Introduction

Candler School of Theology is a graduate professional school of Emory University and one of 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church. Founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1914, the school became part of Emory when the university was chartered in 1915, occupying the first building on the Atlanta campus.

Candler offers programs leading to master of divinity, master of theological studies, master of religion and public life, master of arts in religion and leadership, master of theology, and doctor of ministry degrees as well as dual-degree programs in bioethics, business, development practice, law, and public health. These dual degrees are offered in partnership with Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Laney Graduate School, Center for Ethics, Rollins School of Public Health, and Emory Law School.

Candler also provides educational opportunities for clergy, church groups, and lay persons through The Candler Foundry, our public theological education initiative, and La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies, a multicultural and multilingual hybrid program leading to a graduate certificate in pastoral studies for Spanish, Korean, and English speakers from traditions that may not require a master’s degree for ordination as well as others whose work would be enhanced by a diverse theological foundation.

Candler School of Theology is accredited by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church and by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), and the following degree programs are approved: MDiv, MARL, MRPL, MTS, ThM, and DMin. ATS is located at 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275; telephone: 412-788-6510.

Candler Deans

• Plato T. Durham, 1914–1919

• Franklin Nutting Parker, 1919–1937

• Henry Burton Trimble, 1937–1953

• William Ragsdale Cannon, 1953–1968

• James T. Laney, 1969–1977

• James Waits, 1978–1991

• R. Kevin LaGree, 1991–1999

• Russell E. Richey, 2000–2006

• Jan Love, 2007–2024

• Jonathan Strom, 2024–2026

• Terrence L. Johnson, 2026-present

Emory University

Since 1836, Emory’s mission—to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity—has guided the university in its work to drive discovery, serve the common good, and prepare leaders to make a difference in the world. The excellence and dedication of the faculty are why students from around the world come to Emory, where they embark on a rigorous and inclusive educational journey that transforms them into tomorrow’s leaders. Behind Emory’s fundamental commitment to providing a rigorous liberal arts education within one of the nation’s top research universities is a belief in the ardent pursuit of knowledge and its transformative power. Emory offers an academic experience where students discover a culture of open and civil discourse, develop the confidence to confront difficult questions, work closely with academic experts, and connect with a set of peers as diverse as the world around them.

Among Emory’s centers for specialized research and study that have particular resonance with religion and theology are The Carter Center, the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies, the Emory Center for Ethics, the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, the Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, and the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Campus-based independent affiliates include the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Emory University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate, and professional degrees.

Questions about the accreditation of Emory University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404)679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).