Online Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Leadership
Gain the skills to enhance student performance, teacher effectiveness and your own impact as a school administrator.
Finish in as little as 9 months. Apply today!

Graduate Info Session & Tour
Saturday, October 14 , 2023
from 10:30 am
to 12:00 pm
Catholic School Leadership Certificate: Why Merrimack College?
Offered by one of the nation’s most highly respected Catholic colleges, this online graduate certificate is designed for experienced teachers and junior school administrators. Program benefits include:
Comprehensive career development.
You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills to oversee day-to-day operations, formulate long-range strategic plans, and provide Catholic school leadership that meets the needs of today’s students and families.
Committed faculty.
Merrimack’s graduate certificate in Catholic school leadership is led by widely recognized Catholic educators who teach from first-hand experience. You’ll get close one-on-one guidance from exceptional Catholic school administrators such as Stephen Curry and pre-eminent scholars such as Joseph Kelley, one of the nation’s leading experts on Augustinian thought.
High standards, strong values.
The Catholic school graduate certificate draws upon Merrimack’s own tradition of rigorous academics steeped in faith and spirituality. You’ll join a dynamic community of educators who serve the same mission, confront the same challenges and pursue the same goals as primary and secondary Catholic school leaders.
Robust interaction.
Merrimack’s user-friendly online learning platform promotes lively dialogue and collaboration between students and faculty. You’ll build strong relationships with fellow Catholic school administrators and educators, belonging to a network of supportive peers who exchange ideas and learn from each other.
Convenience and accessibility.
The online Catholic school leadership program is specifically designed for working professionals. You can complete coursework on a flexible schedule that won’t interfere with your job responsibilities.
Program Format
- Online
Gain Practical School Administration Skills That Yield Immediate Benefits
Among its many goals, the Catholic school leadership graduate program aims to help educators develop strategies for sustaining high-quality Catholic education. Like all school administrators, Catholic school leaders are constantly challenged to adapt to changing technologies, demographics and cultural trends.
The graduate certificate offers pragmatic solutions to the everyday demands of operating a Catholic school, along with a long-range planning framework to help you identify strengths, address challenges and put your school on a growth trajectory.
As you complete Merrimack’s graduate certificate in Catholic school leadership, you’ll sharpen your ability to:
- Manage financial resources
- Maintain vigorous curriculum and academic excellence
- Build high-functioning teams
- Motivate and empower teachers
- Forge partnerships in the community
- Market your school to maintain or increase enrollment
- Reconcile Catholic values and principles with modern technology and forward-facing college preparatory curriculum
- Collaborate with school trustees, board members and leaders in the Catholic community
Catholic School Leadership: What You’ll Learn
One of the few U.S. graduate programs that’s focused on Catholic school administration, this online certificate caters to mature professionals with busy schedules and heavy work responsibilities. Whether you’re already a school administrator or aspire to become one, Merrimack’s Catholic school leadership program equips you to take the next step forward in your career.
The graduate certificate consists of three online courses, each lasting eight weeks. Major course themes include:
- Faith-based curriculum and school culture
- The role of mission and charism
- Faith-informed managerial strategies
- Exercising leadership in interactive, digitally mediated communities
- Maintaining excellence in an environment of financial scarcity
You can earn the Catholic school leadership certificate in a single academic year, working full-time while you complete the program. Because courses run concurrently with the Catholic school calendar, you’ll have the ability to apply class material in the workplace and refine your understanding as you go.
Questions about the Online Certificate in Catholic School Leadership?
Contact the Merrimack College Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@merrimack.edu.
How to Apply
Create your account to get started. Apply to start your Online Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Leadership today.