The Yale Institute of Sacred Music traces its roots to the School of Sacred Music founded at Union Theological Seminary

Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York

Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...

 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. The seminary's department of church music was brought to Yale in 1972, entering into partnership with the Yale School of Music

Yale School of Music

The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....

 and the Yale Divinity School

Yale Divinity School

Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...

. The Institute offers programs in organ performance, choral conducting, liturgical studies, voice, and religion and the arts.

Students can achieve the degrees of Master of Music, Master of Musical Arts, Doctor of Musical Arts, Artist Diploma, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion in Liturgical Studies, Master of Arts in Religion in Music and Religion, a comprehensive Master of Arts in Religion, or Master of Sacred Theology through the affiliated schools.