Urban Catholic Teacher Corps

Urban Catholic Teacher Corps

Founded in 1997, the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC) actively engages in the ministry of teaching in the schools of the Archdiocese of Boston. UCTC provides an academically rigorous and experientially rich urban Catholic teacher preparation based on the 500-year-old Jesuit tradition of formative education. 

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About the Program

UCTC members complete a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development and commit to a two-year teaching practicum in Boston’s Catholic schools serving urban students. Learn more about the benefits of this rigorous teacher preparation program below.

Experience in the classroom

Through coursework, teaching placements in the Boston Catholic Schools, workshops, reflections, and other opportunities, you'll be continually challenged and supported in your growth as exceptional urban Catholic school educator.

Mentor support

Receive teaching support from an assigned mentor, supervisor, and instructional coach.

Intentional community living

Live with other UCTC participants, actively engaging in an intentional faith-based living and learning community where faith is actively engaged with, individuals are loved and supported, and all experiences and perspectives are shared and respected. By living in community, you'll find a unique support system among a group of individuals experiencing similar challenges and successes.

Individual faith formation opportunities

UCTC offers participants the opportunity for weekly faith sharing, three retreats a year, spiritual direction, and pilgrimages.

Monthly stipend and free housing

Receive a $600 non-service stipend payment each month over the two years of your participation in the program. In addition, UCTC covers all rent and utilities in the required UCTC community housing.

Tuition remission

UCTC covers the cost of the 30 credit hours for the Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College.

Curriculum

The UCTC Curriculum & Instruction M.Ed. is a 10-course, 30-credit program of study. Approximately half of the courses are taken as a UCTC cohort.

Requirements


  • Courses: 10
  • Credits: 30
  • Comprehensive Exam

UCTC by the numbers

32

UCTC members

17

Schools served

2,149

Students served

3

Community houses

Who We Are

Charles Cownie

Charles Cownie, J.D., Ph.D.

Director
Director of Catholic Teacher Formation
Co-Director of Jesuit Education in a Global World MEd

Cristina Hunter

Cristina Hunter, M.A., Ph.D.

Assistant Director

Myra Rosen-Reynoso

Myra Rosen-Reynoso, M.Ed., Ph.D.

Research Director

Audrey Friedman

Audrey Friedman, Ph.D.

Academic and Research Coordinator 
Retired Associate Professor of Teaching, Curriculum, and Society

It took less than two years for Boston to become my home and the UCTC community to become my family. Although UCTC is technically only a two-year program, its positive impact will forever remain with me. Living in a faith-based intentional community provided support and love to cope with the balancing act of grad school and the first two years of teaching.
Anne Heller, UCTC Alumna, Cohort 14

Apply

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Application & Deadline

How to apply

  • On the Lynch School of Education and Human Development application page, apply to the master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction.
  • On the Lynch School application form under “Academic Information” section, where it asks, “Are you applying to a specialty program?” select "Urban Catholic Teacher Corps" from the drop down menu.
  • The Lynch School waives the application fee for UCTC applicants. Applicants to UCTC do not need to take the GRE. 

Apply Now

Deadlines

All applications are due January 4

Interview

Every UCTC candidate who completes an application will be offered an interview, which will be scheduled after you have successfully applied to and have been accepted by the Lynch School of Education and Human Development.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need recommendations from two individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications, a roommate/housemate, a student teaching supervisor, and a spiritual advisor.

  • Contact potential references early to provide them adequate time to complete a high-quality recommendation. 
  • Your references’ names and contact information are submitted through the “Recommender Registration” tab on the Lynch School application. 
  • They will receive an e-mail with instructions and you will be notified in this section of the application when their recommendations are received.

*Note: If you do not begin your full-practicum student teaching until the Spring semester, you may send your Supervising Teacher Recommendation Letter no later than February 15. Please contact uctc@bc.edu if you plan on sending in your Supervising Teacher Recommendation by the February deadline.

Offer

Candidates of UCTC will be notified of their application status on approximately March 17.

