Religious Education/Lay Ministry

Advanced Certificate and Bachelor's Degree

The Sisters of Mercy have endowed monies for scholarship and mission to work in cooperation with the College, to foster and support the Catholic tradition at Mercyhurst, to deepen awareness of the Catholic identity and Mercy heritage of the College, and to provide education for the ministries of the Erie Catholic Diocese.

The Advanced Certificate Program is offered at Mercyhurst College as part of a cooperative agreement between the College’s Religious Education Program and the Diocese of Erie. The Advanced Certificate Program offers college-level courses for those interested in being certified as lay ministers in the areas of Religious Education, Youth Ministry or Christian Initiation. Courses may be taken for certificate credit or regular college credit.

These courses are recognized by the College and by the Diocese as meeting diocesan requirements for Religious Education Leaders. Students taking the courses for advanced certificate do all of the assignments, papers and exams. Courses taken for advanced certificate can be converted to college credit at any time by paying the prevailing difference in the cost of the certificate credit and regular college credit at the time the course is taken. Courses taken for advanced certifcate credit cannot be transferred to another institution
unless they are converted to regular college credit.

Requirements

For a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Education/Lay Ministry, 10 of the following courses should be taken.

Fore an Advanced Certificate in Religious Education/Lay Ministry seven of the following courses should be taken.

Biblical-Historical
Rlst/Rled 162 Christian Spiritual Traditions
Rled 253 Sacraments and Liturgy
Rlst/Rled 111 !e Gospels
Rlst/Rled 110 Understanding Scripture

Systematic-Ethical
Rlst/Rled 260 Catholic Symbols & Sacraments
Rlst/Rled 230 Christology
Rlst/Rled 200 Contemporary Moral Issues
Rlst 170 Foundations for Ministry
Rlst/Rled 405 Social Ethics

Ministry-Education
Rled 156 Educational and Religious
Principles for Life-long Learning
Rled 210 Parish Leadership Skills
Rled 215 Ministry to Adolescents
Rled 270 RCIA: Bringing It to Life in Your Parish
Rlst/Rled 100 Religious Person and Traditions

Any course substitutions must be approved by the Program Administrator.

Contact

Colin Hurley, Director of Service-Learning
Office: Egan 128
Phone: (814) 824-2471
Fax: (814) 824-2070
E-mail: churley@mercyhurst.edu