Parish Administration and Management Graduate Certificate

The University of Mary’s Certificate in Parish Administration & Management will give you the knowledge and skills to navigate the many particular challenges of parish operations so that your parish’s focus can remain on the evangelical mission of Christ’s Church.

Parish administration and management present particular challenges for clergy and lay business managers alike — human resources and employment law; managing effective stewardship campaigns; recruiting, training, and leading large numbers of volunteers; running faith formation, outreach, and social programs; and navigating policies and regulations as a religious entity, all in service of bringing Christ’s sacraments to His people and His Gospel to the world. This certificate will equip you with core business practices to effectively run business processes and recruit and retain employees in a parish administration setting.

Take the First Step

Get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission.
We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance so you can enroll and begin your classes!

At a Glance

75%
Growth of the Catholic population in the U.S. over the last 40 years

Program Length

9 credits/3 courses/15 weeks

Formats

  • Online

Tuition per Credit

$580

Next Start Date: 5/5/2025

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Is This the Degree For Me?

Who It’s For

  • Parish Priests
  • Parish Administrators
  • Youth Ministers or DREs
  • Other employees working in the Church

Career Paths

  • Parish Administrator
  • Office Manager
  • Diocesan Employee

What You’ll Learn

  • How to manage effective stewardship campaigns — recruiting, training, and leading large numbers of volunteers
  • Critical components of delivering faith formation, outreach, and social programs while navigating policies and regulations as a religious entity
  • Techniques for handling operational tasks focused on accounting and finance
  • Strategies for overseeing business operations in ways that meet parish goals
  • Best practices for streamlining business processes and recurring administrative tasks

Program Details

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit the simple application for admission. We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance so you can enroll and begin your classes!

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from regionally accredited colleges and universities and those with military or career and work experience. 

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

  • Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.

    • Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
    • At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office. 
      • Have your transcripts sent to:
        Office of Admissions
        University of Mary
        7500 University Drive
        Bismarck, ND 58504
      • Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
  • Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
    • You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
    • You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
  • Military experience can count towards a degree.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY?
  • All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
  • Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.

Get Started Today

Apply Online