Bring Religious Studies into the 21st Century

HDS students come from diverse religious traditions, backgrounds, andprofessions, but they are united in their commitment to service and to religiousand cultural understanding. They are scholars of Christianity, Buddhistmonastics, humanist chaplains in training, to name only a few of their callings.

Approximately 90% of HDS students depend on scholarships, making support for financial aid an ongoing need.

Students come to HDS to learn from faculty who include some of the world’stop scholars in Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and manysmaller traditions.

The Faculty of Divinity also teach about half the courses on religion at Harvard College.

Gfts to HDS support the School’s contributions to undergraduate education. They also help establish new faculty positions in fields such as Christian studies; religion, ethics and business; and religion, conflict and peace, both bolstering the School’s core strengths and putting HDS at the center of the “One Harvard” emphasis on interdisciplinary work.

With support from alumni and friends, HDS develops programs like the Buddhist Ministry Initiative, the Religious Literacy Project, and Religions and the Practice of Peace that look at religion, culture, and ethics in new ways; bring religious knowledge to efforts to address critical challenges; and foster collaboration with colleagues throughout the University.

The HDS campus fosters the intellectual and spiritual development of students with diverse backgrounds and interests and provides common spaces for study, worship, and social connection.

Some of the largest gifts in the School's history are enabling HDS to reimagine iconic Andover Hall, the center of teaching and learning at the School. Much remains undone, though. With the support of alumni and friends, HDS will renew the heart of its campus, transforming research and education at the School, making possible a third century of leadership in the study of religion.

THANK YOU