About

The origins of the Graduate Division of Religion date to 1956, when William Ragsdale Cannon, then dean of Candler School of Theology, helped launch a PhD program in religion in concert with the Department of Religion at Emory College. Since 1959, the GDR has enrolled students pursuing a PhD.

The GDR has awarded more than 500 PhDs over its history. Our graduates have occupied professorships and positions of leadership in colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and abroad.

As one of the oldest doctoral programs at Emory, the GDR has grown with Emory’s Laney Graduate School.

Students

Meet the students of Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion—diverse scholars engaged in rigorous, interdisciplinary study. Learn about their academic paths, research interests, and contributions to the field of religious studies.

Faculty

Explore the diverse and distinguished faculty of Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion, drawn from across the university. Learn about their interdisciplinary expertise, research interests, and contributions to religious scholarship.

Leadership

Get to know the leadership behind Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion, guiding its academic vision and strategic direction. Meet the directors and faculty leaders shaping one of the nation’s premier PhD programs in religious studies.

Administration

Learn about the administrators who support students, faculty, and the mission of interdisciplinary religious scholarship.