M.Ed. In Catholic Educational Leadership

Invest in Your Future

Leadership that Counts

Catholic schools are different by design: they do more, teach more, and are responsible for more than meeting state standards and benchmarks. The focus on professional training of Catholic school leaders should address this difference, where Catholic faith impacts and influences how its leaders perform, providing a valued option to modern secular school leadership programs.

The Masters in Catholic Educational Leadership program addresses elements that are missing in secular-focused programs: from advancing Catholic mission and identity, to nurturing the formation of mind, body and spirit of students and staff,  to leading with moral standards faithful to the Church, to countering relativism and utilitarianism in the educational program. Its focus is both practical and spiritual—delivering the professional skills, knowledge, and inspiration for successful Catholic educational leadership. This M.Ed. program is designed to exert maximum influence and support in confident response to the challenges and opportunities facing the leaders of Catholic schools nationwide.

A Few of the

Skills You Will Gain

  1. Form the entire school community in fidelity to the distinctive mission of Catholic education.
  2. Lead with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, faithful to a Catholic worldview, and in service to the complete well-being of all students, families, and staff under their care.
  3. Ensure the operational vitality of their schools including finances, facilities, scheduling, technology, school safety, communication, fundraising, marketing, enrollment, and legal and professional standards of all operations.
  4. Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement and academic success through planning and monitoring the curriculum.
  5. Nurture a learning environment that forms students in mind, body, and spirit, supported by virtue-based discipline and counseling in a culture of high standards and loving support.
  6. Develop and support all personnel, especially the professional and Catholic formation of teachers.
  7. Create an authentic Catholic community of students, teachers, parents, and parish.

Summer Residency

A critical goal of the program is to produce a community of learners and friends and a network of lifelong colleagues. The relationships formed over the summers also enhance online conversations and learning throughout the academic year.

Toward this end, candidates attend a two-week summer session each year. Each session lasts 2 weeks and covers 2 courses. Transportation and room and board at AMU are at the expense of the candidate. Families are welcome at their cost.

AMU's M.Ed. In Catholic Educational Leadership

Fast Facts

  • 30 credit hour, 2-year program
  • Cost per credit = $561
  • Online/Hybrid cohort model
  • Taught in a dual distance-learning (asynchronous) and in-person modality, leveraging the best of both formats and allowing for personal relationships/networking and convenience.
  • Two intensive two-week summer Residencies (with some additional distance assignments) cover 40% of all coursework.
  • Authentic assessment via portfolio in lieu of the traditional research component.
  • Optional Coursework in Classical Liberal Arts

Gallery

Typical

Plan of Study

Summer I (2 weeks at AMU)

  • EDUC 501 Catholic Education, History, Philosophy, and Mission (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 502 Formation, Counseling, and Communication (3 cr.)

Fall I

  • EDUC 503 Curriculum Leadership, Development & Catholic Integration (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 508 Staff, Academic, and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Spring I

  • EDUC 504 Law, Governance, and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 507 Catholic Leadership and Organizational Management (3 cr.)

Summer II (2 weeks at AMU)

  • EDUC 505 Catholic Spirituality and Well-Being for Leaders (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 506 Catholic Culture, Community, and Catechetics (3 cr.)

Fall II

  • EDUC 509 Business, Finance, Development and Building Operations (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 510 Apprenticeship II /Capstone (3 cr.)

Spring II (optional)

  • EDUC 511 The History and Philosophy Classical Liberal Arts Education (3 cr.)
  • EDUC 512 Classical Liberal Arts Education Methods and Practice in the Modern Context (3 cr.)

*Recommended Rotation (18 months); Online In Fall and Spring

Admissions Requirements

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  2. An indication of the capability to perform graduate course work based on either
    • an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; OR
    • a GRE score of 144 or higher; OR
    • a post-graduate degree in another discipline.
  3. Completed online application.
  4. Current résumé, including teaching experience if applicable.
  5. Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the candidate’s current or former school administrator (if the candidate has teaching experience)
  6. Statement of Intent (500 words): brief intellectual and professional biography, which includes a statement about his/her motivation for pursuing the M.Ed. in Catholic Educational Leadership
  7. The candidate must also complete an interview with the program director or admissions counselor before acceptance into the program.

Meet the Faculty