The Certificate in Catholic School Leadership is a graduate-level certificate that provides both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to form effective leaders of Catholic schools. Through its integration of the foundational principles of the Catholic faith and the competencies to run complex, non-profit institutions in the twenty-first century, the certificate program prepares individuals to be successful leaders in schools tasked with the formation and education of the next generation of faithful disciples.
The 2023 Catholic School Leadership cohort begins Thursday, June 22 and runs through Friday, June 30 (8:00am-5:00pm).
Fall and spring classes are held in an online format.
The program goals of the Certificate in Catholic School Leadership are:
- Develop school leaders grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, who are faithful disciples of Christ and credible witnesses of the faith
- Develop school leaders capable of nurturing and sustaining the Catholic ethos, identity, and character of a Catholic educational institution
- Develop school leaders with the practical skills necessary to manage complex, non-profit educational institutions effectively and successfully in the twenty-first century
The Certificate in Catholic School Leadership consists of a 14-month program of study that spans two consecutive summers and the intervening school year. Summer courses (two per summer) are delivered in a traditional format, utilizing in-person instruction within a classroom context over a two-week session in June. Courses during the academic year (one each in the fall and spring semesters) are delivered online, and accompanied by a supervised mentoring experience to develop and improve the leadership skills of current and future Catholic school leaders.
Seven required courses, totaling 19 credit hours, are offered sequentially in a cohort model:
- DVDT 510: Fundamentals of the Catholic Faith for Catholic School Leaders (3 credits)
- DVPT 575: Leading for Catholic Mission I (3 credits)
- DVPT 670: Applied Catholic School Leadership (2 credits)
- DVHS 620: The History, Philosophy, and Mission of the Catholic School (3 credits)
- DVPT 609: Catholic Schools and School Law (3 credits)
- DVPT 607: Non-Profit Leadership for Catholic School Leaders (2 credits)
- DVPT 675: Leading for Catholic Mission II (3 credits)
Full Catholic School Leadership Course Descriptions (PDF)
Program Goals
- To develop school leaders grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, who are faithful disciples of Christ and credible witnesses of the faith
- To develop school leaders capable of nurturing and sustaining the Catholic ethos, identity, and character of a Catholic educational institution
- To develop school leaders with the practical skills necessary to manage complex, non-profit educational institutions effectively and successfully in the twenty-first century
As a specialized ministry of the Church, leadership of Catholic schools is entrusted to those who have been adequately and thoroughly formed in the faith. Formation for ministry attends to the whole human person, focusing on the development of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral attributes necessary for effective ministry that gives authentic witness to the transformative power and love of Christ.
The Certificate in Catholic School Leadership is much more than an academic program. Co-curricular components provide opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, and the development of the practical skills needed to realize the vision and mission of Catholic education. An opening retreat, times for private and communal prayer, the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass, along with opportunities for spiritual direction and theological reflection are essential elements of an integrated and holistic formation program that prepares participants to become the catechetical and spiritual leaders of their local schools. Striving to respond faithfully to the universal call to holiness, Catholic school leaders endeavor to conform their hearts and minds to the will of God, so that they might be more credible witnesses of the faith as they manifest and model the love of Christ for their students, faculty colleagues, and the families and communities they serve.
Participants in the certificate program form a community of disciples in which they learn from and support one another, both during their time of study and throughout the subsequent years of their professional lives. In-person formation at The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity nurtures the bonds of community through shared meals, communal worship, time for socializing and recreation, and ample occasions to collaborate with colleagues on course assignments and projects. The program’s cohort model forges and strengthens the personal relationships and professional networks that school leaders often rely on to weather the challenges and difficulties of their careers.
A student who completes the Catholic School Leadership graduate certificate is already halfway toward earning a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership graduate degree from the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity. To learn how to apply certificate credits toward the MAPL degree, please contact Recruitment and Student Services Coordinator Rosalinda Romportl at rosalinda.romportl@stthomas.edu.