At a Glance

At a Glance

Candler prepares real people to make a real difference in the real world. 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, socio-economic backgrounds, and personal stories of faith. What we share is our commitment to Jesus Christ and the church. Learn more about what makes Candler REAL.

Date Established

The School of Theology opened at Wesley Memorial Church in September 1914. In February 1915 it was named the Candler School of Theology in honor of its founder, Bishop Warren Akin Candler. Learn more about Candler's history.

Current Dean

Jan Love, Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean and Professor of Christianity and World Politics, appointed in 2007.

Previous Deans

Russell E. Richey 2000-2006
R. Kevin LaGree 1991-1999
James Waits 1978-1991
James T. Laney 1969-1977
William Ragsdale Cannon 1953-1968
Henry Burton Trimble 1937-1953
Franklin Nutting Parker 1919-1937
Plato. D. Durham 1914-1919

Faculty

• Student/faculty ratio: 7:1
• Number of faculty holding joint appointments with Emory University’s top-ranked Graduate Division of Religion: 31

Degrees Offered

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Religion and Public Life (MRPL)
• Master of Religious Leadership (MRL)
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
• Bioethics and Theology
• Business and Theology
• Development Practice and Theology
• Law and Theology
• Public Health and Theology
• Social Work and Theology (with the University of Georgia)

Certificates

Candler students enrolled in the Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies degree programs may earn a certificate in conjunction with their degree in one of the following areas:

• Baptist Studies
• Black Church Studies
• Episcopal and Anglican Studies
• Human Rights (Emory Graduate Certificate)
• Religion and Health
• Religious Education Ministries
• Women's Studies in Theology and Ministry

Student Enrollment, 2020-2021

• Number of students: 483
• Denominations represented: 44
• Countries represented: 12 (Bahamas, Burma, Congo, El Salvador, Georgia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, USA)
• Median age: 31
• Students who are from the Methodist tradition: 40%

Alumni, 2020-2021

• Percentage of alumni serving as church pastors: 70%
• Number of living alumni: 7,970

Candler School of Theology Buildings

• Rita Anne Rollins Building
• Pitts Theology Library
• Cannon Chapel