Graduate Certificate:
Catholic Teacher Development
Increase in Your vocation to teach
About the Program
Teaching as Vocation
Teaching in a Catholic school is a vocation rooted in truth and service, with the formation of the whole person at the forefront. The Graduate Certificate in Catholic Teacher Development at the University of St. Thomas prepares talented educators to take their current knowledge to the next level.
Grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, this program helps teachers deepen their understanding of authentic education and the mission of Catholic schools in today’s world. Graduate students explore how faith and reason work together in the classroom while developing practical skills to foster meaningful learning and facilitating environments with compassionate, strong school communities.
Mission and Practice
Educating the Human Person
Whether you are a current Catholic school educator, a teacher discerning work in Catholic education, or an educational leader seeking deeper formation, this certificate provides a thoughtful intellectual growth and focused moral development.
Explore the Catholic understanding of the human person and its implications for teaching and learning. Students examine the unity of soul and body, emotion, free choice, habits and human flourishing to better understand how authentic education forms the whole person.
Course topics include:
- The Catholic School – Examine what makes Catholic schools distinctive and how their mission shapes the lives.
- Classroom Management – Develop practical strategies for building positive, productive, and supportive classroom environments.
- Curriculum and Assessment – Learn how curriculum, instruction, and assessment work together to enhance student learning.