Our Community
Cookie-cutter sameness is not a Candler characteristic. We are people of every stripe—reflecting and embracing our own ethnic origins, theological perspectives, denominations, political viewpoints, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and personal stories of faith. What we share is our commitment to Jesus Christ, the church, and to joining God’s work of positive transformation in the world.
Our Story
The School of Theology held its first classes in September 1914. In 1915, it was the first building to be constructed on Emory University’s new Druid Hills campus, and was named Candler School of Theology—though history is fuzzy on whether it was in honor of Methodist Bishop Warren A. Candler or his brother, the school’s founding benefactor Asa G. Candler.
More Candler history
Our Dean
Jan Love, Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean and Professor of Christianity and World Politics, was appointed Candler’s dean in 2007.
A message from Dean Love
Our Faculty
Candler professors value scholarship, teaching, and serving the church in equal measure. They’ll get to know you and you’ll get to know them—a rare treat made possible by our 9:1 student/faculty ratio, among the lowest of our peer institutions.
more about faculty
Learning Formats
Candler offers courses in multiple formats for increased flexibility
Choose the format that best suits your learning style, location, and schedule. Four of Candler’s six degrees have hybrid or online options—MDiv, MRL, MRPL and DMin.
in person, usually on campus
hybrid option
online option
Financial concerns shouldn’t keep you from answering your call. Candler offers generous financial aid because we want a Candler education to be within your reach.
Student Enrollment
Denominations Represented
Learn moreTop 5 denominations by number of students: UMC, Baptist, Nondenominational, Episcopal/Anglican, and Presbyterian. Plus, vibrant denominational programs for fellowship and study for those from Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal/Anglican, and Methodist traditions.
Candler Students
Our diverse student body is the heart of the Candler community
Student Life at CandlerWe are diverse in many ways: geography and culture, race and ethnicity, denomination, age, callings, and more. Here are just a few data points to illustrate the breadth of our student body.
By almost any measure, Candler has one of the most diverse and accomplished faculties in theological education. And because of our 9:1 student-teacher ratio, they are accessible, too—not something every top-tier research institution can say.
Rankings & Recognitions
- Emory University named a 2022 and 2023 recipient of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
- Emory ranked #2 for quality of life by The Princeton Review
- Emory ranked #24 in Best National University Rankings in US News and World Report
- Pitts Theology Library, the premier theology library in North America is recognized internationally for its rare book and archival collections
- At 47.9%, Atlanta has the highest percentage of overall urban tree canopy in the nation
10 reasons to love Candler? How about 12?
(We promise you’ll add more to your own unique list.)