement, the student may be placed on extended probation. At the end of the probationary period, the student may be removed from probation, placed on extended probation or dismissed.

In addition, removal from probation will occur when the following program conditions have been met:

• Incomplete, F, or other grades below B- converted to B- or better.

Removal from probation, which had been imposed for violations of the department's criteria for professional/ethical behavior may require action by the Policies Committee or other University authority. In this case, removal from probation may not always be possible.

Conditions for Program Dismissal

Program dismissal will result as a consequence of the following:

• If conditions for removal from probation are not met

Violations of the department's criteria for professional/ethical behavior, integrity, academic integrity, honesty, personal behavior, respect for others or violations of the Minnesota code of ethics for teachers will require special action by the Admissions and Retention Committee or other institutional authority.

Conditions for Readmission to the Program

A student who has discontinued program coursework for any reason - academic disqualification or personal reasons - must contact the Office of Graduate Admission to complete the readmission process. Readmission to the program will occur when the following conditions have been met.

• Readmission has been approved by the program director and/or chair of the Education Department
• A reasonable study plan has been made and mutually agreed upon by the student and program director/chair/academic advisor

Readmission may not be possible after the violation(s) of the department's criteria for professional/ethical behavior, integrity, academic integrity, honesty, personal behavior, respect for others, or violations of the Minnesota code of ethics for teachers. Readmission will require special action by the Admission and Retention Committee or other institutional authority.