  • At that time candidates are either offered admission to the program (including notification of placement school, community house, and important program information), offered a place on the waitlist, or not offered a position in the program. 
  • After receiving offers of placement, candidates are normally given 72 hours in order to confirm or they will be moved to the waitlist and a candidate on the waitlist is offered a position. 
  • Well-qualified candidates who are not able to be offered a position, but are admitted to the Lynch School, are supported in identifying full-time teaching opportunities in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Requirements

Admission to the Lynch School of Education and Human Development (Curriculum & Instruction)

Before being admitted to UCTC, candidates must first be accepted to the master of education program in Curriculum & Instruction at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development. UCTC will review candidates prior to notification of acceptance to the Lynch School; however, final decisions cannot be made regarding any candidates for UCTC until the Lynch School has made all admissions decisions.

Vocation to teach in Catholic schools

Successful candidates to UCTC have discerned a desire to teach in Catholic schools serving urban students and see teaching in this setting as a life calling.

Desire to live in an intentional faith-based community and to grow in one’s own faith

Community living is a required component of program participation. UCTC members live, learn, and actively support each other throughout the two-year commitment. All participants must have a desire and be willing to commit themselves to focusing on their own continued faith formation.

Full year of supervised student teaching or other previous supervised teaching experience

Most often applicants to UCTC are education majors or minors; however, depending on the program of study available at your undergraduate institution, this may or may not be the case. Regardless of your undergraduate program of study, all candidates must have completed a supervised student teaching experience or one year of supervised teaching experience in order to be considered for admission to UCTC.

Eligibility for Massachusetts initial licensure 

For more information on eligibility for initial licensure in MA, visit the Commonwealth of Mass. Department of Education Licensure webpage.

Visit

Though not required of any applicant, a visit to Boston College, the UCTC schools, and the UCTC residence gives potential applicants the greatest sense of what their life will be like as a UCTC volunteer. 

Schedule a Visit

Doctoral Fellowship

For information on the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps Doctoral Fellowship, please contact Dr. Charlie Cownie

FAQ

When does the program start and end?

For those placed in Boston/Brockton or Lawrence the program begins in June and participants will complete their Master’s degree by the end of June two years later.

What graduate program should I apply for in the Lynch School?

Applicants must apply for, and be accepted to, the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction; please note UCTC as your Special Program.

If I am admitted to the Lynch School and UCTC, how much tuition will be covered by the program?

If you are admitted to the Lynch School and the UCTC program, UCTC covers tuition for your Master's degree (UCTC members are responsible for all University fees, including the confirmation deposit).

Can I apply if I don’t have an undergraduate degree or concentration/minor in education?

Corps members usually have a bachelor’s degree with either a major, minor, or concentration in education, though this is not an absolute (depending on available programs of study at your undergraduate institution). UCTC members MUST have completed a semester of full-time student teaching or a year of supervised teaching and be eligible for initial licensure in the Commonwealth of Mass. in order to qualify for UCTC Boston/Brockton & Lawrence. For more information on eligibility for initial state licensure, visit the Commonwealth of Mass. Department of Education Licensure page. Please note that those seeking to teach theology or religion eligibility for teaching licensure is not required, but evidence of ability and preparation to teach is required. 

Where will I teach? Can I choose where and what I will teach?

UCTC participants teach in schools throughout the Archdiocese of Boston. UCTC teachers work in Pre-K through 12th grade. Upon offer of admission, candidates will be notified of school placement, though not of grade level teaching.

What does “living in intentional community” really mean?

Participants live in the UCTC community residence with the other program members. Living in intentional community means pooling your resources to purchase food and other necessities. UCTC provides internet through BC-secured WiFi. Dinner is eaten together as a community on Monday through Thursday nights and the community gathers weekly for faith sharing. The community makes a commitment to spend some free time together.

What will I get paid? For what expenses will I be responsible?

You will receive a modest living stipend from the program. Your tuition, rent, and utilities will be paid. You will be responsible for personal expenses, including food, personal travel, text books, and car expenses.

If I have student loans from the past, can I get them deferred or forgiven by the UCTC?

Federal loans (Stafford and Perkins) may be deferred because you are a graduate student.  Any private loans you have may or may not be eligible for deferment. In order to confirm the eligibility of your loans for deferral, please contact your lender. You may also qualify for partial cancellation of Perkins loans depending on where and what you teach.

If I am in UCTC, do I need to have a car?

A car may make the commute to a placement easier; however, the UCTC house is located within a mile of the T, the commuter rail, and a number of bus stops.

What should I do if I have other questions?

Please contact UCTC at 617-552-0602 or uctc@bc.edu

Connect With Us

Contact Us

Charles Cownie
Director, Catholic Teacher Formation

  uctc@bc.edu
  617-552-0602