If you are a degree-seeking student, application materials are available at https://wesleyseminary.edu/apply

If you are a non-degree-seeking student and currently hold a graduate or undergraduate degree from another institution, you may use our one-time application/registration form found here.

Contact the Admissions Office, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or request information here.

Basic Graduate Theological Studies (from the GBHEM)

These may be completed as part of a theological degree or in addition to a master’s degree and/or professional certification in specialized ministry. 

Students must take at least one course in each of these Basic Graduate Theological Studies categories:

• Evangelism

• New Testament

• Old Testament

• Church history

• Theology

• Mission of the church in the world

• Worship/liturgy

• United Methodist doctrine

• United Methodist polity

• United Methodist history

*For those seeking to become elders, up to two-thirds of coursework taken in seminary may be taken online.

The information that you need: Our Catalog houses the course descriptions and ordination requirements. Please click here to view and download our current catalog.

Please view our course schedule listed by term on our website. 

Wesley offers several UM requirements each semester. UM History, UM Doctrine, and UM Polity are offered during the summer.

Summer UMC Courses

Please view our current and previous course schedules listed by term on our website. 

Several courses are offered every term to fulfill GBHEM Requirements.

Here is a sample:

• CM-251 Polity of the United Methodist Church 

* Fulfills the UM Polity requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-463-OL History of the United Methodist Church, ONLINE

• ST-463-OL History of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

**Fulfills the UM History requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-464-OL Doctrine of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

• ST-464-OL Doctrine of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

**Fulfills the UM Doctrine requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

Wesley offers several UM requirements each semester. For example, UM History & UM Doctrine typically are offered and rotate each spring/fall. UM Polity is offered each semester. 

Please view our current and previous course schedules listed by term on our website. 

Here is a sample:

Several courses will be offered to fulfill GBHEM Requirements. We have highlighted a few below (course formats and offerings are subject to change):

• CM-248 United Methodism: History, Doctrine And Polity 1^

^Fulfills the UM History, Doctrine, and Polity (1 of 2 - Part 2 is taken in the spring semester) for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• CM-251 Polity of the United Methodist Church*, (may not offered in the fall when CM-248-0 is offered)

* Fulfills the UM Polity requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-463 History of the United Methodist Church**

**Fulfills the UM History requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• CM-271 Evangelism in the Wesleyan/Methodist Tradition***

***Fulfills the Evangelism requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

Deacon Education

Wesley has partnered with Pfeiffer University in North Carolina to provide deacon education and ordination for people of The United Methodist Church in the Southeast Jurisdiction via the Center for Deacon Education. This unique program focuses on deacon ordination, covering all of the Basic Graduate Theological Studies courses during a two-year cycle.

Courses are taught during the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as during January and May intensive terms, at the Pfeiffer campus in Charlotte, NC. Students admitted to the Center for Deacon Education are considered non-degree students in full standing and may take any Master’s level course at Wesley’s Washington, D.C. campus or online offerings for credit.

*Students in the Center for Deacon Education at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina must be admitted as a nondegree student at Wesley prior to beginning courses toward Basic Graduate Theological Studies.

Partner Schools - United Methodist Studies

Wesley offers United Methodist (UM) Studies to students at other seminaries throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Master’s level courses in Bible, church history, mission, theology, worship, UM polity, history, doctrine and evangelism are required for ordination and must be taken at a seminary approved by the United Methodist Senate.

Through several partnerships with non-UM seminaries, Wesley’s curriculum is available to United Methodist students on a non-degree basis. Learn more here.

United Methodist Studies for Partner School Students: This includes but is not limited to the following schools: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Moravian Theological Seminary.

Students from other seminaries with whom Wesley is partnered, who wish to take specific courses toward United Methodist ordination requirements at Wesley, should apply directly for admission as a non-degree student. Apply here.

In lieu of previous academic transcripts, these students may submit a “Letter of Good Standing” from the partner school Registrar to verify their academic standing and matriculation status.

The application fee will not apply, however, the student will need to contact the Admissions Office to request their online application fee be waived. (Email Admissions@wesleyseminary.edu)