& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Graduate Certificate Programs 229
Graduate Certificate in Canon Law
The graduate certificate in Canon Law is designed for persons who do
not seek a pontifical degree in canon law (JCL, JCD) but seek canonical
knowledge for administrative and pastoral duties, general knowledge of
Church teaching, or to enhance one's pastoral ministry.
Program Structure
Our 16-credit program in canon law strives to equip participants with a
deep understanding of Roman Catholic cannonical principles, relevant
doctrines, and consequent relationships to cultures and societies; to
demonstrate judicial skills of inquiry, discovery, and reflection relevant for
professional employees in the Roman Catholic Church and churchrelated
organizations; and, to inspire attitudes and skills that are
compatible with lives of Roman Catholic ministerial service, especially
practical participation in the polity of the Church.
Program Delivery
The course of studies for the graduate certificate in Canon Law begins
after Easter and concludes before Advent. Studies proceed in three
phases within a learning community that travels together through two
years, each with a summer residency. Reading and writing to be
completed at home in preparation for the summer residency. Two-week
summer residency in Winona where students and faculty immerse into
critical dialogue, common prayer, and relaxation and post-residency
assignments at home that include additional reading and writing that
promote insight from research that can reference participants' local
churches.
Learner Outcomes
Graduates are expected to:
1. Understand and demonstrate the Catholic Church’s salvific mission
in terms of canonical structures, principles, and practices;
2. Understand and advocate the rights and duties of members of the
Roman Catholic Church;
3. Reconcile essential Catholic doctrines, canonical structures, and the
exigencies of civic life; and,
4. Be conversant with the canonical norms associated with various
pastoral ministries.
IPM Aptitude Essays for the Study of Canon Law (only C and E above)
are brief introductory essays that demonstrate one’s understanding of
Catholic doctrines and theologies regarding Jesus Christ, the Church,
revelation, and morality. Persons who underachieve this requirement may
seek remediation in IPM-courses specified by the program director. If a
minimum 3.0 GPA is achieved therein, one may continue to courses in
canon law in their second year of studies in IPM. If a minimum 3.0 GPA
is not achieved, a student may not continue for studies in canon law.
Required Canon Law Core Courses: 12 cr.
PM680 Introduction to Canon Law ......................................................3 cr.
PM681 Church Structure: Universal and Particular.............................3 cr.
PM682 Persons and Rights in the Church..............................................3 cr.
PM683 Sacraments in Canon Law......................................................3 cr.
Electives: 4 cr.
Two of the following:
PM685 Temporal Administration of the Church ...................................2 cr.
PM686 Chancery Ministry...................................................................2 cr.
PM687 Tribunal Ministry: Processes and Cases .................................2 cr.
PM688 Penal Law and Disciplinary Proceedings
in Canon Law..................................................................................2 cr.
Course Descriptions
PM680
Introduction to Canon Law (3 cr.)
This introduction will focus on the purpose, the concepts, the terms and
the historical context of canon law. It will present the basic organization
and structure of the Code of Canon Law. It will explain how canon law
complements and is complemented by Roman Catholic ecclesiology and
moral theology. Participants will experience a team-taught course that
especially introduces the rights of a baptized person, the purpose of
authority and the limits of the legislation. By using a team-taught
approach, the course will provide an introduction to Church law that
fosters an appreciation of the breadth of canonical styles. The principles
that govern the application and interpretation of canonical regulations
will be explained. As an introductory experience, this course will provide
the tools to understand subsequent courses.
PM681
Church Structure: Universal and Particular (3 cr.)
This course studies the organizational structure of the Church. The
authority of the Roman Pontiff, the college of bishops, cardinals, and the
congregations and departments of the Roman Curia will be examined.
The nature and organization of a diocese, the pastoral office of the local
bishop, and diocesan offices will be studied. Emphasis will be given to
the laws concerning parishes, pastors, pastoral ministers, and parish
consultative bodies. This course will equip the diocesan and parish
ecclesial minister with the knowledge and understanding required for
ministry.
PM682
Persons and Rights in the Church (3 cr.)
After an introduction to the concept of juridic persons, this course will
cover the essential rights and duties of persons in the Church. Particular
attention will be given to Vatican II source documents, the Lex
Fundamentalis as now found in Book II of the Code of Canon Law, and
the procedural rights which protect persons in the Church.