Graduate Certificate in Parish Business Management Your work is more than a job, it’s a calling. You give of yourself to help others, build community, and serve your faith. Your work is noble, but by no means easy. The Parish Business Management Graduate Certificate program at Georgian Court University’s School of Business equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently and effectively manage a faith-based organization and to grow your organization into a thriving parish community.

The GCU Advantage

As a Mercy institution, Georgian Court embeds the Mercy core values of respect, integrity, justice, compassion, and service in everything we do, including our program curricula. In addition to studying finance, accounting, management, and law, students will explore faith and ethical leadership principles. 

The program is cohort-based, allowing students to progress through the program as a group, learning together and helping one another succeed.

Courses are delivered through a hybrid format—a combination of online and in-class learning—one evening per week for seven weeks, offering students the convenience and flexibility to balance the program with work and family.

The program maintains a business focus that makes it easy for students to apply courses to the M.B.A. program should they chose to continue their studies.

How Do I Apply?

Candidates must already hold a bachelor’s degree to be considered for this program. Applicants should: 

(1) complete and submit the attached application with the $40 nonrefundable application fee; 

(2) arrange for official submission of all previous undergraduate and graduate transcripts; 

(3) provide a statement on why you are interested in the program; and 

(4) submit one letter of recommendation.

Courses

TH533 The Christian Community

Explore the definition and history of the Christian community and the challenges that the modern Christian community faces. Consider challenges to the community and theological principles behind communal praxis in the world to gain an understanding of the community at large.

BU609 Management & Leadership 

Discuss the skills a good manager should possess and how those skills can be used to motivate, manage change, and inspire. 

BU624 Contract and Employment Law

Examine the fundamentals of law governing business contracts and become familiar with the law guiding equal employment practices, including affirmative action, discrimination, employee rights, and freedom of expression.

AC604 Nonprofit Accounting & Internal Controls

Examine the accounting and reporting of governmental and nonprofit organizations as well budgeting and reporting best practices for churches and faith-based non-profit organizations.

BU506 Principles of Finance

Learn best practices for managing your organization’s financial assets. Topics include working capital management, short- and long-term financing, capital budgeting, and making financial decisions under conditions of risk and uncertainty

IS612 Business Information System Concepts

Study the use of computers as a tool for management and decision making. Topics include spreadsheets, databases, and Web sites.