Wesley Theological Seminary » Catalog 2009-2010 » Degree Objectives and Requirements

Professional Degrees:

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) | Master of Arts (M.A.) | Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

General Degree:

Dual Degrees:

M.T.S. with M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution (Offered in cooperation with The American University's School of International Service)

M.T.S. with M.A. in International Development (Offered in cooperation with The American University's School of International Service)
M.A. or M.T.S. in conjunction with M.Div. Completion of an M.T.S. in conjunction with an M.Div. requires a minimum of 120 semester hours and completion of all requirements for both degrees.

Certificate:

Theological Studies in U.S. Contexts Certificate

Overview

The central aim of each of our professional degree programs is to equip people for effective leadership and service through the various full-time vocations of the church, ordained and non-ordained. Because ministry is a profession practiced in community, preparation at Wesley occurs not only in the classroom, but also in contexts provided by various communities of faith.

People engaged in professional service to the church need the gift of maturity coupled with a capacity and desire to grow. Our commitment to this understanding is reflected in the following non-curricular objectives.

Non-Curricular Objectives for Professional Degree Programs
• continuing growth in faith as evidenced by public and personal faith disciplines
• demonstration of moral integrity
• psychological and emotional health
• responsiveness in interpersonal relationships
• involvement in social concerns
• desire for intellectual stimulation and growth.

These objectives for the personal development of professional degree candidates are inseparable from the curricular objectives. Recognizing that these objectives cannot be precisely measured, the faculty understands that the prime responsibility for personal growth and development rests with the student. Moreover, we do not assume responsibilities that properly belong to those agencies of the church that evaluate candidates for ordination or certification.

We do, however, reserve the right to intervene for the sake of a student, the welfare of the Seminary community, the integrity of the church and/or the Seminary's standards and degree objectives.

Curricular Objectives for the Professional Degree Programs
• foundations of basic knowledge in the texts and traditions (scripture and history) of the Christian faith, in the situation of the church in the world, and in the ministries of the church
• competency in the methods appropriate to each subject area of study
• a stance supportive of the overall demands of leadership and service in ordained and lay ministry.

The Faith of the Church

Foundations
Knowledge of the texts and traditions from which the Christian Church originated, along with an understanding of the continuing formation of the traditions of the Church. Studies include the faith and history of Israel and the primitive Church; the subsequent history of the Christian Church, its worldwide expansion and the contemporary ecumenical movement; and historical, systematic, and moral theology.

Methods
Facility in the use of tools of critical scholarship, including: historical and exegetical methods that contribute to a working biblical hermeneutic; historical research in basic documents of the history of the Church; philosophical and theological methods that result in a responsible contemporary expression of the meaning of Christian faith.

Stance
Identification with the biblical, historical, and doctrinal story as a context for personal history; awareness of the urgency to communicate the story to others so that they in turn may locate themselves within the story; commitment to the enactment of this story in individual and social expression.

The Church in the World

Foundations
Knowledge of the ways in which the relationship of Christian faith to culture has been portrayed and socially embodied; acquaintance with the church's interactions with the various groups, structures, and movements in society; a working introduction to the main perspectives of the sciences and to the variety of human self-expression in the arts and humanities; a basic understanding of the major non-Christian religions and philosophies; awareness of the kind and magnitude of changes in society in the present and foreseeable future; encounter with the dominating issues, enduring, current, and anticipated; knowledge of resources, both within the church and without, required for intelligent response.

Methods
Ability to use basic methods for analysis and strategy drawn from Christian ethics, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and the arts, and to adapt these methods to the mission of the church in the world.

Stance
Commitment to join God's efforts to create a more humane order; desire to understand human society in its manifold complexity and respond with a matching sophistication; sensitivity to the human and environmental consequences of individual and institutional acts; appreciation of aesthetic, moral, material and religious dimensions of life; collaborative involvement in interfaith, inter-professional and interdisciplinary efforts for the church's engagement with society.

The Ministries of the Church

Foundations
Knowledge of the opportunities, functions and demands of the varied forms of ministry in the church; the history, principles, and resources of the church's liturgical life, including sacraments and preaching; the sources and methods of the behavioral sciences that contribute to effectiveness in administration, education, caring for persons, and counseling; polity, structure, processes, and resources of your denomination.

Methods
Integration of biblical, historical, doctrinal, socio-ethical and behavioral perspectives into a concrete practice of ministry; development of effective skills for working with individuals, the community of faith, and the wider social community through planning, practice, guidance, and evaluation; proficiency in written and oral communication; liturgical leadership including musical discernment; and preaching, church administration, teaching, caring functions, counseling, and group process.

Stance
Embodiment in ministry of an articulated faith; commitment to further growth through worship, continued learning, and interpersonal relationships; sensitivity toward persons of every age, class, race, sexual orientation, and physical condition-assisting each to deeper participation in Christian faith and life; recognition of the claims of inner and outer authority in the responsibilities of ministry; and cooperative involvement with the helping and healing professions and community agencies.

