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.  

Scholarship Opportunities

All Loyola Catholic School Leadership program candidates will be supported with a 1/3 mission scholarship from Loyola University Chicago.

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.