Catawba College offers a Teaching Scholarship to all new incoming and transfer students who major or minor in one of our on-campus education programs. A completed application to Catawba College with an indicated intent to major (Elementary Education, Special Education, or Middle Grades Education) or minor (if desiring to teach at the high school level or to teach Music Education) in education will automatically serve as the application for a Teaching Scholarship, as well.
West Teaching Scholarship
The West Teaching Scholarship awards students in the education field up to $12,000 yearly in addition to academic scholarships awarded by Catawba, except for Socratic Scholarships. Eligibility for these scholarships requires a cumulative high school GPA of at least 4.0. (Students may also submit SAT or ACT scores in order to qualify for exemption from the required Praxis CORE exam for entry to Teacher Education. An SAT score of 1170 or ACT composite score of 24 is required for exemption.)
Opportunities in Education Scholarship
The Opportunities in Education Scholarship awards students interested in the field of education up to$10,000 yearly in addition to academic scholarships awarded by Catawba, except for Socratic Scholarships. This scholarship is designed to provide more affordable post-secondary access to college and to encourage the pursuit of opportunities in the field of education for students. Eligibility for these scholarships requires a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0.
"Commit to Teacher Education" Scholarship
For students with a GPA that does not meet the qualification for either the West Teaching Scholarship or Opportunities in Education Scholarship, the Teacher Education Department also offers the "Commit to Teacher Education Scholarship." Recipients of this scholarship will receive $2000 per year, with an increase to $4000 per year once successfully admitted to the Teacher Education program. To apply, complete the online application for the scholarship, noting your intent to major or minor in Education. To continue to receive the scholarship, recipients must declare a major or minor in Education by the end of their freshman year, qualify for admittance to Teacher Education for the junior year, and complete the coursework required for the major or minor selected in Education.
Apply for a Teaching Scholarship
Reminder: A completed application to Catawba College with an indicated intent to major or minor in education will automatically serve as the application for a Teaching Scholarship, as well
NOTE: Applicants are only eligible to receive one of the above scholarships (i.e. Students can receive either a West Scholarship, an Opportunities in Education Scholarship, or a Commit to Teacher Education Scholarship). In order to maintain the scholarship award each year, recipients must meet minimum Catawba GPA requirements, must declare a major or minor in education by the end of freshman year, and must meet the requirements for admission to Teacher Education by the end of the sophomore year, including submission of passing Praxis CORE scores (or qualifying SAT or ACT composite scores).
Other Opportunities for Education Majors
TeachNC
In addition to Catawba’s educational scholarships, applicants interested in teaching may want to consider funding from TeachNC.
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Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS)
In addition to Catawba’s educational scholarships, applicants interested in teaching may also want to consider FELS, which provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in an approved education program and committed to working in critical employment shortage professions in North Carolina. Currently the approved programs/shortage professions include teachers of math, science, middle grades, and special education. FELS loan recipients are required to teach in an approved position in a North Carolina school in order to repay the loan; generally, a loan for one academic year will be forgiven for one year of full-time employment.
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Apprenticeship Program
Applicants interested in pursuing a major in Elementary Education should also note the opportunity for participation in an apprenticeship program with the local school system (RSS) which includes pre-apprenticeship (junior year) and apprenticeship (senior year) at the Koontz Elementary Lab School. Participants receive a stipend for the junior year internship ($5000) and a paid, year-long student teaching experience ($20,000), in addition to education scholarship funding received from Catawba. Participants in this apprenticeship program receive contracts for at last two years of employment in Rowan-Salisbury Schools upon completion of their program.
