Post-Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies
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Holy Apostles College & Seminary
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33 Prospect Hill Road
Cromwell, CT 06416
Graduate Admissions Phone :
860-632-3066
Undergraduate Admissions Phone:
860-632-3026
Admissions Email:
admissions@holyapostles.edu
Post-Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies Overview
The Post Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies is a 30 credit hour, fully online program designed to give students, who hold a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies, an opportunity to advance their academic standing and concentrate on an area of Pastoral Studies. The certificate offers areas of concentration in the following:
- Apologetics
- Marriage and Family Studies
- Pastoral Counseling
- Spiritual Direction
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Catechetical Ministry
This certificate program may be completed 100% online. There is a six year time limit from entry into the program for completion of the requirements. This is a flexible program, designed to prepare students for subsequent licentiate or doctoral work, or for integrating a pastoral component into their lives and professions.
Coursework
The candidate for the Post Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies may compose his or her program from any graduate level courses he or she wishes, as long as five core courses are included:
1. PAS 805 Trinity & the Incarnation
2. APO 512 Apologetics
3. APO 535 Moral Apologetics
4. DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics
5. PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology
Post Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies Sample Certificate Plan
In the case of a student who intends to pursue licentiate or doctoral work, careful attention must be paid to compose his or her program from course work which will fulfill admissions requirements for the intended future college or university program. In some cases, it may be advisable for a student to approve each semester’s course selection(s) with the future institution of study, to ensure a smooth transition from Holy Apostles Post Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies program into a licentiate or doctoral program.
Certificate Requirements
The Post Master’s Certificate Program in Pastoral Studies requirements must be completed with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better. For purposes of retaining a consistency and integrity in its Post Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies program, Holy Apostles requires that a twelve credit core curriculum be completed within the program by each candidate.
All Post Master’s Certificate candidates must integrate the following core courses into their program:
1. MTH 851 Contemporary Moral Issues (Spring, Summer)
2. APO 512 Apologetics (Every)
3. PAS 660 Thanatology (Fall, Summer)
4. PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology (Every)
5. PAS 511 Mission and Evangelization (Spring, Summer)
*Select three of the following eight courses from your area of concentration: Catechetical Ministry, Marriage and Family, Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Direction, or Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
- Catechetical Ministry
- APO 512 Apologetics (Every)
- APO 535 Moral Apologetics (Fall, Spring)
- DTH 645 Nature and Grace (Spring)
- PAS 651 History and Foundations of Catechesis (Fall-Even Years Only)
- PAS 653 Child and Adolescent Catechesis (Spring)
- PAS 720 Nurturing the Domestic Church: Facilitating Authentic Marriage, Family Life and Spirituality (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 841 Catholic Social Teachings (Every)
- PAS 891 Methods in Teaching (Fall)
- Marriage and Family
- CLA 715 Canon Law of Marriage (Spring)
- DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics (Summer)
- MTH 681 Theology of the Body: Sexual Difference and Complementarity (Fall)
- PAS 605 Intercultural Competencies (Fall)
- PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 660 Thanatology (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality (Fall, Spring)
- PAS 841 Catholic Social Teachings (Every)
- Pastoral Counseling
- PAS 641 Methods in Counseling (Fall)
- PAS 660 Thanatology (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 683 Pastoral Counseling I: Spiritual Helping and Accompaniment (Spring; prereq., PAS 641)
- PAS 684 Pastoral Counseling II: Spiritual Diagnosis and Accompaniment (Summer; Pre-req., PAS 641; PAS 683)
- PAS 700 Christian Life Together in the Presence of Human, Physical, and Intellectual Impairments (Fall)
- PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality (Fall, Spring)
- PAS 791 Morals and Psychology (Summer)
- PAS 891 Methods in Teaching (Fall)
- Spiritual Direction
- CHH 631 Mystical Theology and the Church Fathers (Spring)
- DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics (Summer)
- DTH 645 Nature and Grace (Spring)
- DTH 890 Spiritual Theology (Spring)
- PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 660 Thanatology (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 671 Spiritual Direction: Skills and Practice (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 791 Morals and Psychology (Summer)
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- APO 512 Apologetics (Every)
- APO 535 Moral Apologetics (Fall, Spring)
- DTH 512 Spiritual Life in the Classics (Summer)
- DTH 645 Nature and Grace (Spring)
- PAS 607 Contemporary Youth Culture (Spring)
- PAS 660 Thanatology (Fall, Summer)
- PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality (Fall, Spring)
- PAS 791 Morals and Psychology (Summer)
Post-Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies Electives
*Select any two additional courses that you have not already taken from those listed above.
Capstone Paper
Upon completion of the course work for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Studies, the student prepares, in consultation with the MAPS Director, a 30-page Capstone Paper outlining a Case Study in one’s area of concentration.
During the final semester of coursework or the semester following completion of all courses, PMC students enroll in the 0-credit Capstone Paper Directed Study with a faculty advisor. The PMC Capstone Paper is a 30-page academic research paper written on a topic related to the student’s concentration area and approved by the faculty advisor. The paper’s format follows the current Thesis Guidelines. To enroll in the Capstone Paper Directed Study, the student submits an application and proposal following the format in the Thesis Guidelines to the Summative Evaluation Coordinator who will assist in assigning a faculty advisor for the Capstone Paper. The student submits the application and proposal the semester before the student intends to begin the 0-credit Capstone Directed Study. PMC students are expected to complete the Capstone Paper in one semester. Please see the Tuition and Fees page for current fees for the PMC Capstone Paper Directed Study.
***If a student has completed any of the core courses from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, the student may ask the MAPS Program Director for a waiver of the course. If granted, the student may take any other graduate-level course listed above instead.
How Do I Apply?
Applicants for the Post-Master’s Certificate program should follow the Graduate Admissions procedures. For additional questions or information, please contact Admissions at admissions@holyapostles.edu
What Are Available Career Paths With This Certificate?
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Young Adult Ministry Coordinator
Spiritual Director
Director of Religious Education
Faculty
Program Director:
Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
msiegmund@holyapostles.edu
Certificate Concentration Chairs:
Catechetical Ministry – Fr. Gregoire J. Fluet
Marriage and Family – Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund
Pastoral Counseling – Fr. Gregory Lockwood
Spiritual Direction – Fr. Gregory Lockwood
Youth and Young Adult Ministry – Dr. Marc Tumeinski
Teaching Faculty:
For a full listing of our faculty, please visit Faculty Listing