Yale Divinity School

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Yale Divinity School
Yale School of Divinity Coat of Arms
Established: 1822
Type: Private
Location: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Dean: Harold W. Attridge
Website: http://www.yale.edu/divinity

Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry. The nonsectarian school's mission is “To foster the knowledge and love of God through critical engagement with the traditions of the Christian churches in the context of the contemporary world.” The school grants the Master of Divinity (M.DIV.), Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.), and Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degrees. Both the M.Div. and the S.T.M. - being terminal degrees - earn the graduand the right to wear the Yale blue doctoral gown.[1]

The main mission of Yale College at its founding in 1701 was religious training. In its charter, it was designed as a school "wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State." A professorship of divinity was established in 1746 and in 1822, a separate department developed, later known as the Yale Divinity School.

The Georgian style campus, The Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, designed by Delano & Aldrich, was built in 1932, modeled, in part, on the University of Virginia. It was named after Yale Law alumnus and benefactor John William Sterling, name partner at the New York law firm Shearman & Sterling. The school formerly occupied East and West Divinity Hall (1870-1931) designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Since razed, this site is now occupied by Calhoun College.[2]

The Berkeley Divinity School affiliated with Yale Divinity School in 1971. While Berkeley retains its Episcopal Church connection, its students are admitted by and fully enrolled as members of Yale Divinity School.

Recent years have seen the Divinity School develop a specialty in various aspects of narrative theology, or postliberalism. Many if not most leaders of this movement are YDS graduates.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Student Financial and Administrative Services
  2. ^ Yale's Lost Landmarks: Divinity Hall, Yale Alumni Magazine

[edit] Notable alumni

Former site of the Yale Divinity School bordering the New Haven Green in a postcard from about 1904.
Former site of the Yale Divinity School bordering the New Haven Green in a postcard from about 1904.

[edit] External links

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