#  HDS at a Glance 

 



##  HDS at a Glance 

 

 

       ![HDS students outside, hugging each other in greeting](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-01/10192022-HDS-Campus-398_1.jpg?itok=ACKacP-m) 

 

 



 

 



 

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## Founded

Harvard Divinity School was established in 1816 as the first nonsectarian theological institution in the United States. (Read more: [History and mission](/about/history-and-mission).)

## Dean

[Marla Frederick](/news/2023/08/24/marla-frederick-named-next-dean-harvard-divinity-school "Marla Frederick Named Next Dean of the Harvard Divinity School ") is a leading ethnographer and scholar focused on the African American religious experience. She became the eighteenth Dean of Harvard Divinity School on January 1, 2024.

## Faculty, 2025-26

- Voting Faculty: 35
- Visiting Faculty: 17
- Emeriti Faculty: 17
- Additional Instructors: 55  
    (Including 11 Denominational Counselors)

## Degrees offered

- [Master of Divinity](/academics/degree-programs/mdiv-program) (MDiv)
- [Master of Religion and Public Life](/academics/degree-programs/mrpl-program) (MRPL)
- [Master of Theological Studies](/academics/degree-programs/mts-program) (MTS)
- [Master of Theology](/academics/degree-programs/thm-program) (ThM)
- [Doctor of Philosophy](/academics/degree-programs/phd-program) (PhD) (*The PhD in religion is offered jointly with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.)*

Harvard Divinity School students also earned dual degrees from the Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

## Total courses offered, 2025-26 

272

## Student enrollment, Fall 2025

- MTS: 156
- MDiv: 130
- MRPL: 9
- PhD: 76 (*The PhD in religion is offered jointly with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.)*
- Professional and Lifelong Learning (Summer 2025): 57
- Summer Language Program (Summer 2025): 77

## Master's degree student demographics, Fall 2025

- Female: 57%
- Male: 35%
- Self-reporting other gender identities: 8%
- Age range: 20–67
- Average age: 29
- Religious Traditions Represented: 35+

## Master's degree student demographics by IPEDS race and ethnicity, Fall 2025

- Asian: 8.9%
- Black or African American: 8.3%
- Hispanic: 5.0%
- International: 22.4%
- None specified: 3.3%
- Other: 4.3%
- White: 47.9%

## Number of student organizations, 2024–25

43

## Living alumni

6,800+

## Research and special programs

- [Buddhist Ministry Initiative](/academics/ministry-studies/buddhist-ministry-initiative)
- [Center for the Study of World Religions](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/)
- [Project on Shi'ism and Global Affairs](https://shiism.hds.harvard.edu/)
- [Professional and Lifelong Learning](/academics/professional-lifelong-learning "Professional and Lifelong Learning")
- [Program for the Evolution of Spirituality](https://pes.hds.harvard.edu/)
- [Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School](https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/home)
- [Summer Language Program](/academics/summer-language-program "Summer Language Program")
- [Women’s Studies in Religion Program](https://wsrp.hds.harvard.edu/)

## Publications

- [*Harvard Divinity Bulletin*](https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/)
- [*Harvard Theological Review*](/faculty-research/harvard-theological-review)

## HDS buildings

- Divinity Hall
- Harvard Divinity School Library
- Rockefeller Hall
- Swartz Hall (formerly Andover Hall)
- Center for the Study of World Religions
- Women’s Studies in Religion Program: The Carriage House
- Jewett House (Dean's residence)