The ISM and Yale Divinity School

Sterling Divinity QuadrangleISM students in the Divinity School study sacred music, worship, and the arts within a broadly ecumenical and multi-disciplinary environment. They interact with all Institute faculty, but especially with those in the areas of liturgical studies and religion and the arts. The ISM faculty have particular interest in ways that worshiping communities of faith manifest their beliefs through ritual and artistic practices.

Of equal concern are ways that religious texts and images move into public life. Study at the ISM means examining juxtapositions of devotional poetry and hymns, sanctuaries and memorials, altarpieces and religious art in civic life.


Divinity students in the ISM are candidates for one of three degrees.

  • The Master of Divinity degree is a three-year program of theological studies designed primarily, although not exclusively, to prepare the student for ordination to the Christian ministry.
  • The Master of Arts in Religion is a two-year degree program that prepares students for a variety of careers. Students in the comprehensive program may go into various forms of lay ministry or service (secondary teaching, college or hospital chaplaincy, non-profit management, religion writing, to name but a few), while the concentrated M.A.R. degree often serves as a preparation for doctoral study. The usual concentrations pursued by ISM students include
    • Liturgical Studies
    • Religion & Music
    • Religion & Literature, and
    • Religion & the Visual Arts and Material Culture
  • The Master of Sacred Theology degree is a one-year program for those who have obtained the M.Div. degree or the equivalent and wish to do concentrated research on a specific project. Typically, the ISM student in this degree program focuses either in liturgical studies or religion and the arts.

All ISM students attend the Institute colloquium and elect courses with Institute faculty. See the ISM bulletin for details. Numerous performance opportunities are available for all students. Many Institute students take on a variety of leadership roles in the rich lives of Marquand Chapel and other chapels on campus. Opportunities for musical and liturgical participation abound.