About Candler School of Theology
About Candler School of Theology
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 religious leadership, master of theology, and doctor of ministry degrees as well as dual degree programs in bioethics, business, development practice, law, public health, and social work. These dual degrees are offered in partnership with Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Laney Graduate School, Center for Ethics,Rollins School of Public Health, Emory Law School, and the University of Georgia School of Social Work, the doctoral program in religion, offered through Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion, and the Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion.
The school also provides educational opportunities for clergy, church groups, and lay persons through The Candler Foundry, our public theological initiative, and beginning in 2023, La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies, an online program in Spanish that leads to a diploma in pastoral studies.
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, MRL, 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–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 the centers for specialized research and study at Emory are The Carter Center of Emory University, the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies, the Emory Center for Ethics, and the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Campus-based independent affiliates include the American Academy of Religion; the Society of Biblical Literature; the Emory Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life; and the Center for the Study of Law and Religion.
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).
