This Certificate emerges from reflection on the gap in skill sets among the leaders of many churches today, Catholic and Protestant. Members of church staff, comprised increasingly of laypersons with degrees in pastoral ministry, education, counseling, and theology, find themselves engaging in activities related to budgeting, project management, human resources, organizational development and change, and more. There is a need for parish leaders and pastoral ministers to have the education, training, and skills associated with these areas.

The MBA curriculum at the Quinlan School of Business includes a set of core and non-core courses. The core graduate courses at Quinlan are designed for those with no business experience. Students who already have a business degree, however, or who have taken business courses in the past (within the last 5-10 years) and possess significant business experience should be advised to skip the core courses and go directly to more specific and specialized courses in consultation with their academic advisor at IPS and the Associate Dean for Programs at the QSB.

IPS offers an education in Church Management through a concentration within the MA in Pastoral Studies and through a Graduate Certificate. Click here for information on the MA Degree and Concentration option: Pastoral Studies with a Concentration in Church Management (MA).

This Certificate can be applied toward to the requirements of an MA degree at IPS, in whole or in part depending on the requirements of the MA in question.

CURRICULUM

The Graduate Certificate in Church Management requires two courses (6 credit hours) at the Institute of Pastoral Studies and three courses (9 credit hours) at the Quinlan School of Business (QSB), for a total of 15 hours. The two IPS courses will be chosen in consultation with the academic advisor. The decision concerning which courses to take at QSB will be determined according to each student’s experience in consultation with their academic advisor and the Assoc. Dean for Programs at QSB. There are, however, guidelines that will ensure that each student is well formed in the areas of accounting and management. The Graduate Certificate in Church Management can be completed online, though there are more course options at QSB for students who take in-person courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Two IPS Courses (chosen in consultation with academic advisor)		6
ACCT 400	Financial Accounting for Business Decisions 1	3
Choose one of the following:		3
HRER 417	Managing and Motivating in the Workplace
HRER 430	Leading Change in Organizations
MARK 460	Marketing Management
One Quinlan Graduate Level Elective		3
Total Hours		15

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Unless there is some previous experience that makes such a course of study redundant.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Church Management

The ability to engage in general business operations related to budgeting, project management, human resources, marketing, and organizational development and change in non-profit or faith-based settings.