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We offer courses on technology in business, human resources and accounting. There are also courses required on church law and civil law — which are often in conflict. The first course students take is on leadership and ethics. Specific for the church management program are courses on stewardship, planning and a unique course on what it means for an organization to be a church. Is the program solely offered to Catholic clergy and administrators? What are the admission requirements? This program is open to people of all denominations provided they meet the qualifications. The MSCM program requires students to have earned a BA from an accredited college and experience in church leadership and management. Experience is heavily weighted. We seek to foster an environment where students can learn from each other and have back and forth communication on message boards that they can relate to their specific churches. Why is the program being offered mostly online with only a brief requirement at the Villanova campus? We feel that by offering the program online, it offers more people the chance to enroll. This gives the MSCM program a national reach — even international. We have had people apply from all over the country and the world with various backgrounds; among them are a priest from Ireland and a Presbyterian minister in Cameroon, Africa. What is the expected cost to students completing the full MSCM degree requirements? Is tuition assistance available? We expect most students to be supported by their diocese, church or organization. We will also reduce the cost by 25 percent if a student’s church or organization pays for a third of their tuition. It’s important for us to emphasize to churches and religious organizations that church management training is essential. Are there other programs, degrees and certificates offered through the center that focuses on church management that doesn’t require the same amount of time to complete as MSCM? We offer the Summer Church Management Institute, which is an intensive executive education experience that will be held July 7 – 11 at the Villanova Conference Center, Radnor, PA. The institute is intended to offer leaders the latest expert information in sound managerial practices within a faith-based environment. What future programs or projects is the center currently working on? We are planning on introducing a series of nationwide conferences on best practices in congregational technology. That is, we hope to create an environment where church leaders are working together to learn from each other about how to best use technology to manage their churches and religious organizations. Master of Science in Church Management curriculum
Villanova School of Business 2008 Media Report