Joint Degree Programs

YDS encourages its students to pursue concurrent degree programs that lead to the receipt of more than one degree when such programs constitute a coherent and well-defined preparation for ministry. Students may work simultaneously toward a YDS degree and a degree in certain other Yale schools or other approved graduate programs. (See following list of approved joint-degree programs.) Additionally, students may earn joint degrees in partnership with the school of social work of the University of Connecticut.

In most cases, the period of study required to complete two degrees is less (usually by one year) than would be required to complete those degrees if they were pursued independently. Applicants are encouraged to consult an admissions officer to determine whether the reduced period of study applies to the specific program(s) of interest to the applicant. 

The administrative officers of the schools concerned arrange assessment of tuition and other fees. Students interested in pursuing one of the joint degrees should consult with each school prior to matriculating at either school. In all cases where concurrent degrees are sought, admission to the school must be obtained through the normal admissions processes established by each school.

YDS has established the following policies for joint-degree programs:

  1. Each YDS student who undertakes joint-degree work must secure a faculty adviser in YDS who will supervise such work.
  2. The student will submit to the faculty adviser and to the director of studies a program draft containing the following information:
    1. The student’s reasons for undertaking joint-degree work.
    2. A description of how the student’s expectations are to be met in the other program.
    3. A designation of someone in the other program who may serve as a contact for the YDS adviser.
  3. The faculty adviser will review the student’s progress periodically through contact both with the student and with the designated person in the other program.

Students interested in enrolling in a joint-degree program should notify the registrar and consult the senior associate dean of academic affairs for further information.

Learn more about each joint-degree program below.

Please note, this joint degree program is separate from the M.A.R. Concentration in Religion and Ecology offered by Yale Divinity School. 

The Yale School of the Environment (YSE) and Yale Divinity School offer a joint master’s degree program in Religion and Ecology. It is aimed at students who wish to integrate the study of environmental issues and religious communities in their professional careers and at students who wish to study the cultural and ethical dimensions of environmental problems. The joint degree is supported by faculty who teach courses in both schools and by the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale.

Students work concurrently on either a Master of Environmental Management or Master of Environmental Science at YSE and either a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts in Religion at YDS. Within these schools, they are encouraged to take courses in environmental ethics and religion and ecology.

Individuals must apply separately to both YSE and YDS and be admitted to both. In consultation with the registrars and academic deans at both schools, students develop a study plan for meeting all requirements. This joint degree in religion and ecology is the first program of its kind in North America.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu or the School of the Environment’s Admissions Office at admissions.yse@yale.edu.

Forum on Religion & Ecology at Yale

Guide to YDS/FES Joint Requirements (pdf)

Students interested in the intersection of religion, politics, ethics, and public policy are invited to pursue a joint-degree program offered by Yale Divinity School and Yale Law School. As religion in public life and issues of social justice based on religious beliefs become more and more central to our common life, the integration of studies in both law and religion provides a unique background in both disciplines.

Students work toward both a Juris Doctor at the Law School and either a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts in Religion at YDS. Joint-degree candidates who plan to pursue ordination with the intention of serving a faith community are advised to undertake the M.Div. degree, while those seeking to combine law and religion in a profession that does not require ordination may choose the M.A.R. degree.

Admissions decisions are made independently by each school. Accepted students must submit a joint degree proposal to a Law School committee after matriculating at the Law School and before completion of the Divinity School curriculum.  Although students often begin their course of study at the Law School, students may choose to begin at either school. However, courses taken prior to matriculation at the Law School cannot be credited toward the J.D. degree. Students generally alternate semesters or years in each school; tuition and financial aid will be determined by the school in which the student is “in residence.”  Joint degree candidates who intend to pursue ordination with the intention of serving a faith community are advised to undertake the MDIV degree while those seeking to combine law and religion in a profession that does not require ordination may choose the MAR degree. 

For more information, please email the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu or the Law School’s Admissions Office at admissions.law@yale.edu.

The integration of courses in business and religion leading to a joint-degree program offered by the Yale School of Management and Yale Divinity School equips students for careers in the nonprofit sector as well as in church administration. Students preparing for ordination and parish ministry are advised to pursue the Master of Divinity/Master of Business Administration joint-degree program, while those seeking to use their business acumen in faith-based initiatives and not-for-profit social agencies usually enroll in the Master of Arts in Religion/Master of Business Administration joint-degree program. 

