Management Skills for More Effective Ministry.

Join the Center for the Study of Church Management at VSB for an educational experience that will transform the way you lead and serve the Church in an increasingly complex world.

The Master of Science in Church Management is an innovative, two-year graduate business program that provides you with a high-level skill set in church management. If you are interested in strengthening your ability to contribute to the Church’s mission—and you require the convenience of an online program—then the MSCM is the degree for you.

Who should apply to the MSCM program?

The MSCM is designed to meet the needs of a national student body of Church leaders and managers—including parish business managers, managers of diocesan and religious order departments, and those engaged in managing Church-related social service ministries. It is ideal for professionals who cannot take leave of their positions to relocate and pursue full-time study. The MSCM can be completed online in only two years of part-time study.

Admission to the program is based on experience, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay. Standardized test scores and interviews are not required. The next MSCM cohort begins the week of May 17, 2010. The residency will occur the week of June 6, 2010. Early application is highly recommended. Click here to learn more about the application process and download the application form.

All students will need a 3.0 Grade Point Average in MSCM courses in order to graduate.

What will you study?

The MSCM program is built upon two foundational elements: a solid business curriculum and a faith-based approach to Church management.

Each student is exposed to the study of management and its applications within the context of Church leadership. And unlike a number of other programs—in which Church management is just an add-on specialization within a standard MBA degree—the MSCM curriculum is holistic and fully integrated. Each course is meticulously designed for church managers and addresses management issues from a faith-based perspective.

MSCM courses cover topics including leadership in religious organizations, civil and church laws, financial oversight, and human resource management in a ministry setting.

In less than two years, you will build a network of peers across the nation, and gain the following cutting-edge managerial competencies.

Planning: strategy formation and implementation, technology/data, and the legal environment.
Controlling: financial literacy, budgeting, transparency, and financial statements.
Organizing: human resources, organizational structure and behavior, and advisory board utilization.
Leading: group dynamics, ecclesiological perspectives, and alignment between the faith community work and values.

Click here to learn more about the MSCM curriculum.