Prior Coursework and Advanced Standing

The MDiv program is the only Harvard Divinity School (HDS) program in which credit may be granted for work completed at another institution prior to enrollment at HDS. Requests for advanced standing are submitted to the Executive Committee on Academic Programs (ECAP), ordinarily after the student has completed at least one full semester of satisfactory work at HDS. The student must supply an official transcript of the courses for which credit is desired, and in some cases may be asked to supply additional materials, such as course descriptions, syllabi, papers, and exams.

Students wishing to receive advanced standing based on their enrollment in an MDiv program at another institution must petition ECAP during their second semester in the program. Courses eligible for transfer must be on the graduate level, relevant to the HDS degree program, and from a school accredited by a national or regional institutional accrediting association.

Each course must have been completed with the grade of B- or higher. Summer courses, courses that have counted toward another graduate degree, or courses that were completed more than 10 years before the application for advanced standing will ordinarily not be accepted for advanced standing. Under no circumstances will a course counted toward a conferred degree be accepted.

Courses approved for credit may be used to satisfy distribution requirements. No more than 32 credits (eight semester-long courses) may be applied to the HDS MDiv program.

MTS, MDiv, and ThM students may petition ECAP to receive advanced standing for HDS courses taken prior to matriculation. HDS courses completed as a Visiting Student (formerly named Special Student), Resident Fellow, Minister in the Vicinity, or Harvard employee through the Tuition Assistance Program may be eligible to count toward the MTS, MDiv, or ThM program upon favorable action by a committee. Advanced standing may be granted for up to 32 credits toward the MTS and no more than eight credits toward the ThM program.