Master of Divinity

(90 hours)

Objectives
The Master of Divinity degree prepares students for the practice of Christian ministry. Most candidates for this degree seek to become qualified for ordination, and the design of the degree program comprises the basic ordination requirements of most Christian denominations.

Preparation for professional ministry is a lifelong undertaking. Seminarians who obtain the M.Div. degree will have achieved foundational competence and preparation for a lifetime of learning.

General Requirements and Length of Program
M.Div. candidates must successfully complete 90 semester hours of coursework in the regular curriculum, including supervised Practice in Mission and Ministry and an Immersion experience. In keeping with Wesley's philosophy of integrating academic work and spiritual development, you will participate in an on-campus Covenant Discipleship group during your first year of studies. Additional discipleship group experience is gained through the Practice of Ministry and Mission requirements.

The M.Div. program may be completed in a minimum of three years of full-time study and must be completed within seven years from the date of admission. Students in the M.Div. program are strongly encouraged to follow one of the three-, four-, or five-year plans outlined in the Student Handbook.

Completion of the M.Div. in conjunction with the M.A. or M.T.S. degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours and completion of both degree program requirements.

Required Courses
To be taken during the first 30 hours of study:
• Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (4 hours) BI-101 and -102 or
BI-105
• Introduction to the New Testament (4 hours) BI-171 and -172 or BI-175
• The Church in History (6 hours) CH-101 and -102
• Covenant Discipleship Group (3 hours) MM-101 and -102
• Introduction to Worship (3 hours) PW-101

To be taken after the first 30 hours of study are completed:
• Practicum in Biblical Interpretation (2 hours) BI-341
• Systematic Theology (6 hours) ST-305 and -306
• Christian Ethics (3 hours) Any 300 level ES course
• Ministry and the Social Sciences (2 hours) CM-208, ES-251 or PC-275 and -276 (to be taken prior to or in conjunction with the first semester of PMM)
• Practice in Ministry and Mission: Contextual Education (8 hours)
• Foundations of Preaching (3 hours) PW-325
• Pastoral Liturgics (2 hours) PW-301
• Preaching Practicum (2 hours) PW-334, -335, -336, -337, -338, 339, or -340
• Practice in Ministry and Mission: Intercultural Immersion
(2 hours) MM-350

To be taken whenever offered (check course listings for prerequisites):
• Christian Teaching and Formation (3 hours) Any 100 level CF course
• The Church in an Interreligious World (2 or 3 hours) ST-420, WR-201, WR-242, WR-246, WR-248, WR-261, WR-294
• Leadership in Ministry (3 hours) Any combination of 100 and 300 level CM courses
• Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 hours) PC-101 or -111
• Religion and the Arts (2 hours) Any 100 level RA course
• Consortium Course (2 or 3 hours) Students must take at least one course in one of the other member seminaries of the Washington Theological Consortium.
• Philosophy - Students with no undergraduate philosophy course must complete ST-180 Philosophy for Theology, ST-181 Philosophical Backgrounds or an equivalent before taking ST-305 or -306 (required in first 30 hours).

Electives Courses
Courses beyond those required for all M.Div. candidates are taken as electives. There are approximately 25 hours of electives in the M.Div. degree. Students may use their electives to sample a broad range of curricular offerings or they may choose to concentrate their electives in a certain discipline. Those who choose to concentrate their electives may request the assignment of an advisor in that discipline to help guide their selection of electives. This is particularly beneficial for students who are considering further graduate study. Students are advised to review their denominational ordination requirements in order to satisfy them through elective courses.

Contextual Education: Ministry in an Interconnected World
Wesley Theological Seminary is located in a unique context where multiple, global realities visibly converge. We live in a world where urban, rural, suburban, and international people and issues interconnect. Contextual education at Wesley seeks to prepare graduates to minister effectively in these culturally diverse settings.

The three components of the contextual education program are:

• Covenant Discipleship
• Placement in a contextual education setting
• Intercultural Immersion

M.Div. students can fulfill contextual education placement requirements by participating in one of these programs:

Practice in Ministry and Mission Program (PMM)
• Student Pastor Program
• Urban Ministry Program
• Youth Ministry Program
• Emerging Ministries Program
• Practice in Ministry and Mission Internship
The Practice in Ministry and Mission Program (PMM)

Practice in Ministry and Mission provides the opportunity to integrate classroom learning with practical experience in a teaching congregation or other setting for ministry. Faithful discipleship, shared pastoral leadership, and accountability in ministry are fundamental principles in this experiential sequence of the curriculum. Placement plans are available to students who meet denominational requirements for supervised ministry. PMM placements are determined by May 1 for the following Fall semester.

