Doctor of Ministry
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Wesley's Office of Admissions via email or via phone at (202) 885-8659.
Apply Now for Tracks Offered in 2012 and 2013:
Objectives
The Doctor of Ministry program offers an advanced-level curriculum integrating the experiences of ministry with the academic resources of the Seminary. As ministry is fundamentally theological in character, disciplined theological reflection is fostered as its root in all offices and functions. The D.Min. Program aims at enabling pastors to develop an integrated theology of ministry that embraces the total life and mission of the church.
The specific goals of the doctor of ministry program at Wesley include acquainting students with current theological trends and issues, deepening the integration of discipline and ministry, and providing students with opportunities for establishing lasting collegial ties with other students.
Admission Criteria
Admission to any Wesley degree program requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited college. In addition, applicants for the Doctor of Ministry program must hold a Master of Divinity or equivalent from a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and must have completed three years of ministry experience prior to entering Wesley's D.Min. program.
Admission is based on academic achievement and the Seminary's ability to meet your goals, as well as on your personal and professional qualifications for Christian ministry. Previous academic achievement should reflect a grade point average of at least 3.0 at the graduate level.
Applying for Admission
1. Complete the application form in all detail and submit the $50 processing fee.
2. Submit:
a. A brief biographical statement that describes your career in ministry in chronological order
b. A personal evaluation of your professional competence
c. A statement on how you use your seminary education in the practice of ministry, especially studies in Bible, theology, and church history
d. Your reason for pursuing a D.Min. at Wesley.
3. Request that official transcripts from all junior colleges, colleges, universities, or seminaries you have attended be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
4. List references; download the recommendation request form and ask your referrers to submit them to the Office of Admissions.
D.Min. Admission Timeline
October 1 - Application deadline for tracks beginning in January
December 1 - Deadline for complete application package for Church Leadership Excellence track
February 1 - Application deadline for other tracks beginning in May
Most D.Min. tracks are limited to 20 candidates and often fill completely. Therefore you are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline.
Requirements
The D.Min. program supports diverse areas of focus, or tracks, which require the successful completion of 24 core course hours and 6 hours of electives. Three hours for the Project Seminar are included in the core courses. Transfer credit is not accepted as a substitute for the required core courses. The project is generally written during the third year.
Electives may be completed through elective courses offered during the intensive terms (for those who have completed their core courses), through independent studies with Wesley faculty, or through work transferred from other ATS accredited institutions using the D.Min. program's transfer credit procedure. Up to 6 hours of elective courses may be taken outside Wesley. Work completed prior to entry into the D.Min. program at Wesley will not be applied towards the D.Min. degree. Transfer work must be done on an accredited, doctoral level and must not be applied toward the awarding of another degree.
The 30 hours of course work are normally completed within three and a half years. A limit of six years will be allowed for completion of the D.Min. degree. The faculty's Doctor of Ministry Committee will entertain requests for time extensions in circumstances of unusual gravity. Students who have outstanding work and incomplete grades from the January and May terms of a given year will not be allowed to enroll in courses for the following January. Course work must be started within two years after admission into the program; otherwise, eligibility for admission will be reviewed.
Two months before the January or May intensive term, students receive their reading lists and preparatory assignments. Each of the two weeks of the intensive term requires 30 contact hours with the professor. After the intensive term, students have six weeks to complete course assignments. The two weeks on campus for the intensive term are devoted entirely to class interaction on the basis of the preparatory work.
Peer learning is an essential part of Wesley D.Min. programs. D.Min. core courses are normally limited in enrollment to those students in a given D.Min. track.
Ministerial setting is also an essential part of Wesley's D.Min. program. Students are encouraged to engage people in their ministry settings in a variety of ways, from personal support and accountability to participation in the projects and oral examinations.
The Project Paper
Each student will write a project proposal in the Project Seminar. When the seminar instructor approves a student's project proposal, that proposal is forwarded to the D.Min. Committee for assignment of a faculty reader. Upon payment of a $250 Reader's Fee, the student is formally advanced to candidacy status in the D.Min. program. The faculty reader will serve as a consultant to the candidate for selection of the specialized elective courses as well as the development of the Project Paper.
The Project itself should be started as soon as possible following the approval of the proposal, advancement to candidacy, and assignment of a faculty reader. A first draft of the complete Project Paper is due in the D.Min. Office by February 1 preceding graduation. During the month of March preceding graduation, each candidate will make an oral presentation and evaluation of his or her project. Proposed venues for this presentation should be cleared with the D.Min. Office. Two copies of the Project Paper in final form, together with two copies of a 100-word abstract, and various forms provided by the Library, must be submitted to the D.Min. Office on or before the date specified in the Seminary Calendar.
Electives
Any combination of the following options may be used to fulfill the elective course requirements for a D.Min. track:
-
elective courses/seminars for D.Min. students offered during the January and May intensive terms
-
a maximum of six credit hours taken as independent study under the direction of Wesley faculty
-
immersion study experiences, directly related to the subject of focus for a given track, for a maximum of six credit hours
-
advanced seminars in Wesley's M.Div. curriculum in which Wesley faculty agree to develop additional readings and assignments for the D.Min. student
-
approved courses at member institutions of the Washington Theological Consortium
-
work at other ATS approved institutions with prior approval from Wesley's D.Min. Office.
Length of Program
Wesley's D.Min. degree requires successful completion of thirty hours of course work, plus a D.Min. project and project paper. Classes are held during intensive two-week periods in January and May. The program must be completed within six years of entry.