Students may apply for concurrent admission to both schools or may apply to one school initially and in the first or second year of study apply to the other school.  Admission decisions are made independently by the two schools.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu, or the School of Management’s Admissions Office at mba.admissions@yale.edu.

In recognition of the relationship between nursing and ministry/spirituality/religion, Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of Nursing (YSN) offer a joint-degree program to individuals who seek to combine careers in advanced nursing practice, planning and policy making, and religious ministry in a variety of health care systems. Students work toward both a Master of Science in Nursing at YSN and either a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts in Religion at YDS.

Students are required to apply simultaneously to both schools and indicate on the application that they are applying to the joint degree program. This joint-degree program is not open to YSN students enrolled in or applying to the Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specialty. For the Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Arts in Religion joint degree, students register in the third year for one term in each school and complete both programs by the end of that year. Candidates for the Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Divinity joint degree register in the third and fourth years for one term in each school and complete both programs by the end of the fourth year.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu or see the School of Nursing’s Admissions Office website.

Caring for the body and caring for the spirit need not be the domains of separate practitioners. To this end, Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of Medicine offer a joint-degree program leading to the Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion and Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Students are required to apply simultaneously to both schools and indicate on the application that they are applying to the joint degree program.  Admissions decisions are made independently by each school.

Due to the complexities of coordinating a Doctor of Medicine degree with a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion degree, each student’s schedule is determined on a case-by-case basis with the academic dean’s office.

If you wish to learn more about this program, please email the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu(link sends e-mail), or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Joyce Mercer at joyce.mercer@yale.edu(link sends e-mail).

Those who wish to improve the spiritual health and physical well-being of populations should consider the joint-degree program offered by Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of Public Health. In this program students have the opportunity to do cutting-edge research on many of today’s most pressing public health questions in conjunction with their investigations into the theological dimensions of ancient and modern thought. Doing so affords students the ability to engage with complex public health problems, be they present in a nation or congregation, while cultivating an awareness of the spiritual realities of the world and its people. Depending on the character of their vocations, students may choose to apply for joint-degree programs in either Master of Divinity/Master of Public Health or Master of Arts in Religion/Master of Public Health.

Students are required to apply simultaneously to both schools and indicate on the application that they are applying to the joint degree program.  Admissions decisions are made independently by each school.

If you wish to learn more about this exciting program, please email the Admissions Office at divinity.admissions@yale.edu(link sends e-mail), or Mary Keefe, the YPH Director of Admissions, at ysph.admissions@yale.edu(link sends e-mail).

There is a national need for those with expertise in both divinity and social work to fill positions of service and leadership in churches, social welfare agencies, and the wider society. The joint M.Div./M.S.W. degree program equips skilled professionals to integrate theological, spiritual, pastoral, and social work knowledge and skills in promoting social and environmental justice, healing, and human flourishing in a variety of professional practice settings, both locally and globally.

  • YDS students may apply for a joint M.S.W. degree through the University of Connecticut’s School of Social Work. (The YDS joint-degree program requires that students enroll in UConn’s residential program; UConn’s online social work program not eligible.)
  • Candidates for the joint-degree program may be eligible to count up to the equivalent of one term’s credit hours at the other school to satisfy course work in each program.
  • In most cases, the period of study required to complete the two degrees is less (usually by one year) than would be required to complete those degrees if they were pursued independently.
  • Field education/supervised ministry may be coordinated between the two programs.

Students interested in pursuing a joint M.Div./M.S.W. are encouraged to apply to the UConn program at the start of the application period in the fall. For more information on the joint program, please contact the YDS Admissions Office and visit UConn’s School of Social Work website(link is external). 

Yale Divinity School is one of 20 partner institutions in the three-year $35 million CT Health Horizons(link is external) initiative to address shortages of nurses and social workers in Connecticut. 

For more information and answers to your questions, contact  Vernice “Hopie” Randall, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Divinity School, vernice.randall@yale.edu or Frederick “Jerry” Streets, Professor of the Practice of Divinity and Social Work, frederick.streets@yale.edu.

Yale Divinity School has a new partnership with nearby Quinnipiac University’s social work program, offering joint degree students an additional option for MSW studies. See Professor Jerry Streets for more information.