Year One: Participation in a Covenant Discipleship Group on campus (see course description for MM-101 and -102)

These peer-led groups meet weekly throughout the year to focus on the basic disciplines of the Christian life: acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion. During the Fall semester, faculty will teach weekly two-hour seminars; during the Spring semester, faculty will lead monthly two-hour seminars on vocational call and ministry.

Years Two and Three: Placement in an approved teaching congregation or other setting for ministry (e.g., campus ministry, social justice ministry) for two academic years (one year for M.A. students)

During your two-year placement, you will be involved in the life of a congregation or ministry setting for eight to ten hours each week, and will experience a broad range of Pastoral Learning Activities. Trained Learning Partners from the host placement will help you develop individual learning goals and an evaluation plan. You will also attend an on-campus colloquy led by a faculty member and a pastoral co-leader over the two academic years. Prior to or concurrent with the first semester of your placement, you will enroll in a ministry and the social sciences course (see requirements above) in order to better understand the context in which you will be working.

The prerequisite for beginning a PMM placement is the completion of 30 hours of coursework, including Introduction to Hebrew Bible, Introduction to New Testament Gospels and Epistles, The Church in History: Early Church to Reformation and Reformation to Present, Covenant Discipleship and Introduction to Corporate Worship.

The Student Pastor Program
The Student Pastor Program is an option within the M.Div. program that integrates student pastorates into the educational design of the regular M.Div. curriculum. Qualified students are appointed by the United Methodist Conferences to serve as sole pastor or associate pastor to one or more teaching congregations. These appointments maximize the opportunity to relate academic studies to the practice of ministry. The following features are designed into all SPP opportunities:

Coordination with Conference Cabinets: The Seminary works closely with Conference Cabinets to place student pastors. These Cabinets select the parishes, appoint the students, and help to locate mentor pastors to work with the student, the church, and the seminary. Housing and salary usually are included in the appointment. A working covenant describes the responsibilities between the Cabinet, the local church, the seminary, the mentor pastor and the student pastor.

Because of the necessary coordination with Cabinets, you must apply to Wesley no later than February; student pastorates begin July 1. Prior to July 1, United Methodist students must have begun the process for ordained ministry in their own conference, obtained certified candidacy, and attended Licensing School. Students in other denominations must have the qualifying ministerial credentials required by their denominations.

Orientation Sessions: The Wesley program begins with a day-long In-Service Workshop in July. During an early fall orientation session, you will be accompanied by two Learning Partners from the setting you've chosen-an ordained mentor-pastor and a member of the selected congregation.

Course Work Completion: Due to the distance and responsibilities of many student pastorates, participants often take four years to complete the M.Div. program instead of the usual three. A course load of 22 hours per year supports that timeframe. You may take one- or two-week summer courses, but student pastors usually work full time in the local church during the summer. During the Fall and Spring semesters, you may take courses on three consecutive weekdays in order to minimize travel time. You may rent a dormitory commuter room for the two nights spent on campus each week. Assignments in many classes are adaptable to parish situations.

Colloquy Groups: Student pastors meet together in small reflective seminars throughout the first three years of seminary enrollment, earning one and one half or two credit for each semester completed satisfactorily. These groups are led by faculty members and parish pastors, and provide informal guidance on integrating study with ministry, as well as information related to ministry with small membership congregations.

Covenant Discipleship Groups: Student pastors participate in a Covenant Discipleship Group on campus during their first year. Before graduation, you are required to participate in an intercultural immersion experience as outlined in the general requirements for the M.Div. degree.

Special Course: Student pastors in small or rural congregations may take a course in Rural or Small Congregation Ministry. Student pastors in an urban environment, with the counsel of their advisor, may select a course focusing on urban ministry.

The Emerging Ministries Program
The Emerging Ministries Program is designed to prepare Christian ministers to fulfill their vocation in a setting that ministers to the emerging generation. It provides supervised study, special courses, and placement in a congregation that has a commitment to exploring emerging worship and other emerging ministries. Students should declare their intent to participate in the Emerging Ministries Program prior to completing 30 credit hours.

Required courses: Emergent Gathering, Introduction to Emerging Ministry or one of the following: CM-270 Missional Evangelism, CF-253 Pop Culture and Christian Formation, ST-225 The Gospel in a Consumer Culture

Placement: The Practice in Ministry and Mission Office will work with Emerging Ministries students to secure placement in a setting that has emerging worship and ministries.

Electives: Emerging Ministries students are required to take 9 credit hours from a designated list of courses related to emerging worship, postmodern culture, missiology, and evangelism.

The Urban Ministry Program
The Urban Ministry Program is designed to prepare Christian ministers to fulfill their vocations in an urban setting. Contextual education, offering the chance to apply learning in a real-life environment, is at the heart of the Urban Ministry Program. Wesley's location provides rich opportunities for experience in various settings in the mid-Atlantic region. The Urban Ministry Program provides supervised study, special courses, and placement in an urban congregation or other ministry setting. Students should declare their intent to participate in the Urban Ministry Program prior to completing 30 credit hours.

