Since 2005, Family Studies Discipline has educated students for both a bachelor's as well as master's degree.
A graduate of the studies conducted on the Faculty of Social Sciences of The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow receives a bachelor's and master's degree in the field of Family Studies. During six terms of the 1st degree studies and four terms of the 2nd degree studies graduates are given thorough knowledge concerning not only psychological, pedagogical, sociological, biomedical, legal aspects but also philosophical as well as theological basis. Graduates are fully prepared to work as qualified advisors and counsellors in the family and marriage guidance institutions. Moreover, they can be also employed as social pedagogues looking after the children, the disabled, the elderly and, last but not the least, people who are chronically and terminally ill.
Apart from thorough education concerning social issues and conducted within the scope of social issues the graduate should acquire practical skills connected with the practised profession. These include:
- organizing financial and pedagogical help as well as mental support in order to provide essential life conditions
- enforcing the ability of local groups and families to self-solving their own problems
- counselling through providing information, giving advice, support and help in personal problems
Theological knowledge, provided by the Faculty of Social Sciences, enables the graduate to use the religious motivation while solving the family problems and to offer help and support to those who, in the course of unfortunate events and suffering have lost their sense of live. This particular knowledge also allows the graduate to work at family and marriage guidance institutions run by various organizational units of the Catholic Church as well as different social and religious church institutions.
While writing a diploma thesis students attend academic seminar during which students prepare their graduate works as well as the final diploma thesis.
Practical skills are acquired throughout attendance in the practice in family and marriage guidance institutions and pastoral family counselling centers. Also, one can participate in summer practice that takes place in welfare centers, hospices and palliative care centers. The location of summer practice depends on student's place of residence.
