Master's Degree in Catholic School Leadership
The MEd in Catholic School Leadership is intentionally designed to prepare candidates to meet the complex challenges of leading today’s Catholic schools. It is meant for candidates who are interested in becoming a mission-driven, faith-based instructional leader within the Catholic school context. Candidates will learn how to utilize mission and strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement and develop the skills to function as faith leaders of collaborative, capacity-building communities. The program places an emphasis on developing relationships, shared ideals, data driven action plans, and a strong Catholic culture – all factors that are critical for leaders in Catholic schools.
Mission is the life-blood of any Catholic organization, especially schools. An excellent Catholic school is guided by a clearly communicated mission that embraces a Catholic Identity rooted in Gospel values, centered on the Eucharist, and commited to faith formation, academice excellence and service. This program explores how mission must be central to leadership and how all activities must align with that mission. Candidates will explore transformation processes and outputs as they relate to the workings of educational leadership and school improvement. Candidates will also apply theoretical concepts and administrative strategies to their current work in schools.
Program Highlights
- 12 courses (36 credit hours) lead to M.Ed. in Catholic School Leadership
- A 1/3 mission scholarship from Loyola University Chicago will support Catholic School Leadership program candidates
- Classes will be offered online, or in blended format. Each summer, candidates will attend an intensive, two-week course on campus.
- Catholic identity integral throughout coursework
- Coaching component embedded from start to finish of program
- Prepares candidates to be a faith leader as well as an instructional leader in their Catholic schools.
- Cohort model allows for the development of community, which is at the heart of who we are as Church, and this community of learners becomes a future network of support for candidates as they enter the field of Catholic school leadership
- Most of the courses (over 90%) are taught by experienced Catholic school leaders, giving the classes a perspective grounded in practicality and experience
- The infusion of reflective practice throughout the program develops reflective Catholic school leaders
- Possibility of an optional two-week summer course at Loyola University’s Rome Campus to develop global leadership perspectives
- Aligned to the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS), Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), and National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards.
Required Coursework
Summer ELPS XXX Mission and Catholic School Leadership (Residency Class)
Fall ELPS 480 Master’s Residency Seminar
ELPS 482 School Supervision for Principals
ELPS 483 Human and Fiscal Resources for Principals
Spring ELPS 480 Master’s Residency Seminar
ELPS 474 Development and Implementation of Curriculum and Instruction for Principals
ELPS XX1 Entrepreneurial Approaches to Catholic Education
Summer ELPS 471 MTSS for Instructional Leaders (Residency Class)
ELPS 484 School Law, Policy and Community
Fall ELPS 566 Principal Internship One
ELPS 411 Special Education and the Catholic School
Spring ELPS 406 Foundations Using Data for Continuous Improvement
ELPS 567 Principal Internship Two
Summer ELPS 408 Leading for Diversity (Residency Class – possibly in Rome)
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree and the appropriate teaching credentials from the state in which the candidate is working.
Admission to this program is reserved for candidates outside the state of Illinois.
Expectations after Graduation
Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be highly effective Catholic school leaders, promoting the spiritual, academic and social-emotional growth of their students.
Financial Aid
Begin the financial aid process by completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov.
Learn more about the financial aid process at LUC.edu/education/financialaid
Application Information: APPLY NOW!!!
Contact information
For further information about the academic program, or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Dr. Debbie Sullivan
Assistant Director for Catholic School Leadership
Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education
Loyola University Chicago
820 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
P • 312.915.6885
E • dsullivan2@luc.edu
W • LUC.edu/gcce
Loyola University Chicago is an equal opportunity educator/employer.
Scholarship Opportunities
Members of a Catholic educator cohort are eligible for a 1/3 tuition scholarship. Additional scholarship opportunities are available. To access these opportunities, you must have completed and submitted your application for admissions. Once that is complete, please submit a letter of application addressing the following points:
1) Identify any financial hardships that impact on your ability to attend the program to which you have applied.
2) Describe the other sources of financial support (use of title funds, support from foundations etc.) that you have sought to address the financial need.
To apply for additional scholarship support, please submit a letter addressing the two points indicated above to:
Michael J. Boyle Ph.D., Director
Andrew M. Greeley Center for Catholic Education
School of Education
Loyola University Chicago
820 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 606011
-or-
Letters can be emailed to mboyle3@luc.edu
Requests for financial support are reviewed by the Greeley Scholarship Review team. Letters of application will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all available funding is allocated. Candidates are encouraged to apply early in order maximize the opportunity to receive funding.
This scholarship is renewable for the duration of the program to which you have applied, dependent on continued availability of funds. To be eligible for renewal of the scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
- Maintain status as a student in good standing with Loyola University Chicago
- Continue to make progress towards completion of the program to which you applied
As a condition of acceptance of the scholarship, you agree to maintain employment in a Catholic school over the next five years.
