Sisters in the Schools
The college grew slowly from three students in 1913 to only 35 ten years later; however, enrollment reached as high as 514 in 1960. The faculty also grew from ten faculty members, all religious, in 1913, who taught in both college and academy, to 48 full-time faculty members in 1960, seven of them lay faculty, with thirteen Ph.D.'s and 25 master's degrees. In 19l3, there were three functioning majors. By 1932, eleven majors were fully accredited by the University of Minnesota: biology, chemistry, English, French, German, history, home economics, Latin, math, music, and sociology. The increase in enrollment meant more sisters obtained science degrees to fulfill the college's needs. The shifting needs often changed the direction of the coursework and degrees for the sisters. Some of the sisters who obtained bachelor's degrees in sciences changed direction to receive advanced degrees in counseling, religious education, library science, or something else needed as the college evolved. Eleven of the forty sisters who graduated with degrees in biology and chemistry completed doctorate degrees, and sixteen completed master's degrees. However, the duration for the sisters to complete their science degrees was not simple or a straight path.
Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota. www.sbm.osb.org. Used with permission.
