Certificate
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall, Spring, Summer
On-Campus, Online
About the Church Management Certificate at Loyola
Whether you are a member of the clergy, a church administrator or a leader in another type of nonprofit or faith-based setting, a strong combination of business and church management skills are needed to maintain and grow a thriving community. You need skills to effectively allocate resources, improve communication and engagement with staff, volunteers and congregations, ensure financial stability and growth, and promote a sense of community and ownership. The Church Management Certificate at Loyola University Chicago helps you close gaps in skills areas ranging from budgeting to project management, human resources, and organizational development and change.
The graduate certificate in Church Management is offered through Loyola's Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) and the Quinlan School of Business. In consultation with your academic advisor, you will choose two courses at the IPS and three courses at Quinlan. Unless you have previous experience, you will take accounting and management courses. You will also choose one elective course from a wide range of graduate business courses.
Program Structure
The Church Management Certificate can be pursued full-time or part-time. Classes are held online and on campus at Loyola's Water Tower Campus, conveniently located off the Red Line in the heart of Chicago.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Church Management Certificate?
In choosing Loyola for your graduate certificate in Church Management, you will grow within a faith-based leadership program. You will learn from expert faculty from both the ATS-accredited Institute of Pastoral Studies and the Quinlan School of Business, home to top-ranked and respected programs that educate ethical leaders and agents of social justice.
- A skills-focused curriculum
- A transformative Jesuit education
- Diverse and international students and faculty
- Encouragement to grow as a leader
- Choose courses that fit your goals and interests
- In-person and online learning options
- Inspiring alumni network
The Church Management Certificate combines the spiritual and logical aspects of maintaining and developing a strong and thriving church community or faith-based organization. The certificate combines foundational skills in education for ministry along with key business fundamentals and skills.
The Jesuit education you receive at Loyola is a transformative one, marked by the tradition of cura personalis, “care for the whole person.” We help our students become their best selves to engage in our shared work, contributing to our community and being nurtured by it.
You will learn from and alongside instructors and colleagues from all over the country and the world who have a wide range of life and professional experiences.
You will be encouraged to further cultivate your voice, wisdom, and skills to grow your leadership skills for the betterment of your church or nonprofit community.
Under the guidance of your academic advisor, and based on your personal experience, you may substitute some courses for others to avoid redundancy or to create a specialized professional focus.
Courses for the Church Management Certificate are offered online so you have the flexibility to study while you continue working as a church or nonprofit leader.
When you complete your certificate, you will join an inspiring and supportive network of graduates from both the Institute of Pastoral Studies and the Quinlan School of Business.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the Institute of Pastoral Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Church Management Certificate program.
Faculty and StaffChurch Management: Career Connections
As a graduate of the Church Management Certificate program, you will have the pastoral, management and business skills that are so often required in today's churches and other nonprofit and faith-based settings.
Specific job options include:
- Priest
- Senior pastor
- Associate minister
- Youth pastor
- Outreach minister
- Church administrator
- Nonprofit manager
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Church Management Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Church Management Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogResults and Skills
The program focuses on developing ministry, general business operation, and management skills that faith-based leaders need today for work in nonprofit or faith-based settings.
- Budgeting
- Project management
- Human resources
- Marketing
- Managing organizational development and change
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Church Management Certificate totals $12750.00, or 15 credit hours at a cost of $850.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Institute of Pastoral Studies Financial Aid & Scholarships
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Institute of Pastoral Studies Financial Aid page.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe Institute of Pastoral Studies offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Church Management Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall, Spring, & Summer
Rolling admission
Recommended Deadlines
Fall: July 15
Spring: December 10
Summer: April 15
Final admission is 10 days before the start of classes
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Church Management Certificate include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
2 Letters of Recommendation
3.0 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Please submit a 1,500-word essay describing your personal, educational, professional, and ministerial background and how these have prepared you for the specific MA or Certificate program for which you have applied. In your essay, also address the following:
Prior undergraduate or graduate study in theology or philosophy, if any
The ways in which your professional life and any volunteer service have emphasized spiritually, community and social justice
A theological book(s) that has helped to shape your understanding of your proposed vocation and course of study
Your vision of ministry, your strengths relative to this vocation, significant influences on your faith life (including minsterial mentors or role models), and the professional context in which you see yourself working upon completion of your program
Why you are choosing to pursue this degree at Loyola's IPS
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Church Management Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
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