Apply
Click here to begin your application and use the steps below as a guide.
If you have any technical difficulties with the online application, please contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
1. Order your official transcripts from all your previous undergraduate and graduate schools.
- Send e-transcripts to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
- Send paper transcripts to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions
Attn: Transcripts
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
2. Prepare your:
a. Personal Statement (400-500 words) describing:
- The formative elements in your background, focusing on the most significant people and events that have shaped your faith and identity as a person
- Your sense of your vocational call and your professional objective
- Your reasons for wanting to pursue theological education at Wesley
Note: you must upload your personal statement as a Word document.
b. Resume. You need to upload this in the online application.
c. Recommendations. These can be sent electronically via the online application. If that is not possible, download the form.
For Master of Divinity, you will need the following recommendations:
- Pastor/Clergy
- Denominational Administrator
- United Methodist applicants - District Superintendent
- AME applicants - Presiding Elder
- Other Denominations - another clergy
- Professor/Employer
- Layperson
For Master of Theological Studies or Masters of Arts, you will need the following recommendations:
- Pastor/Clergy
- Professor/Employer (2)
- Layperson
3. Get your credit or debit card ready to pay the $60 application fee.
4. Create your account to begin your application.
If you need assistance with your username or password for the application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
5. Dream about your upcoming classes!
Note: As a degree-seeking student, you may take nine or more credit hours as a full-time student, or 5-8 credit hours as a part-time student.
1. Order your official transcripts from all your previous undergraduate and graduate schools.
- Send e-transcripts to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
- Send paper transcripts to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions
Attn: Transcripts
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
Note: If you are a graduate of Wesley, we will obtain your Wesley transcript.
2. Prepare your:
a. 3 Essays. (Must be a Word or PDF document.) Each essay should be 500-800 words, 12 point font, and double-spaced:
Essay 1; A biographical statement setting forth in sequence your career in ministry
Essay 2: A personal evaluation of your professional competence (strengths and needs)
Essay 3: What interests you about this Doctor of Ministry track? How do you anticipate using what you learn in your ministry context?
b. Resume. You will need to upload this in the online application.
c. Recommendations. These can be sent electronically via the online application. If that is not possible, download the form.
You will need the following five recommendations:
- Pastor/Clergy
- Denominational Administrator
- College/Seminary Teacher (two needed)
- Layperson
3. Get your credit or debit card ready to pay the $60 application fee.
4. Create your account to begin your application.
If you need assistance with your username or password for the application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
- Participating school applicants need to have a letter of good standing from your registrar, Dean, or Ethics faculty (or designated faculty representative).
- Current Wesley students may sign up for NCSS in the Registrar’s office
- Click here to complete your 2021 application. Questions? Email admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
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If you need assistance with your application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@welseyseminary.edu.
Note to Applicants
You should submit the application no later than November 15, 2020.
NCSS will be held Mondays beginning January 25, 2021 from10:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST.
NCSS is open to current students in good standing at any accredited seminary who has completed at least one year of a degree program at an accredited seminary and is recommended by his or her home seminary.
Students from participating institutions are charged for tuition at their home institution's regular tuition rate and pay these charges through their home seminary.
Other NCSS students pay tuition directly to Wesley Theological Seminary at Wesley's regular tuition rate. On-campus housing and meals are available.
Admission to the Community Engagement Fellows program is competitive. Well-qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to serving in transformational ministry, either in urban settings, missional engagement, policy analysis, or social justice advocacy ministry. The fellowship is designed to allow interested ministry leaders to explore how their experience and call to ministry can be integrated into transformative engagement.
Application to the Community Engagement Fellows program should occur as a prospective student is applying for the Master of Divinity. Fellows must remain registered as a full-time student throughout the duration of the three year fellowship. Should the fellow become a part-time student, he or she will forfeit the Community Engagement Fellowship position. The student may remain eligible for part-time scholarship support as determined by the Financial Aid committee.
If you want to participate in the fellows program, you must:
- Apply for admission to Wesley by February 1.
- Submit an additional 1000-word essay via mail, email, or uploaded in your application by February 1 to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
Email: admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
- Plan to be a full-time Master of Divinity student taking a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester.
- Complete an interview with members of the Fellows Committee.
