Catholic Education Leadership Certificate

Saint Joseph’s University's Catholic Educational Leadership Certificate is a 12-credit (four-course) graduate program that prepares leaders to meet the critical needs and challenges facing 21st-century Catholic K-12 education in our local communities. Grounded in the nearly 500-year tradition of Jesuit education, this certificate offers the imaginative, practical, flexible and visionary insights of Ignatian leadership. This program teaches participants the most current information on holistic fiduciary care of school communities, education law, finance and the development and implementation of transformational leadership.

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What Sets Our Program Apart

  • This certificate offers the option to take six additional courses and graduate with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.

  • This certificate offers an affordable and accessible educational leadership program for school leaders working in economically underrepresented and underserved communities.

  • The Catholic Educational Leadership Certificate draws upon the best leadership practices established across the Jesuit educational network, the world’s oldest and largest.

  • The culminating practicum experience offered with this certificate focuses on educational philosophy, strategy and vision within a Catholic educational context.

     

  • The certificate curriculum focuses on developing the unique gifts of individual school leaders to meet the needs of the particular context in which they serve.

  • Saint Joseph's University has been recognized in multiple “2024 Best Colleges” lists Niche, including "Best Catholic Colleges."

What Can I Do with a Catholic Education Leadership Certificate?

Graduates of this program will be able to: 

  • Advance to the highest positions of leadership within Catholic schools and diocesan offices of Catholic education
  • Contribute to the extraordinary leadership needs of the rapidly changing landscape of Catholic education today
  • Advance Catholic education

Program Details

  • Tuition for the Catholic Educational Leadership Certificate is $879 per credit*.

    *Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed cost breakdown.

    We also offer benefits for veterans.

  • View required courses for this certificate in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Why Study Catholic Educational Leadership in Philadelphia?

Catholic schools have been an integral part of the U.S. educational landscape since the Jesuits opened the first one in 1782 in Philadelphia. Since then, Catholic education has always been varied and innovative as it often developed among inhospitable conditions and with limited resources. Its success in the U.S. for nearly a quarter of a millennium has required exceptional and creative leaders who meet the needs of a diverse group of students and their families. The necessity of such extraordinary leadership is even more relevant in the rapidly changing landscape of Catholic education today.

Admissions Information

  • You must meet the following prerequisites to be considered for admission to the Catholic Educational Leadership Certificate:

    • To be considered for admission you must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a demonstrated record of academic success. Education or theology degrees are beneficial but not required. Alternative degrees are welcome to apply. 
    • Applicants must be current teachers and administrators within the Catholic educational leadership network of schools.
    • Apply online.
    • Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended. If you attended Saint Joseph’s, we will obtain this transcript for you.
    • Submit a 1000-word statement of purpose describing your interest, experience and commitment to graduate study in Catholic educational leadership.

    The supplemental information can be uploaded on the application website after submission or emailed to graduate@sju.edu.

  • Graduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. New students may enroll in courses during the fall, spring and summer semesters. 

    Start terms: 

    • Fall: August
    • Spring: January
    • Summer: May

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The average salary for a Catholic School Teacher in Pennsylvania is $37,304 a year.

  • There are a few differences between a Catholic and public school that will help decide which is the best for the student. 

    • Tuition: The average cost of a Catholic elementary school is about $4,400 per year.
    • Religion: Attending a Catholic school, students will find faith and religion at the core of their daily studies and activities. 
    • Community Service: Built on Catholic teachings, students are required to serve their communities and do volunteer work. 
    • Uniforms: Many Catholic schools require their students to wear uniforms. 

     

Explore Other Degree Programs

Educational Leadership and Transformational Change MS

Students in Saint Joseph's University's Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Transformational Change learn to lead with their mind and heart through the lens of equity to solve the complex educational challenges of the 21st century. Courses can be taken entirely online, on-campus or a combination of both.

Leadership Certificate

The leadership certificate can also be completed as a standalone certificate independent of an MBA if you are interested in advancing your leadership knowledge. Whether you enroll in the leadership certificate on its own or stack it as part of the MBA, you will receive a certificate credential that can be added to your resume.

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