About the Catholic Teacher Formation Academy
The Catholic Teacher Formation Academy (CTFA) offers a foundational program designed to provide Catholic education formation for those teaching in Catholic schools. Administered through the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, the Academy exists to support the mission of Catholic education by preparing teachers who integrate faith, intellect, and virtue in their classrooms. Developed in collaboration with the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED), the CTFA responds to the need for accessible, mission-driven teacher preparation.
The program consists of four five-week synchronous courses, each worth 1.5 graduate credit hours, for a total of six credit hours. Course topics include 1) Foundations of Catholic Education
and Mission for Teaching, 2) Pedagogical Foundations for Catholic Educators, 3) Foundations of Child and Adolescent Growth and Development, and 4) Foundations of Assessment and Reflective Practice in Catholic Education. Each course is grounded in Catholic identity and addresses both practical classroom strategies and the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of students. Instructors include University of Dallas faculty and Catholic school leaders. The courses are designed to be applicable toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree at UD, should students wish to continue their graduate studies at the University of Dallas.
The CTFA, under the general policies of the Braniff Graduate School, may serve in lieu of the 12-university credit hour requirement as per TCCB ED school policy for Catholic school teachers in Texas. While initially developed for Texas, the program may be adapted for dioceses across the country. The Academy reflects the University of Dallas’s broader mission to support Catholic education and the common good by forming teachers who are both professionally equipped and spiritually grounded. A full description of policies, program structure, and course offerings is available from the CTFA Program Director.
Admission Requirements for the Catholic Teacher Formation Academy
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree. They should demonstrate a commitment to Catholic education, and either be currently teaching in a Catholic school or intending to serve in Catholic education. Applications and all supporting documentation for the Catholic Teacher Formation Academy must be received at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the course in which the applicant wishes to enroll. Applications are accepted for fall, spring, and summer terms.
Catholic Teacher Formation Academy
| EDU 5F21 | Foundations of Catholic Education and Mission for Teaching | 1.5 |
| EDU 5F22 | Pedagogical Foundations for Catholic Educators | 1.5 |
| EDU 5F23 | Foundations of Child and Adolescent Growth and Development | 1.5 |
| EDU 5F24 | Foundations of Assessment and Reflective Practice in Catholic Education | 1.5 |