Marriage and Family Studies

Concentration Chair: Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund

The MAPS Marriage and Family Studies Concentration provides learners with a strong understanding of both the role of the family in the life of the Church and society and the responsibilities involved in living out the covenantal relationship between God, man, and woman. This concentration would be an excellent fit for those learners who wish to:

  1. Serve as both diocesan and parish-based marriage and family life ministers.
  2. Conduct effective marriage preparation and enrichment programs.
  3. Promote the relational and spiritual well-being of couples and families.
  4. Provide front-line pastoral support for couples and families in crisis.

Graduates will also be able to practice as Marriage & Family Life Coaches and be eligible for advanced standing to become Board Certified Coaches through the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Concentration Goals

To equip students with the skills needed to:

  1. Effectively communicate the role the Catholic vision of marriage and family life plays in both a healthy society and God’s plan for the world.
  2. Facilitate the general emotional and relational health of couples and families.
  3. Facilitate a robust, incarnational, marital and family spirituality according to the Catholic vision of the home as the “domestic church
  4. Be an effective first line of support to couples and families who are struggling under the weight of internal and/or external pressures.

Concentration Outcomes

Students with a concentration in Marriage and Family will be able to:

  1. Communicate the social, relational, psychological and spiritual significance of marriage.
  2. Show mastery for preparing those to embrace the sacrament of matrimony from remote and proximate stance.
  3. Prudently offer support to couples and families in every stage and state in life.
  4. Provide pastoral support and develop first-line interventions for couples in crisis.

Co-requisites for All Areas of Concentration

  • PAS 602 Fundamentals of Practical Theology
  • DTH 645 Nature and Grace

Core Courses for the Marriage and Family Concentration

  1. PAS 805 Trinity and the Incarnation
  2. PAS 511 Mission and Evangelization
  1. MTH 851 Contemporary Moral Issues
  2. PAS 720 Nurturing the Domestic Church: Facilitating Authentic Marriage, Family Life and Spirituality

Marriage and Family Area Concentration

  1. CLA 715 Canon Law of Marriage 
  2. PAS 621 Pastoral Care of Marriage and Family
  3. PAS 660 Thanatology 
  4. PAS 785 Pastoral Issues Concerning Human Sexuality

Marriage and Family Electives 

*Select any two courses from the following or consult the MAPS Program Director to approve your alternate selection.

  1. APO 512 Apologetics 
  2. APO 520 Adapting Evangelization to Hispanic Cultural Contexts 
  3. PAS 605 Intercultural Competencies  
  4. PAS 700 Christian Life Together in the Presence of Human, Physical, and Intellectual Impairments 
  5. PAS 791 Morals and Psychology 
  6. PAS 841 Catholic Social Teachings

Permanent link to this article: https://catalog.holyapostles.edu/marriage-and-family-studies/