Mar 29, 2024  
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2016-2017 
    
Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Catholic School Administration Certificate


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Program Description


Loyola Marymount University’s Certificate in Catholic School Administration (CCSA) is an academic program of the Department of Educational Leadership. LMU and its CCSA program are committed to helping the next generation of Catholic school leaders to succeed in the dynamic and changing landscape of 21st century Catholic school education.

Catholic school leadership requires the competencies associated with multiple roles and responsibilities to sustain and grow the school’s program. The cultivation of future Catholic school leaders who possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to meet these challenges is a moral imperative that Loyola Marymount University seeks to achieve through this Catholic school leadership preparation program.

The CCSA is a 10-semester-hour graduate program designed to provide a full year of content in mission-focused, organizational, and instructional leadership for those interested in moving into Catholic school administration. The overall objective of this certificate program is to educate and train prospective and novice Catholic school leaders in effective Catholic school administration and leadership. Candidates receive a rigorous curriculum that includes Catholic school history, mission, law, ethics, budget, finance, operations, marketing, fundraising, admissions, personnel management, curriculum, and instruction.

The four pillars of adult Catholic spirituality, technology, inclusion, and the development of a professional learning community provide the foundation for each of the four courses of the program. The integration of faith and professional practice is made relevant through practical experiences that will prepare candidates to grow as a Catholic school leader. Studies in CCSA will focus on researching best practices in Catholic school administration, incorporating standards into planning, and seeking solutions to the many the challenges present in today’s Catholic schools. 

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively:

  1. Integrate the faith and spirituality of the Catholic Church with the practice of professional education in all dimensions of Catholic school administration
  2. Lead the mission, vision, and learning outcomes of a Catholic school in the 21st century as a minister of the educational mission of the Catholic Church
  3. Lead the faculty, students, and parents in a spiritual community of faith formed in the teachings of the Catholic Church and the traditions of Ignatian spirituality
  4. Lead the instructional program that embodies 21st century learning skills through a technology enhanced curriculum supported by a highly functioning professional learning community intent on continuous improvement for the benefit of academic excellence
  5. Lead the operational dimensions of a Catholic school with respect to budget, finance, fundraising, marketing, facilities, public relations, enrollment management, and admissions
  6. Establish and lead a school culture of assessment, accountability, and transparency in all dimensions of Catholic school administration
  7. Use various forms of resources to explore Catholic school history, philosophy, and values to form a personal mission and vision for Catholic education that can be shared by a school community
  8. Cultivate and or discover existing research data that can inform policy, educational practices, and operational decisions in the local context
  9. Enhance previously developed skills in working collaboratively by participating in group activities designed to have practical application in building and leading a professional learning community in the Catholic school context
  10. Form a Catholic school culture of inclusion
  11. Lead as an advocate for social justice in all aspects of decision making, formed in the understanding of Catholic ethics and private school law
  12. Utilize the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS) as a tool for ongoing assessment of a Catholic school’s program and the development of plans for improvement.

Admission Requirements


  1. The Graduate Division application, along with two official copies of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  2. Writing prompt (see website for content) and résumé
  3. Two completed reference forms (available from the School of Education, Admissions Coordinator or website)
  4. Completed Technology Requirements form
  5. Completed Catholic Schools Agreement (Archdiocese of Los Angeles only)
  6. Interview with the Program Director and/or Faculty Lead
  7. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0; or a 3.05 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework taken; or a 3.0 GPA in at least 9 semester hours of graduate level coursework is required
  8. Signed Verification of Experience Form
  9. TOEFL or IELTS (for applicants who completed high school in a non-English speaking country and do not hold a B.A./M.A. from the U.S.)
  10. Transcript Evaluations (for applicants who completed undergraduate/graduate degree outside the U.S.)
  11. Exceptions Committee Form and Statement (for applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA and/or TOEFL/IELTS requirements)
  12. Currently employed in a Catholic elementary/secondary school. 

Admission Process


When a candidate file is complete, all admission materials will be reviewed by Catholic School Leadership Academy (CSLA) Admissions panel for either recommendation for admission, or referral to the Department of Educational Leadership, or Exceptions Committee for admission consideration/recommendation.

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