City: St. Paul, MN

Category: Education

Telephone: (651) 690-6000 or (800) 945-45

Address: 2004 Randolph Ave.

Description: The largest Catholic college for women in the country is also the Twin Cities’ newest university, having officially changed its name from the College of St. Catherine in 2009.St. Catherine, or St. Kate’s, has a notable history. The college was founded in 1905 by the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, whose mission is improving women’s educational opportunities. That said, St. Kate’s does offer limited programs for men at its much smaller campus in Minneapolis as well as at the graduate school.St. Kate’s emphasizes a distinctly Roman Catholic spiritual and ethical approach to education. St. Kate’s curriculum emphasizes depth and breadth and is reflected in critical inquiry, multicultural studies, and interdisciplinary teaching in the classroom. Offered at the college are nearly 50 different majors, from art and biology to theater and theology. Nursing is the most popular area of study, although there are many liberal arts programs. St. Catherine is the Twin Cities’ oldest and largest health care educator and includes highly regarded programs in nursing, occupational therapy, and pre-med.One of St. Kate’s greatest educational innovations was the creation of “Weekend College” in 1979. Weekend College is designed to meet working women’s needs for a college education. Classes meet every other weekend on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. Fifteen practical, career-oriented majors are offered in the Weekend College program, including elementary education, accounting, communication, healthcare management, and nursing.