Required courses: CM-230 Introduction to Urban Ministry I and CM-231 Introduction to Urban Ministry II

Placement: The Practice in Ministry and Mission Office will work with Urban Ministry students to secure a placement in an urban setting.

Directed degree requirements: Urban Ministry students are required to take ES-251 Sociology of Religion to fulfill the Ministry and Social Sciences requirement and PC-111 to fulfill the Pastoral Care and Counseling requirement.

Urban Ministry Electives: Urban Ministry students are required to take 9 credit hours from a designated list of urban ministry courses.

The Youth Ministry Program
The Youth Ministry Program is designed to prepare Christian ministers to fulfill their vocations in youth ministry. It provides supervised study, special courses, and placement in a congregation or other ministry setting with significant opportunities for youth ministry. Students should declare their intent to participate in the Youth Ministry Program prior to completing 30 credit hours.

Required course: CM-240 Youth Ministry: Foundations

Placement: The Practice in Ministry and Mission Office will work with Youth Ministry students to secure a placement with significant opportunities for youth ministry.

Youth Ministry Electives: Youth Ministry students are required to take 12 credit hours from a designated list of youth ministry courses.

Practice in Ministry and Mission Internship

An internship involves a full-time (35-40 hours per week) placement in a ministry setting. Students interested in an internship should contact the Practice in Ministry and Mission Office.

Master of Arts

(60 hours)

Objectives
The Master of Arts degree is structured to meet the following goals:
• to equip participants to serve as ordained deacons, lay deacons, or lay ministers in the local church
• to enable participants to meet the certification requirements as ordained deacons, lay deacons or lay ministers
• to provide a curriculum that combines the traditional core courses of the seminary with practice in the mission and ministries of the church, and that allows a limited specialization in an area of vocational interest.

General Requirements and Length of Program
Students must successfully complete 60 hours of course work in the regular curriculum, including one year of a Practice in Mission and Ministry (PMM) placement, a intercultural immersion experience, and participation in a Covenant Discipleship group.

The M.A. program may be completed in a minimum of two years of full-time study and must be completed within six years from the date of admission. Completion of the M.A. in conjunction with the M.Div degree requires a minimum of 120 semester hours and completion of all requirements for both degree programs.

Required Courses
To be taken during the first 30 hours of study:
• Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (4 hours) BI-101 and -102 or BI-105
• Introduction to the New Testament (4 hours) BI-171 and -172 or BI-175
• The Church in History (6 hours) CH-101 and -102
• Covenant Discipleship (3 hours) MM-101 and -102
• Introduction to Corporate Worship (3 hours) PW-101

To be taken after the first 30 hours of study are completed:

• Christian Ethics (3 hours) Any 300 level ES course
• Practice in Ministry and Mission Master of Arts Colloquy (4 hours) MM-301 and -302
• Intercultural Immersion (2 hours) MM-350
• Systematic Theology (6 hours) ST-305 and ST-306

To be taken whenever offered:
• Christian Teaching and Formation requirement (3 hours) Any 100 level CF course
• History and Mission of the Deacon or Ministries Beyond the Pastorate (2 hours) CF-295 or CM-226

Elective Courses
Twenty hours of the M.A. degree are elective credits and may be selected according to vocational interests. The student may choose to emphasize courses in a particular field, for example, in urban ministry, religion and art, teaching ministry, evangelism, or pastoral care and counseling. We will make every effort to support the student's vocational goals.

Contextual Education: Ministry in an Interconnected World
M.A. students fulfill contextual education requirements in these three ways:
• Covenant Discipleship (CD) Groups: Peer-led groups meet weekly throughout the year to focus on basic disciplines of the Christian life. (MM-101 and -102, 3 hours)
• PMM Placement: One year of practical experience in an approved teaching congregation or other setting, working with Learning Partners to develop goals and an evaluation plan. Faculty and a pastoral co-leader will lead bi-weekly two-hour colloquies each semester which focuses on your ministry experience in the PMM placement. (MM-301 and -302, 4 hours)
• Immersion: Intercultural experience, in the United States or abroad, for a minimum of two weeks (consecutive or the equivalent). Requirements include a reflection paper, a day-long orientation event, and a day-long debriefing at the close (MM-150, 2 hours)

M.A. students may choose to participate in the Urban Ministry or Youth Ministry Programs. Students should declare their intent to participate in these programs prior to completing 30 credit hours.

