Brief History of Saint Louis University and the Department of Education
Saint Louis University is a private university under Catholic auspices. It traces its history to the foundation of the Saint Louis Academy by the Right Reverend William DuBourg, Bishop of Louisiana, in 1818. The Society of Jesus assumed directorship of the school in 1827 and the small Jesuit college received its charter as Saint Louis University in 1831.
The Graduate School of Saint Louis University traces its history to 1832 when formal requirements for the granting of the Master of Arts degree were announced by the Institution. The first Master of Arts degree was conferred in 1834 and the first Doctor of Philosophy degree was conferred in 1880. The present administrative structure of the Graduate School dates from 1924, when reorganization resulted in administrative authority resting in a separate dean, assisted by a Board of Graduate Studies.
Saint Louis University's School of Education brings together degree programs sharing a common mission of community action and service. It provides a rich environment for interdisciplinary research and outreach initiatives that impact metropolitan St. Louis.
Although each program has its own character and requirements, certain themes recur in the curriculum: moral and ethical development, leadership and service, multicultural studies, inquiry and communication, and technology.
In 1925 the School of Education opened its doors as a co-educational school. Initially, undergraduate women students were taught by nuns; only on the graduate level did Jesuits accept women students. This decision limiting the education of women on a Jesuit campus resulted in the formation of the "University College."
By the early 1940s, the Graduate School of Saint Louis University had established the Master's degree in Education in order to meet the needs of full-time teachers, most of whom belonged to religious orders. Concurrently, the Dean of Graduate Education recognized the need for advanced course work for teachers employed in public schools within and around the city of St. Louis. This led to the offering of Saturday and evening courses in the field of education. This event coupled with the establishment of the "University College" laid the framework for the development of the School of Education as it is known today.
Faculty members serve as advisors and mentors for graduate students as they pursue their coursework and research interests.