One option for obtaining a degree in church administration is to attend a school with a business program that works in conjunction with a seminary or school of theology offering church administration as a program of study. A second option is to simply find a school with church administration or management as a degree. One school offering this second option is Villanova University. Villanova's Master of Science in Church Management (M.S.C.M) degree is offered entirely online. This program is a two-year plan of study designed primarily to produce leaders within the Catholic church. The program emphasizes faith-based church leadership along with foundational business skills.
Expected competencies of this program are focused on producing leaders in the areas of planning, leading, organizing and controlling church programs and activities. Areas of study within the program include financial oversight, leadership of religious organizations, human resource management and church and civil law.
Center for the Study of Church Management
Villanova School of Business
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
610-519-4371
villanova.edu
A second option for a degree in church administration is Oral Roberts University's Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministry and Leadership degree. The program emphasizes three areas of concentration: church administration, evangelism and educational ministries.
The church administration concentration is primarily designed to produce effective church administrators by emphasizing areas of study such as principles of management, nonprofit organization administration, organizational behavior, teaching the bible, ministry and sermon preparation and teaching. These last three emphases are built into the program with the recognition that many smaller churches rely upon the pastor to serve as an administrator as well as a teacher.
Oral Roberts University
7777 South Lewis Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74171
918-495-6161
oru.edu
A third option for a degree in church administration is the dual degree program offered by the Boston College Carroll School of Management. This option is probably the most marketable degree option for students because it results in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) along with a Master of Pastoral Ministry degree that emphasizes church administration. The program is primarily geared toward producing leaders within the Catholic church, but offers a curriculum that would prove effective in nearly any church setting.
The program is offered both as a three-year full-time plan of study and also as a part-time option. Students in this program benefit from attending a top-40 nationally ranked business school. "U.S. News & World Report" ranked the Carroll School of Management as the No. 39 business school in the nation in 2010.
The pastoral ministry degree is a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in church management. The church management curriculum includes courses in biblical and theological studies along with courses in financial management, managing organizations and people, contextual education and areas of pastoral study.
Boston College
Carroll School of Management
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-8440
bc.edu