About
Admissions
Academics
Faculty
Life at Candler
News and Events
Programs
Giving

Home » Academics » Degree Programs

Degree Programs

Prospective students can explore Candler’s Academic Programs here


Explore Options 

Candler School of Theology offers four degrees:

Candler also offers eight joint degrees:

MDiv/MBA
In collaboration with Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Candler offers a joint Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration degree. The MDiv/MBA program is a four-year program, or one year shorter than if the degrees were pursued separately. Applicants apply to Candler and Goizueta separately, and if accepted to both schools, can enroll in the joint degree program.  Goizueta Business School requires that all applicants take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Students typically start their first year at Candler, spend their second year at Goizueta, and then alternate between the schools for years three and four. Financing is coordinated between the two schools.
MTS/MBA
A joint Master of Theological Studies and Master of Business Administration (MTS/MBA) is offered in cooperation with the Goizueta Business School. This program allows the MTS and MBA degrees to be earned in three years instead of the usual four to attain the degrees separately. Candidates for the joint-degree program must apply to and be accepted by both Candler and Goizueta. The schools maintain independent application procedures. Typically, the first year is spent at Candler and the second year is spent at Goizueta. The student must register and pay tuition for three semesters in Goizueta and three semesters in Candler but may take courses in either school. Candler scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which the student is in residency in the School of Theology. In order to meet degree requirements for the MDiv, the student must complete a minimum of 39 hours at Candler, including either the MTS Thesis (MTS502) or MTS Integrative Paper (MTS503). All requirements are the same as a traditional MTS student but with fewer elective hours. For information on the MTS portion of the MTS/MBA, contact the Candler registrar’s office at candlerregistrar@emory.edu.
JD/MDiv
Candler offers a joint Master of Divinity and Juris Doctor degree in conjunction with Emory’s School of Law. The MDiv/JD is a five-year degree, one year shorter than if the degrees were pursued separately. Applicants apply to Candler and Emory Law School separately, and if accepted to both schools, can enroll in the joint degree program. The School of Law requires that all applicants take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Students typically begin their studies with their first year at Candler, spend their second year at the Law School, and then alternate between the schools for their remaining time. Financing is coordinated between the two schools.
JD/MTS
Candler offers a joint Master of Theological Studies and Juris Doctor degree in conjunction with Emory’s School of Law. The MTS/JD is a four-year degree, one year shorter than if the degrees were pursued separately. Applicants apply to Candler and Emory Law School separately, and if accepted to both schools, can enroll in the joint degree program. As with the MDiv/JD, applicants must take the LSAT and register with LSDAS, and financing is coordinated between schools.
MDiv/MDP
A joint Master of Divinity/Master of Development Practice (MDiv/MDP) program allows students to combine training and experience in international development with theological studies and formation for ministry. The MDP attends to both theoretical and applied methods of development and introduces students through interdisciplinary work to a variety of fields including global health, human rights, economics, governance, ecosystems, gender, energy and engineering. Research methods, program evaluation and assessment are central to the MDP program. A student in this joint-degree program typically matriculates concurrently in Candler and the Laney Graduate School (MDP) and may complete the requirements for both degrees in four years (instead of the five required to attain the degrees separately). Candidates for the dual-degree program must apply to and be accepted by both Candler and the MDP program. The schools maintain independent application procedures and different tuition costs. The typical sequence of courses requires students to enroll full-time at Candler in the first year. The subsequent two years are in the MDP program and include two consecutive summers of full-time international field practicums. Those placements are arranged through the MDP with approved NGOs. The student is enrolled full-time at Candler in the fourth year. The student must register and pay tuition for four semesters in the MDP and four semesters at Candler, but may take MDP elective courses at Candler during the two years in the MDP to fulfill an MDP concentration. Students develop MDP concentrations in consultation with MDP faculty, drawing on resources at Candler in areas of study such as conflict transformation, religious leadership for the global church, faith and global health, etc. Candler scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which students are in residency at Candler. In order to meet degree requirements for the MDiv, the student must complete a minimum of 79 hours at Candler. In order to meet degree requirements for the MDP, students must complete 51 hours in the MDP program plus the two international field practicums.  For information on the MDP portion of the MDiv/MDP, contact the director of the program, Dr. David Nugent, at david.nugent@emory.edu. For information on the MDiv portion of the degree, contact Candler’s registrar’s office at candlerregistrar@emory.edu. 