Requirements for participation in the Urban Ministry Program:
• CM-230 Introduction to Urban Ministry I
• CM-231 Introduction to Urban Ministry II
• a PMM placement in an urban setting
• 6 credit hours from a designated list of urban ministry courses

Requirements for participation in the Youth Ministry Program:
• CM-240 Youth Ministry: Foundations
• Adolescent World, Adolescent Culture or Readings in Adolescent Spirituality
• a PMM placement with significant opportunities for youth ministry
• 7 credit hours from a designated list of youth ministry courses

Denominational Requirements
To be ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church, a student must take the three additional courses listed below. These are church requirements for ordination and not a seminary requirement for the master's degree. They can be taken as electives, or at some time apart from the degree work.

• History and Doctrine in Methodist Traditions (4 hours) ST-452
• Polity of the United Methodist Church (2 hours) CM-251
• Evangelism (2 or 3 hours) CM-270 or other courses as offered

Master of Theological Studies

(60 hours)

Objectives
The Master of Theological Studies degree is offered to provide:
• general theological understanding that equips graduates to reflect thoughtfully and faithfully on their life and work and that enables lay members to participate more effectively in the mission of the Church
• background in the theological disciplines as a foundation for further graduate study
• multi-disciplinary education, especially for participants entering or engaged in other professions who wish to pursue their work from the enlarged perspective of a religious community.

While not designed to provide qualifications for ordained ministry, the M.T.S. degree can provide a structure for meeting certification requirements for various forms of lay ministry. Admission standards for the M.T.S. degree are essentially the same as for the M.Div.; the only difference is the type of recommendations requested.

General Requirements and Length of Program
Students must successfully complete 60 hours of course work in the regular curriculum, plus a final M.T.S. paper. A maximum of 15 hours toward the degree may be from non-theological disciplines, provided such courses are related to the course of study pursued at Wesley. Requests for such credits must be approved by the Dean.

The M.T.S. program may be completed in a minimum of two years of full-time study and must be completed within six years from the date of admission.

Completion of an M.T.S. in conjunction with an M.Div. requires a minimum of 120 semester hours and completion of all requirements for both degrees.

Required Courses
• Introduction to Hebrew Bible (4 hours) BI-101 and -102 or BI-175
• Introduction to the New Testament (4 hours) BI-171 and -172 or BI-175
• The Church in History (6 hours) CH-101 and -102
• Systematic Theology (6 hours) ST-305 and -306
• Religion and Society (6 hours) Religion and Society courses must include at least two of the following areas: Ethics, Sociology of Religion, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Anthropology of Religion, World Religions. Only three hours in any one of these areas will count toward the degree requirement.

M.T.S. Paper (3 hours)
Students must prepare a final paper (Course IS-301), which may focus on a problem requiring in-depth research in a particular discipline or may serve broadly to integrate the your learning over the course of study. Proposals for M.T.S. papers must be filed with the M.T.S. Director on the official form by October 1. (An "early bird" proposal submission date of April 1 is available to students who want to begin their research in the summer.) Upon approval of the proposal, a faculty advisor/reader is assigned. That person may opt to administer an oral examination upon completion of the paper.

Elective Courses
Courses beyond those required for all M.T.S. candidates are taken as electives. There are approximately 30 hours of electives in the M.T.S. degree. Students may use their electives to sample a broad range of curricular offerings or they may choose to concentrate their electives in a certain discipline. While the Director of the M.T.S. program serves as advisor for M.T.S. students, those who choose to concentrate their electives may wish to consult a faculty member in their chosen discipline to help guide their selection of electives. This is particularly beneficial for students who are considering further graduate study.

Dual Degrees

Objectives
In cooperation with The American University's School of International Service (SIS), Wesley offers the M.T.S. degree in conjunction with the M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution or the M.A. in International Development. Though other universities offer master's programs in peace and justice studies, these dual degree programs uniquely combine graduate theological education with the theoretical and practical study of international peace and conflict resolution or international development.

SIS is the largest school of international relations in the United States. It offers a rigorous, multi-disciplinary program recognized worldwide for preparing students for participation in international affairs. One-quarter of the 800 SIS master's candidates are from outside the United States.

Faculty from both institutions collaborated to design these dual degrees, realizing that church leaders, to be effective at the national and international level, need grounding in theory. These programs enable participants to gain the theological foundation and socio-political understanding necessary to provide ministries of reconciliation, unity, and justice in a troubled world.

M.T.S. in Conjunction with M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution (72 hours)

General Requirements and Length of Program
Taken separately, the M.T.S. at Wesley requires 60 hours for completion and the M.A. at American University requires 39 hours for completion. The dual degree requires a total of 72 hours because each program recognizes courses from the other. Wesley will accept 18 hours (15 hours of coursework and 3 hours for paper) from American University for a total of 42 hours. American University will accept 9 hours from Wesley for a total of 30 hours. The course work requires an average of 6 to 8 semesters to complete. Students able to dedicate full-time to their studies, including summer, could complete the program in two and one half to three years.

