2024 PD Program Digital Brochure

Professional

Diploma in

Family Ministries

A 24-unit, non-degree program

Loyola School of Theology

Ateneo de Manila

Hybrid classes for SY 2024 - 2025

School year begins August 7, 2024

Deadline for application: August 1, 2024

Description of the Program

The Ruben M. Tanseco, S.J. Center for Family Ministries (RMT-CEFAM) at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, offers a 24-unit, non-degree program leading to a Professional Diploma in Family Ministries.

The program is designed for persons who are engaged in or plan to engage in the pastoral care of couples and families, such as lay-workers and coordinators of family life apostolates, seminarians, priests, ministers, and religious brothers and sisters.

The program has two major components:

PASTORAL COUNSELING (curative dimension)
SPIRITUALITY (growth dimension)

A wholistic, psycho-spiritual approach characterizes the program, utilizing a content-and-process methodology as its means.

The pastoral counseling component of the program covers the study of individual psychodynamics and relationship processes - including relevant socio-cultural factors - and practicum training in skills necessary for a basic counseling ministry with

couples and families.

The spirituality component of the program includes both a study of the scriptural-moral-doctrinal underpinnings of Christian family life and a graduated, integrated series of growth programs in family spirituality.

Overall, the program aims to train persons in building up the Filipino family as a "domestic Church", a community of love, justice, and peace, both within the home and in its social role and responsibility to the nation and to the world. The thrust of "service of the faith and the promotion of justice" permeates the whole program.

Admission Requirements

A college degree or its equivalent. The major courses of the program are at the graduate school level.

Transcript of records from the college or university attended, showing average or above-average grades for the overall program of studies undertaken.

A completed application form, accompanied by three letters of recommendation - one from the superior or supervisor of the applicant and two from among his/her associates.

Classes are held in the afternoons and evenings.
The spirituality growth programs and other elective seminars are held on scheduled weekends.
Counseling practicum work will be done in consultation with counseling supervisors.

Comfortable Workplace with Laptop on Table in Office

Program of Studies

SEMESTER I (August to December)

Courses

Sp 89 / TMP 267

Pastoral Psychology and Counseling

Sp 93 / TMP 268.03

Marital / Premarital Dynamics and

Counseling: A Psycho-Spiritual Approach

Sp 93.1 / TMP 268

Family Dynamics and Counseling Approaches

Sp 92.3 / TMP 269

Assessment and Initial Intervention of

Individual and Relationship Disorders

Units

Students are required to participate in Growth Groups during the school year that they expect to graduate. The Growth Groups meet for ten sessions per semester, with meetings scheduled outside of class times.

SEMESTER II (January - May)

Courses

Sp 62.1 / TMP 231.05

Family Spirituality and Sexual Ethics

Sp 94 / TMP 268.04

Marital and Family Counseling Practicum

Sp 94.1 / TMP 268.09

Family Spirituality Practicum

Elective Course

Units

Elective Courses

Sp 92 / TMP 268.08

Child and Adolescent Counseling

Sp 93.2 / TMP 268.06

Explorations in Individual and Family Resilience

Sp 95 / TMP 267.07

Pastoral Group Process and Counseling

Sp 93.3

Pastoral Care for Survivors of Abuse

When taken full-time, the program may be completed in one school year. Students taking the program on a part-time basis are given a maximum of three years to complete it.

Other seminars will be offered from time to time. All the courses and seminar offerings are under the auspices of the Loyola School of Theology.

Those who have completed the Professional Diploma program may continue their training in pastoral family ministry through RMT-CEFAM’s one-year Apprenticeship Program in Family Ministries and Pastoral Counseling.