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MAPS – IPL

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake is now offering a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree which is open to lay students.  The program is designed for part-time students, offering two evening courses each semester and one course each summer.  3 credit courses are held from 7-9:45 pm and 2 credit courses are held from 7-9:10 pm.  The course of study for the MAPS degree is a total of 39 credit hours.  

This degree helps the University actualize its mission and vision for lay formation in the Catholic Church by providing graduate level theological education in Lake and northwest Cook Counties in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  The program serves, among others, students preparing for calling as lay ecclesial ministers by the Archbishop of Chicago and current pastoral ministers and deacons seeking to continue their intellectual formation.

Students are formed in the Catholic tradition so that they are able to evangelize and catechize the community and the culture, interpreting Scripture according to the mind of the Church and with an accurate historical awareness.  They learn the sacramental and theological perspectives of the Catholic Church and learn to communicate these perspectives in teaching.  The Catholic moral tradition is a particular emphasis so that students are able to respond to questions of ethics.

Students also experience a focused program of human formation which includes input from the social sciences as well as the spiritual sciences.  Elements include a psychological evaluation, meetings with the formation adviser, a formation program, and spiritual direction. 

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For more information or questions,

contact Bob Alexander, Sr. Associate Director,

847-837-4553 or balexander@usml.edu.

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Course of Study:

  • New Testament (3)

  • Old Testament (3)

  • Biblical Elective (2)

  • Christian Anthropology (3)

  • Ecclesiology (3)

  • Christology (3)

  • Church History (3)

  • Moral Theology (3)

  • Catholic Social Teaching (2)

  • Spiritual Theology (2)

  • Sacramental Theology (3)

  • Lay Leadership of Prayer (2)

  • Canon Law (2)

  • Pastoral Care (2)

  • Field Education (2)

  • Capstone Thesis Project (1)

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