Opening the Doors: How Yale Divinity School Is Expanding Access to Theological Education
by Belinda Platt
At Yale Divinity School, learning is not confined to the classrooms located at 409 Prospect Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Through its Center for Continuing Education (CCE), the School expands access to theological learning by offering a range of flexible, thoughtfully designed programs that meet learners wherever they are. Whether someone is deepening their understanding of scripture or looking for practical tools to support their ministry, these programs make it possible to grow in faith and scholarship at their schedule allows.
Yale Bible Study is the CCE’s most flexible online offering. With more than two dozen studies, focusing on books of the Bible, these video-based courses are suitable for personal enrichment, small group discussions, or congregational resources. Registration is completely free and open to all, and each course is designed to be accessible to both newcomers and those with theological training.
Beyond self-paced learning, the Center also runs Summer Study, a weeklong program that brings together learners from all walks of life for five days of immersive learning. Participants choose from morning and afternoon seminars taught by world-class faculty on topics ranging from theology and ethics to pastoral leadership and contemporary social issues. Online learners find Summer Study to be an intellectually rich and spiritually refreshing experience.
These offerings are part of a broader commitment by Yale Divinity School to provide multiple pathways for engaging with theological education. Programs like the Certificate in Youth Ministry Leadership (a nine-month, cohort-based, online program) demonstrate how the Center blends academic rigor with practical application in innovative formats. In its inaugural year, the program exceeded expectations by admitting 28 highly qualified learners, nearly double the original target of 15. Remarkably, three members of the program’s first cohort have gone on to pursue formal seminary degrees. These milestones are a testament of how online learning can build confidence, renew a sense of calling, and prepare learners to take the next step in their educational journey.
Whether through a single Bible study or a longer-term certificate, Yale Divinity School’s Center for Continuing Education is making theological learning more accessible, more flexible, and more responsive to the needs of today’s learners. It’s a growing digital ecosystem where faith, scholarship, and community can flourish.
Belinda Platt is the Senior Associate Director for Digital Education at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. She collaborates with various Yale schools to develop courses and programs in partnership with the Yale Teaching Studios. Faculty members who are interested in sharing their teaching on a digital platform can reach out to belinda.platt@yale.edu.