MA in Catholic School Teaching

Admissions Requirements

In addition to standard School of Education application requirements, in order to be eligible for the Master of Arts in Catholic School Teaching, candidates must submit:

• Evidence of three years minimum Catholic school teaching experience at the elementary, secondary, or collegiate level, or deliberation by the CEL faculty to waive this prerequisite;
• In addition to the two School of Education form letters of recommendation, two letters testifying to commitment in ministry.

Degree Plan

The Master of Arts in Catholic School Teaching is comprised of 30 units from the courses below.

Core Curriculum | 18 Units

Ecclesial Principles of Catholic Education
An historical, philosophical, sociological, economic, and political study of American private education in the context of the original Common School and today's Public School.

Moral Development
Study of the cognitive developmental theory of moral development, comparing and contrasting it with other major theories. Review of the materials, research, and methods related to moral education. Practicum relating research and educational practice required.

Methods and Materials in Teaching Religion in Catholic Schools
A study of the current context of Religious Education: qualities and competencies of religious educators, review of the Basic Teachings of the Church and Church History, the incorporation of these into a graduated catechesis based on child development, liturgy, ethnic influences, along with prayer, community building, and service.

Curriculum and Instruction Leadership in Schools
Models, research, and practical applications of design and evaluation of curriculum and instruction. Development of a curriculum model for a particular school required.

Spirituality of the Educator
A study of the spirituality of leadership for the administrator or teacher in Catholic schools drawn from the history of both spirituality and education. The main themes will be developed from the four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council.

Learning and Teaching
Application of theories and principles of learning, motivation, social behavior, human development, individual differences, and educational measurement to the analysis of instructional problems in school settings. May require fieldwork outside of class time at an approved school site, arranged with course instructor.

M.A. Culminating Project
A project to stimulate the integration of knowledge and skills gained from the M.A. program, which is submitted as a formal report in partial fulfillment of the master's degree.

Teacher Education Courses | 6 Units

Learning and Teaching
Application of theories and principles of learning, motivation, social behavior, human development, individual differences, and educational measurement to the analysis of instructional problems in school settings. May require fieldwork outside of class time at an approved school site, arranged with course instructor. (Satisfies the Developmental Psychology course requirement.)

And one of the following:

Multiple Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Reading & Language Arts in the Intermediate Grades

Multiple Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Math & Science

Multiple Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Early Literacy

Multiple Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Social Studies

Single Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Math & Science

Single Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Field

Single Subject Curriculum and Instruction: English

Single Subject Curriculum and Instruction: Social Science

Electives | 6 Units

Students may choose from a variety of elective course offerings to fulfill this 6-unit requirement.