Essay: Applicants must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words addressing the following questions to the Admissions office. The essay can be uploaded in your application.
- How have you experienced a call to ministry and service? How do you understand this ministry calling as being urban, missional, or public theology?
- What qualifications or experiences (including service hours, social justice ministry experiences, etc.) support your calling? In what type of ministry setting do you see yourself serving in the future?
Essays of 1,000 words or less must be received by February 1. Essays may be submitted by email to admissions@wesleyseminary.edu, by fax at 202-315-3486 or by mail to Wesley Theological Seminary, Admissions Office, 4500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016.
Finalists for the Community Engagement Fellows program will be invited to interview with members of the Community Engagement Faculty Committee.
Non-degree applications should be submitted for the following categories:
- UM Studies for Current Students at Partnership Schools:
- Eastern Mennonite Theological Seminary
- Moravian Theological Seminary
- Pfeiffer University
- Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
- Princeton Theological Seminary
- Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Note: Recommendations are not required for non-degree applications.
1. Partnership school applicants need to have a letter of good standing from your registrar. This should be emailed to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
2. Prepare your resume, which you need to upload in the online application.
3. Once we have received your good standing notification, your application fee will be waived. Note: Please do not pay the application fee as it will not be refunded to you.
4. Create your account to begin your application. Select "non-degree" from the menu list.
If you need assistance with your username or password for the application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
Non-degree applications should be submitted for the following categories:
- Academic credit for those not pursuing a degree
- Audit courses
- Certificate of Christian Studies
Note: Recommendations are not required for non-degree applications. To 'try a class', click here.
1. If transcripts are required, order your official transcripts from all your previous undergraduate and graduate schools.
- Send e-transcripts to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
- Send paper transcripts to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions
Attn: Transcripts
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
2. Prepare your resume, which you need to upload in the online application.
3. Get your credit or debit card ready to pay the $60 application fee.
4. Create your account to begin your application. Select "non-degree" from the menu list.
If you need assistance with your username or password for the application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
You may take any masters-level course for continuing education units:
- If you have already completed a masters-level theological degree.
- And if you are a:
- church leader,
- member of the clergy, or
- employee of a church or affiliated organization.
To apply, use the registrar's office registration form.
Note: You will receive a certificate indicating the course you attended and the assignment you completed. CEUs will not be shown on your Wesley academic transcript.
1. Order your official transcripts from all your previous undergraduate and graduate schools.
- Send e-transcripts to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
- Send paper transcripts to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions
Attn: Transcripts
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
2. Prepare your:
a. Personal Statement. This is an essay of 400-500 words describing:
- The formative elements in your background, focusing on the most significant people and events that have shaped your faith and identity as a person
- Your sense of your vocational call and your professional objective
- Your reasons for wanting to pursue theological education at Wesley
Note: you must upload your personal statement as a Word document.
b. Resume. You will need to upload this in the online application.
c. Recommendations. These can be sent electronically via the online application. If that is not possible, download the form.
3. Get your credit or debit card ready to pay the $60 application fee.
4. Create your account to begin your application.
If you need assistance with your username or password for the application, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
5. Send a transcript evaluation request to JaNice Parks at jparks@wesleyseminary.edu.
If you are a licensed Local Pastor, the Course of Study program is for you.
Classes are designed to provide flexible study opportunities.
1. Download and print the application from the Course of Study page.
2. Obtain signatures from your district superintendent and conference registrar.
3. Prepare a check or money order for $75 per course.
4. Send your completed application and registration fees to:
Wesley Theological Seminary
Sara Sheppard, COS Registrar
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
MASTERS
Fall Semester
November 15: Early admission priority
February 1: If you want to be considered for Merit-based Financial Aid, Student Pastors, Community Engagement Fellows
March 1: International Applicants
May 1: Need-based financial aid
July 15: All Master's level applicants
Spring Semester
December 15: Master's level applicants
January 15: Non-degree applicants
NON-DEGREE
Fall Semester
August 15: Non-degree applicants
Spring Semester
November 30: National Capital Semester for Seminarians
January 15: Non-degree applicants
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Only 20 spaces available. Apply early!
October 15: Winter tracks
February 15: Spring tracks (includes Church Leadership Excellence)
