Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta has announced a new hybrid Master of Divinity degree program, a flexible learning option designed to make high-caliber theological education more accessible to more people. Set to launch in Fall 2023, Candler’s hybrid MDiv will allow students to combine online and in-person coursework to complete their degrees.

Students on the hybrid plan can earn their MDiv degrees without relocating to Atlanta or regularly commuting to campus for classes. Other students who currently live in the Atlanta area may choose the hybrid format for convenience as they balance their studies with other commitments like work and family.

The new hybrid plan will follow the same MDiv curriculum as in-person students, emphasizing contextual learning, strong academics, and classes taught by world-class scholar-teachers. The 72-hour program is designed to be completed in three or four years. Hybrid plan students will take most of their courses online and the remainder as five in-person short courses in August, January and/or May. Students on the hybrid plan who wish to complete their degree in three years can expect to take two in-person courses per year for the first two years of the program and one in the final year.

The planning team has given special attention to adapting Candler’s distinctive Contextual Education program to a remote format to ensure it remains a transformative learning experience for all students, whether hybrid or residential. Contextual Education for students in Candler’s Episcopal and Anglican Studies Program is designed to foster priestly formation and is centered on real-life ministry in supervised settings. Students typically work eight hours a week in an Episcopal or Anglican parish for three years under the supervision of a seasoned priest, and meet weekly with a faculty-led peer group to reflect on their experiences in parish ministry. They receive a stipend as well as academic credit.

Candler is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year, and scholarships are available.

For more information on Candler’s hybrid Master of Divinity, join us for an online information session on Thursday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. EDT (register now) or Thursday, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. EDT (register now), or contact Candler Admissions at candleradmissions@emory.edu or 404.727.6326.

Candler School of Theology is an ecumenical community of learning offering five master’s degrees, a Doctor of Ministry, and ten dual degrees, plus all the resources of Emory University, a top-tier research institution. Visit Candler online at candler.emory.edu.