Learn More About the Department
The Gustavus Education Department positions teacher candidates to be student-centered educational advocates through its exceptional team of professors, small class sizes, varied field experiences, plus all that a liberal arts education can offer educators-to-be.
The program is committed to the preparation of 21st-century teachers who understand the complexities of learning and teaching and who incorporate principles such as building supportive communities, promoting collaboration, and embedding values of diversity and belonging into educational practices. Through research-based strategies and reflective teaching, the program aims to equip future educators with the skills and knowledge to meet the diverse needs of students by partnering with local and global schools to provide valuable opportunities for teacher candidates to apply their learning in real-world contexts and empowering educators to create equitable and supportive learning environments for all students.
Accredited Teaching Degrees Offered at Gustavus
The Education Department at Gustavus offers a wide range of teaching degrees. All the programs are reviewed and re-approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) every six years.
Elementary Education (K-6)
Middle School Level Endorsements (Grades 5-8) in the following areas:
- Communication Arts and Literature
- Math
- Social Studies
- General Science
Secondary Degrees for grades 9-12 in the following areas:
- Biology/Life Science (you can add 5-8 with this major if you do a Middle Level Endorsement)
- Chemistry
- Physics
Secondary Degrees for grades 5-12 in the following areas:
- Communication Arts and Literature
- Math
- Social Studies
Degrees for K-12 in the following areas:
- Physical Education/Health
- Vocal Music
- Instrumental Music
- Spanish
- Latin
- Visual Arts
Teacher Education students may also qualify for a coaching minor by completing the course requirements as outlined by the Department of Health and Exercise Science.
Gustavus teacher candidates must complete a board approved performance assessment as part of their student teaching semester. Prior to Spring 2025, teacher candidates completed the edTPA: the Teacher Performance Assessment involves designing and teaching a sequence of 3-5 lessons. Tasks 1 and 3 (planning and assessment) must be completed and passed in order to be accepted for graduation and licensure. At Gustavus, you are assigned a TPA reader that helps you create a stellar portfolio through ethical coaching.
Passing Scores for the 2 tasks within your EdTPA:
- Task 1: Cutscore 13
- Task 3: Cutscore 12
Beginning in Spring 2025, the program received a variance to pilot an alternate teacher performance assessment, the Candidate Preservice Assessment of Student Teaching (CPAST Overview), developed by the Ohio State University.
A conceptual framework undergirds the Gustavus Teacher Education Program: teacher as educational advocate. Our conceptual framework is not static; rather, it represents the dynamics of an ever-changing professional landscape. The Gustavus Education Department is focused on preparing educators who are equipped to equitably meet the needs of their students in K-12 schools. The department emphasizes the importance of advocacy, cultural awareness, and social justice in teaching. Its framework incorporates principles such as building supportive communities, promoting collaboration, and embedding values of diversity and belonging into educational practices. Through research-based strategies and reflective teaching, the program aims to equip future educators with the skills and knowledge to meet the diverse needs of students by partnering with local and global schools to provide valuable opportunities for teacher candidates to apply their learning in real-world contexts and empowering educators to create equitable and supportive learning environments for all students.
Facilitated by the strong liberal arts and professional preparation of the candidates, the Education major at Gustavus is strongly enhanced by a liberal arts foundation that encourages breadth of knowledge and interdisciplinary and international perspectives, and engages inquiry and intellectual curiosity. All of our licensure programs are approved by Minnesota’s Professional Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) and lead to qualification for a teaching license in the state of Minnesota.