Harvard University, established in 1636 to educate religious leaders, has become one of the leading names in academic achievement worldwide. Its roots in Christian ministry, Harvard Divinity School attracts a student body made up of 55 denominations of Christianity, as well as scholars from several different religions. The school's programs offer studies in the various Christian traditions and how they relate to world religions and value systems, according to their website. The four degrees offered are the Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology. In the M.Div. program, Harvard "seeks to educate future ministers and religious leaders who are able to engage, in an intellectually critical way, the traditions within which they will serve, the structured injustices of society, and the multireligious context within which they will practice their ministries." The M.T.S. is for those who want to combine religion with other fields such as law, medicine or journalism. The Master of Theology (M.Th.) is a one-year program of advanced theological studies, meant for students who have already been awarded the M.Div. degree or its equivalent (three years of theological graduate study). The Harvard Divinity School's doctoral program is for students who want to teach or do research. The Divinity school offers several non-degree programs, too. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts---just a short subway ride from downtown Boston---and offers convenient access to local restaurants, pubs, music venues and the Charles River.
Harvard Divinity School
Office of Admissions
14 Divinity Avenue, Room 214
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-5796
hds.harvard.edu
Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, is a Presbyterian seminary but open to students from all walks of life, Christian denominations and religions. Seminary students do, however, attend a daily chapel service---in a chapel built in 1834---that is usually inspired by the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions of contemplative worship. Degrees offered by Princeton Theological Seminary include a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Divinity, Master of Education in Youth Ministry, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Philosophy. Princeton, just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia, boasts some of the oldest buildings in the country and one of the largest theological research collections in the world---500,000 books, in two libraries.
Princeton Theological Seminary
P.O. Box 821
64 Mercer Street
Princeton, NJ 08542-0803
609-921-8300
ptsem.edu
Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, is situated mid-way between New York and Boston and is the base of one of the oldest theological seminaries in the country. Along with offering several master's degree programs to its students, Yale Divinity School is home to the Center for Faith and Culture---a leadership training and theological research center---and the Jonathan Edwards Center. The Edwards Center is named for the famous colonial preacher, who was also a graduate of Yale, and serves as a museum, research center and publisher of books, magazines and online resources. The seminary programs prepare students for careers in ministry and service from a global perspective. Degrees available to theology students are the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion, and Master of Sacred Theology.
Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06511
203-432-5360
yale.edu/divinity