Emory University

What you'll study

The curriculum draws on a range of theological disciplines and practical subjects. Typical course areas include:

• Foundations of Christian Theology: doctrines, historical development, and contemporary theological methods.
• Scriptural Studies: close reading and interpretation of biblical texts, including approaches to exegesis and hermeneutics.
• Ethics and Public Theology: moral theology, social ethics and the application of religious resources to public issues.
• Pastoral Care and Leadership: pastoral counselling, congregational leadership, worship planning and practicum placements.
• Interreligious and Contextual Studies: interfaith dialogue, global Christianity, and theology in relation to race, gender and culture.
• Research Methods and Capstone: theological research skills culminating in a thesis, project or practicum demonstrating integrated learning.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised undergraduate degree. The admissions portfolio commonly includes:

• Completed application and academic transcripts from prior study.
• A personal statement outlining vocational aims, theological interests and how the programme aligns with career goals.
• Two or more letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees familiar with the applicant's readiness for graduate theological study.
• A writing sample that demonstrates critical engagement with theological or religious material.
• For applicants whose first language is not English, evidence of English language proficiency through a recognised test or equivalent exemption.

Additional ministry experience or denominational endorsements can strengthen an application for those pursuing ordained or congregational vocations. Specific documentation requirements and any standardised test policies are provided by the School of Theology at application time.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a range of vocational paths. Common outcomes include ordained ministry and pastoral leadership, hospital and military chaplaincy, youth and campus ministry, leadership roles in faith-based and non-profit organisations, religious education and teaching, and further doctoral study in theology or related fields. The programme’s combination of academic and practical training is also valuable for roles in community organising, public policy work with ethical dimensions, and intercultural engagement initiatives.

Why study at Emory University

Studying theology at Emory’s Candler School situates students within a research-active university that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across humanities, social sciences and public service. Students benefit from access to a diverse faculty with strengths in historical, systematic and practical theology, opportunities for supervised field education in the Atlanta area, and a community that supports both scholarly inquiry and vocational formation. The programme’s urban setting offers rich contexts for ministry placements and partnerships with congregations, hospitals, schools and non-profit organisations.