Apply

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. Applicants enter the contact information of their references during the application process. References are then sent an email with a short questionnaire.

Master's applicants will need the following references:

• Pastor/Clergy
• Professor/Employer
• Layperson

Recommenders should not be a relative and should be able to attest to the experience of the applicant.

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.

*If you do not have a bachelor's degree and would like to apply to be a master's degree student, you may find additional requirements here.

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. 

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.

Did a current student refer you to Wesley? Applicants must indicate the name of the current Doctor of Ministry student who referred them to Wesley. Under the drop-down menu under Demographics titled “How did you hear about Wesley?” select Current Wesley Student and enter the student’s first and last name.  

Applications open September 1 for students applying for the upcoming fall and spring terms.

Wesley has rolling admissions, with the following priority application deadlines:

MASTERS

Fall Semester

December 1: Early admission

February 1: Merit-based financial aid, Community Engagement Fellows, and Student Pastor consideration

March 1: International Applicants

July 15: Final deadline for all master’s degree applicants

Spring Semester

December 15: Final deadline for all master’s degree applicants

NON-DEGREE For students seeking to take a master’s level course or set of courses without pursuing a full master’s 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)

The Wesley Design Fellowship is a one-year, cohort-based experience that includes community formation, spiritual direction, graduate-level courses, and hands-on experience leading innovation. Each fellow earns an $8000 stipend and four graduate academic course credits.

Fellows begin with a Fall weekend retreat, then learn and observe human-centered design thinking for ministry throughout the semester. In January, the cohort travels together to learn from young adult ministry innovators outside of the D.C. area. In the spring semester, Fellows use the Design Thinking process to work with local pastors to solve “sticky problems” related to young adult engagement. The Fellowship culminates with coaching on how to tell the story of the year. Fellows leave with experience coaching congregational innovation and with access to a variety of resources to fuel their own collaboration and consulting endeavors.

Who is invited to apply?

College graduates 29 years old and under interested in leading new ways to connect young adults with the whole church.

•             Fall 2022 entering Wesley students, OR

•             Non-seminarian college graduates

Design Fellows must be able to commit three weekends per semester to be physically present at Wesley in Washington, D.C.

Applications due: March 1, 2022

Apply here: Wesley Design Fellows Application

For more information contact: innovation@wesleyseminary.edu

1. Participating school applicants need to have a letter of good standing from your registrar, Dean, or Ethics faculty (or designated faculty representative).
2. Current Wesley students may sign up for NCES in the Registrar’s office
3. Click here to complete your 2022 application. Questions? Email admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
   
4. 1.  

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 January 7, 2022.  

For more information, visit: https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/nces/

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.

To be admitted as a non-degree student, you must be a graduate of a regionally accredited college and must submit a completed application form. Additionally, you must send an official transcript directly from the undergraduate college or university to the Wesley office of admissions. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial assistance or campus housing.

Non-degree applications should be submitted for the following categories:

• Academic credit for those not pursuing a degree
• To take a course(s) to fulfill a graduate theological requirement

Note: Recommendations are not required for non-degree applications.

Non-degree Application: Academic Credit

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 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.

Non-degree students may apply for entry to the M.Div., M.A., or M.T.S. degree programs by completing the respective full application process. If recommended by the Admissions Committee for entry, you may apply a maximum of nine hours credit from your non-degree student period toward the degree. Some degree applicants may be admitted into the non-degree student status because of an incomplete application for degree status.

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 Application and Registration

Try a masters-level class (credit, audit, or CEUs) while still discerning

1. Order your official transcripts from your previous undergraduate and graduate schools. Individuals who are auditing a course may send unofficial transcripts:

• Send e-transcripts to JaNice Parks at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu
• Send paper transcripts to:

            Wesley Theological Seminary
            Office of Admissions
            Attn: JaNice Parks
            4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
            Washington, DC 20016 

2. Click here to complete the non-degree application & registration form.

If you need assistance with this form, contact the Admissions Office at 202-885-8659 or admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.

Continuing Education Units (CEU) :

Many professional church staff and clergy are required to obtain CEUs on an ongoing basis throughout their career. The same courses that are available for audit may also be taken for CEUs. For UMC staff and clergy fulfilling requirements, explore the guidelines for continuing education here.

Please note: Courses taken for CEUs will not earn graduate-level credit and cannot be applied toward a Master's degree at Wesley.

Tuition:

$100 per CEUƗ

Ordained clergy, diaconal ministers, or full-time lay denominational employees may enroll in regular semester courses and receive Continuing Education Units.

Ɨ For billing purposes, one semester hour equals 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

How to Apply:

Apply and register as a "New Continuing Education student" with this form: Click here

Returning Continuing Education students, please use WesleyWeb to login and register: https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/my-wesley/.

Questions? Email 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.

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

Non-degree Application: Certificate in Christian Studies

The non-degree Certificate in Christian Studies provides focused education for personal theological enrichment. The Certificate in Christian Studies Program has a rolling admissions/registration process.  

Note: Courses in the Certificate Program will not earn graduate-level credit and cannot be transferred to a Wesley degree program. Recommendations are not required for non-degree applications.

1. Order your official transcript (if applicable)

• 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. Get your credit or debit card ready to pay the $60 application fee. 
3. Create your account to begin your application. Select "non-degree" from the menu list, then "Certificate of Christian Studies".

Click here to learn more. If you need assistance contact Sara Sheppard, Managing Director 202-885-8688

Learn about the intersection of religion and public engagement.

Earn a certificate in faith and public life.

Wesley Theological Seminary serves current and future Christian leaders. Our students are aspiring professionals and young people yearning for a voice in the public square – to be a public witness.

Join us and gain a strong foundation for a life of service, advocacy and meaning by better understanding the role of religion in public discourse.

Thought-provoking, Important Coursework

The courses you will take at Wesley will explore traditional and contemporary Christian ideas about God, humanity, and the world with an emphasis on public policy and politics. Examine the relationship between the Christian community and the pluralistic, complex world it inhabits.

The classes will familiarize you with the sources and debates Christians draw on in order to form their public witness. You will better understand the landscape of Christian political action and how that action draws on the deep resources of Christian traditions. And you will learn about the diverse forms of communal witness Christians are engaged in around the U.S.

Complete your certificate in just a year.

Non-Degree Certificate Requirements:

• • Paradigms and Practices of Public Theology (3 credits)
  • Foundations for Public Theology (3 credits)
  • Elective (2 or 3 credits)
  • Elective (2 or 3 credits)
  • Public Theology Capstone (3 credits)

Note: Recommendations are not required for non-degree applications.

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 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.