Requirements for Dual Degree
Master of Theological Studies Requirements
• Introduction to Hebrew Bible (4 hours) BI-101 and -102 or
BI-175
• Introduction to the New Testament (4 hours) BI-171 and
-172 or BI-175
• The Church in History (6 hours) CH-101 and -102
• Systematic Theology (6 hours) ST-305 and -306
• Religion and Society (6 hours) Religion and Society courses must include at least two of the following areas: Ethics, Sociology of Religion, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Anthropology of Religion, World Religions. Only three hours in any one of these areas will count toward the degree requirement.
Total required hours 26

Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution Requirements
• Peace Paradigms (3 hours)
• Theory of Violence, Conflict, and War (3 hours)
• Conflict Analysis and Resolution (3 hours)
• Culture, Peace and Conflict
(3 hours)
• Ethics in International Affairs
(3 hours)
• Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (3 hours)
• Methodology or research course (3 hours)
• Introduction to Economic Theory (3 hours)
• Research/Paper (6 hours)
Total required hours 30

Total required hours for M.T.S. and M.A. 56

Electives (either W.T.S. or A.U.) 16

Total Hours for Dual Degree 72

M.T.S. in Conjunction with M.A. in International Development (75 hours)

General Requirements and Length of Program
Students are required to complete a minimum of 33 credits for the M.A. degree at the School of International Service and a minimum of 42 credits for the M.T.S. degree at Wesley Theological Seminary-for a total of 75 hours-to successfully earn both degrees. The coursework requires an average of 6 to 8 semesters to complete. Student able to dedicate full-time to their studies, including summer could complete the program in two and a half to three years. Part-time students may take up to five or six years to complete the program.

Master of Arts in International Development Requirements
• Introduction to Economic Theory (3 hours) may be waived
• Micropolitics of Development (3 hours)
• International Development (3 hours)
• Survey of Economic Development (3 hours)
• One MAID core course (3 hours)
• Quantitative Analysis (3 hours)
• One approved methods course (3 hours)
• Concentration courses (6 hours)
• Internship (3 hours)
• Substantial Research Paper in conjunction with M.T.S. Paper (3 hours)
Total required hours 30

Total required hours for M.T.S. and M.A. 56

Electives (either W.T.S. or A.U.) 19

Total Hours for Dual Degree 75

Admission Requirements
Those who wish to apply for a dual degree must be admitted separately to each program.

To be considered for the Master of Theological Studies at Wesley, the student should submit an application, a statement of purpose, academic transcripts, references, and an application fee.

To be considered for the Master of Arts at the American University, the student should submit an application, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and an application fee to:

Office of Admissions
American University
400 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-6000
Fax (202) 885-1025

Theological Studies in U.S. Contexts Certificate

Objectives
To provide students from outside the United States with an immersion in theological studies in U.S. contexts.

General Requirements and Length of Program
Participants in this program must be current degree candidates in non-US seminaries which have an established partnership (i.e. memorandum of understanding) with Wesley Theological Seminary. Candidates will be selected and nominated by the Dean or President of the home seminary. Candidates must supply all necessary paperwork for the I-20 in application for a visa as required by US SEVIS regulations.

Students in the U.S. Contexts Certificate program complete one semester of full-time study (at least 11 hours).

Required Courses
• IS-205 International Students Seminar (2 credits)
• Religion and Arts requirement (any 100 level RA course) (1-2 credits)

Elective Courses
Electives comprise the remaining credits required for the U.S. Contexts Certificate. Students should work with the Dean or faculty advisor from their home school to select courses which will transfer into their degree programs and complement their course of study.

Doctor of Ministry

(30 hours)

Objectives
The Doctor of Ministry program is designed for people who are committed to the practice of ministry. It is for ministers of demonstrated ability, and endeavors to enhance their effectiveness by means of an advanced-level curriculum integrating the experiences of ministry with the academic resources of the Seminary.

Ministry is fundamentally theological in character, and disciplined theological reflection must inform the work of ministry in all its offices and functions. The D.Min. Program aims at enabling pastors to develop an integrated theology of ministry that will embrace the total life and mission of the church.

Our goals for professional theological education are those of the Seminary as set forth at the beginning of this section of the catalog. The specific goals of the doctor of ministry program at Wesley are:
• to acquaint students with current trends and issues in the theological disciplines
• to encourage students to further integrate the theological disciplines with their practice of ministry
• to equip students to add to the church's public fund of knowledge about the practice of ministry
• to provide students with opportunities for establishing lasting collegial ties with other students

General Requirements and 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.

Each D.Min. "track" (area of focus) requires 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. Grades for incomplete courses convert to "F" after one year. 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 sic weeks to complete course assignments. Any extensions of time beyond this deadline must be formally requested. 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. The biblical/theological chapter of the Project Paper is due in the D.Min. Office by November 15 preceding graduation. 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
• online D.Min. courses offered by Wesley during the fall semester
• 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

Current D.Min. Tracks

Church Leadership Excellence

Subject of Focus: Personal issues and public practices of those called to lead the church. A serious engagement with contemporary secular leadership studies is held in tension with contemporary theologies of the church.