MDiv/MPH
A joint Master of Divinity and Master of Public Health (MDiv/MPH) is offered in cooperation with the Rollins School of Public Health. This program allows the MDiv and MPH degrees to be earned in four years instead of the usual five to attain the degrees separately. Candidates for the joint-degree program must apply to and be accepted by both Candler and Rollins. The schools maintain independent application procedures. Typically, the first year is spent at Candler, the second year is spent at Rollins, and the third and fourth years are spent at Candler. The student must register and pay tuition for six semesters in Candler and two semesters in Rollins but may take courses in either school. Candler scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which the student is in residency in the School of Theology. In order to meet degree requirements for the MDiv, the student must complete a minimum of 86 hours at Candler. All requirements are the same as a traditional MDiv student. In order to meet degree requirements for the MPH, the student must complete a minimum 32 to 35 hours at Rollins, including the practicum and special studies project or thesis. Specific MPH degree requirements depend on the department. Rollins offers the dual-degree program in seven departments (Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Environmental Health, Global Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Policy and Management). MDiv/MPH dual-degree students may complete the MPH practicum requirement through completion of a clinical Contextual Education placement. For additional information about the MPH portion of the MDiv/MPH, contact Kathy Wollenzien at kwollen@sph.emory.edu. For information on the MDiv portion of the MDiv/MPH, contact the Candler registrar’s office at candlerregistrar@emory.edu.
MTS/MPH
A joint Master of Theological Studies and Master of Public Health (MTS/MPH) is offered in cooperation with the Rollins School of Public Health. This program allows the MTS and MPH degrees to be earned in three years instead of the usual four to attain the degrees separately. Candidates for the joint-degree program must apply to and be accepted by both Candler and Rollins. The schools maintain independent application procedures. Typically, the first year is spent at Candler, the second year at Rollins, and the third year at Candler. The student must register and pay tuition for four semesters in Candler and two semesters in Rollins but may take courses in either school. Candler scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which the student is in residency in the School of Theology. In order to meet degree requirements for the MTS, the student must complete a minimum of 51 hours at Candler. All requirements are the same as a traditional MTS student. In order to meet degree requirements for the MPH, the student must complete a minimum of 32 to 35 hours at Rollins, including the practicum and special studies project or thesis. Specific MPH degree requirements depend on the department. Rollins offers the dual-degree program in seven departments (Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Environmental Health, Global Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Policy and Management). MTS/MPH dual-degree students may complete the MPH special studies project or thesis in conjunction with the MTS integrative paper or thesis. For additional information about the MPH portion of the MDiv/MPH, contact Kathy Wollenzien at kwollen@sph.emory.edu. For information on the MDiv portion of the MDiv/MPH, contact the Candler registrar’s office at candlerregistrar@emory.edu.
MTS/MA Bioethics
A joint MTS/MA-Bioethics (Master of Arts in Bioethics) is offered in conjunction with the Laney Graduate School and theCenter for Ethics. This degree allows students to earn both the MTS and MA-Bioethics in two years rather than in the usual three. Candidates for the joint degree program must apply to and be accepted by both Candler and Laney. The schools maintain independent application procedures. Typically, the first year is spent at the Center for Ethics and the second year at Candler. Students must register for and pay tuition for two semesters at Laney and two semesters at Candler but may take courses in either school. Candler scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which students are in residence at the School of Theology. In order to meet degree requirements for the MTS, students must complete a minimum of 18 hours at Candler, including either the MTS Thesis (MTS502)or MTS Integrative Paper (MTS503). In addition, students enroll in the joint interdisciplinary seminar offered by Candler and the Center for Ethics. Jointdegree students also enroll in ES501 and in a seminar that address issues of life, death, and/or health and theology (e.g.,NT629). The MTS professional elective will be fulfilled by BIOETH601, the Bioethics Service Learning Practicum. For information about the MTS portion of the MTS/MA-Bioethics, please contact Steve Kraftchick at skraftc@emory.edu.