Marriage and Family Graduate Certificate

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit the simple application for admission. We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance so you can enroll and begin your classes!

The Good Life: Marriage and Family Flourishing

Discover the tradition of natural law and virtue ethics in order to learn how to think fruitfully about the goods of marriage and their significance: for individual human persons as men and women, for the family, and for human societies.

The Sacramental Life: Marriage

Examine the development of the Church’s teaching on the sacrament of marriage from the witness of Scripture and tradition through the ages to the late modern period. Special emphasis is given in this course to significant Scriptural texts from Genesis, the Gospels, and the Pauline corpus and their interpretation in the patristic and medieval Church (especially in the writings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas); ecclesial documents; and the papal magisterium up to the writings of Pope Leo XIII.

Theology of the Body: Marriage and Family in the Modern World

Explore Pope St. John Paul II’s magisterial Theology of the Body in light of its context, origins, delivery, and reception. Counter alternative accounts of the human person and human goods emerging in late modernity and postmodernity which issued forth in the sexual revolution and pays special attention to the context and reception of magisterial documents such as Casti Connubii and Humanae Vitae as well as significant works by Pope St. John Paul II. Furthermore, students will consider the role of the Theology of the Body in evangelism and faith formation.

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized by the US Dept. of Education and those with military or career and work experience. 

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

• Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
  • Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
  • At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office. 
    • Have your transcripts sent to:
      Office of Admissions
      University of Mary
      7500 University Drive
      Bismarck, ND 58504
    • Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
• Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
  • You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
  • You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
• Military experience can count towards a degree.
  • If you are Active duty, National Guard, Reserve, or a Veteran from the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy, you can request your transcript through Joint Services Transcript.
  • Air Force personnel should contact the CCAF to receive your transcript. 
  • If you already have your CCAF degree, check out our Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative page to see how you can apply your degree to get a bachelor’s degree at the University of Mary.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY?

• All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
• Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.