Core Courses:
• Effective and Visionary Leadership
• Images of Leadership in the Bible
• Leadership Diversity in the 21st Century
• Leading the Missional Church
• The Cultural Dynamics of Leadership
• The Church Leader as Public Leader
• Project Seminar
• The Person and Role of Church Leader

Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue

Subject of Focus: This doctor of ministry program will equip church leaders (1) to appreciate the Spirit's manifold gifts for ministry across denominational lines; (2) to initiate and sustain timely conversations with leaders of other world religions; and (3) to mobilize the resources of ecumenical and interreligious partners to address the common threats to humankind and the earth. A new church leader in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue is emerging, one who has learned from the mistakes of the past, has profited from the rich theological developments of the last twenty years, and is compelled by current events to not take no for an answer.

Core Courses:
• The History of the Ecumenical Movement
• Spiritual Ecumenism and Moral Issues
• The Missional Church
• Church in the Spirit: Congregational Vitality and Pneumatology
• Islam
• Worship, the Holy and the Beautiful
• Asian Religions
• Project Seminar

Urban Ministry

Subject of Focus: Inspired by the vision of a Beloved Community (Scripture, Josiah Royce, Martin Luther King, Jr.), students in this doctor of ministry track will be further equipped to engage the poor and the powerful, to meet the needs of diverse cultures, and to answer their call to dynamic, applied ministry in the complex social systems of the inner-city. As leaders and future leaders in urban ministry they will seek faithful solutions to the challenges of homelessness and gentrification, addiction, failed schools, inaccessible health care systems, unemployment, and illiteracy. This DMin track will be based at Wesley's new downtown satellite campus housed in the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. The neighborhood is characterized by tourism, power, and poverty: expensive condominiums; low-income residential neighborhoods; the convention center; homeless shelters; and law firms. Capitol Hill, the White House, Smithsonian museums, and the vibrant Chinatown business district all lie in easy walking distance.

Core Courses:
• Leadership and Practice in the Beloved Community
• Speaking to Power
• Preaching toward the Beloved Community in the Urban Context
• Partners in Urban Transformation
• The Redeemed City in Scripture and Theology
• Criminal Justice Ministries
• Project Seminar
• Music in the Context of the Urban Migration

Other D.Min. Tracks
(closed to new students, but may be offered again)

The Arts and Theology

Subject of Focus: Use of artistic and theological resources to unfold theological truth, to recognize the glories and claims of creation, to articulate the depths of suffering, and to enhance the proclamation of the gospel of the Incarnate One in the congregation and the public arena. The venue for this doctor of ministry track will rotate between classroom, studio, stage, museum, and church.

Core Courses:
• Spirituality and Creativity
• Art as Worship, Worship as Art
• The Arts in the Bible
• Theological Aesthetics
• The Jazz Tradition: An American Treasure and Theological Resource
• Tools for Drama in Ministry
• Architecture of the Western Church
• Project Seminar

Campus Ministries

Subject of Focus: The unique challenges of the mission field of the college or university campus: working in the shadow of secular science, witnessing in a pluralistic faith environment, meeting the respective needs of traditional and non-traditional students, connecting with local congregations, and long-term financial support.

Core Courses:
• The Spirituality of Young Adults and Non-Traditional Students
• Give a Reason for the Hope: Campus Ministry and Apologetics
• Education for Stability and Change: Biblical Perspectives
• The Life and Vision of Howard Thurman
• Best Practices in Leadership and Administration for Campus Ministers
• Moral Discernment in the Context of Pluralism
• Project Seminar
• Worship for Campus Ministers and Chaplains

Leadership in Multi-ethnic Ministry from a Wesleyan Perspective

Subject of Focus: Designed to form and equip church leaders who are committed to God's intention to bless the human race through racial and ethnic difference. Participants will receive both theological foundations for ministry in diverse settings and new insights for the practice of that ministry. The crucial role of the leader and the value of retooling leadership skills will be emphasized. It is anticipated that graduates will be catalysts for creative multi-racial and multi-ethnic ministry at local and regional levels.

Core Courses:
• God of All the Nations
• Leadership in Diverse Ministry Settings
• Encounter, Exclusion, and Embrace
• Pastoral Counseling and Care in Diverse Ministry Settings
• Spirituality that Supports Leadership in Diverse Ministry Settings
• Worship in Diverse Ministry Settings
• Models for Creating and Sustaining Multi-ethnic Ministry
• Project Seminar

Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community

Subject of Focus: One of the most popular tracks at Wesley. This track looks to the transformation of groups (congregations, ministries, communities, the public) through the use of classical and contemporary texts and the spiritual disciplines of the church.

Core Courses:
• Life in Community: Theological Reflection and Experiential Models
• Exodus, Covenant, Exile: the Formation and Transformation of God's People
• Howard Thurman
• God's Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World
• Pilgrimage to the Alabama of the Civil Rights Movement - August 2009 (6 credits)
• Listening as a Tool for Transformation of the Congregation
• Project Seminar

Missional Evangelism

Subject of Focus: Biblical and theological foundations that motivate the church to focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ as well as give substance to contemporary best practices: ones that are sensitive to post-modem sensibilities, take local church story, size, and context into account, and manage to combine ancient passion and vision with twenty-first century awareness.

Core Courses:
• Missional Evangelism
• Historical Models of Missional Evangelism
• Salvation in the New Testament
• Preaching to Those on the Edge of Faith
• God's Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World
• Making Disciples Across Class and Culture
• Project Seminar
• Leading Fruitful Congregations

Practical Theology for Pastors, Chaplains, and Clinicians

Subject of Focus: The ‘care of souls' tradition extends back to Biblical days, when the work of priests, prophets, and wise leaders were called to care for God's people. Care for the souls of persons and congregations remains a significant ministry of the church because the good news of Jesus includes "release to the captives" and comfort to those who mourn. Communal and contextual models of care enliven the ‘care of souls' tradition in the 21st century.
The D.Min. in Practical Theology for Pastors, Chaplains, and Clinicians will equip ministers with the theoretical and practical tools necessary for more effective and reflective ministry in care and counseling. It will include a strong emphasis on biblical and theological foundations combined with current theory and best practices. Participants will grow in the ability to reflect as pastoral theologians and in the ability to respond to pressing human needs as skilled caregivers.
Students in this track will select one of four possible ways of fulfilling their elective hours: (1) Four hundred clinical hours in an AAPC accredited or affiliated center; (2) two units of ACPE recognized CPE, completed from the time of entering the program; (3) Two practical theology electives to be authorized by the Doctor of Ministry Director; and (4) A combination of one practical theology elective plus either one unit of CPE or 200 clinical hours as above. Each option is the equivalent of 6 credit hours.
Students choosing clinical hours or CPE will be responsible for securing their clinical settings in consultation with Wesley's D.Min. faculty. Students also may apply these clinical hours toward certification or licensure in various professional associations (e.g., AAPC, ACPE, and APC).

Core Courses:
• Foundations and New Directions in Practical Theology
• Pastoral Assessment, Diagnosis, and Psychopathology
• Theological Foundations for Practical Theology
• Intercultural Pastoral Care and Counseling
• The Bible as a Source for Pastoral Care
• Ethnography and Transformation of Congregations
• The Care and Counseling of Couples and Families
• Project Seminar

Preaching in the 21st Century

Subject of Focus: new disciplines worth mastering, new insights from biblical interpretation, hermeneutics, and communications theory; renewing the church in our time through the act of preaching.

Core Courses:
• Words and The Word: Theology and Rhetoric
• Preaching to those on the Edge of Faith
• The Public Pulpit
• Biblical Interpretation for Preaching to a New Generation
• Sermon Series that Engage the Heart and the Mind
• Harry Emerson Fosdick: A Case Study in the Preacher as Pastoral Care Giver
• Preaching with Prophetic Imagination
• Preaching and Multi-Media
• Leading through Preaching
• Project Seminar

Spiritual Leadership for the Global Church: The Asian Track

Subject of Focus: Asian realities and mission challenges for the emerging global and local church. Faculty teams from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington and Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul will introduce pastors to the impact of global awareness on the theological disciplines that sustain ministry. For Korean and Asian students.

Core Courses:
• Spiritual Formation
• Worship
• Mission for the Global Church
• Bible: Old and New Testament
• Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Pastoral Leadership
• Project/Thesis Seminar
• Leadership
• Christian Education
• Theology

Spirituality and Story

Subject of Focus: Narrative as a category of spirituality and as a tool by which pastors participate in the work of weaving human stories into the fabric of God's story.

Core Courses:
• Spiritual Biography and Autobiography
• Theology as Story
• The Narratives behind Catholic Spirituality
• Narrative Collapse and Restoration: Story and Healing
• Paul's Use of Narrative to Shape Congregations
• Engaging the Narratives of Other Religions
• Project Seminar
• African-American Novel as Theological Source

Wesley and the Poor

Subject of Focus: Providing church leaders with a new vision and new tools for leading the church in ministry to and with the poor. Note: January case study of St. John's Downtown takes place in Houston, TX.

Core Courses:
• John Wesley and the Poor
• The Church and the Poor: A Study in Social Location
• Hearing the Voice of the Poor in the Bible
• Pastoral Theology and Economic Justice
• St. John's Downtown, Houston, TX: A Case Study in Ministry to and with the Poor (6 credit hours)
• Teaching the Church's Moral Tradition on Wealth
• Project Seminar