Wesley Theological Seminary

God's call is bold. Your seminary should be, too.

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TRANSFER STUDENTS

Wesley Theological Seminary welcomes applicants who have already completed some Master’s level or Doctoral level work in another degree program. Students who have an incomplete theological degree may be eligible for transfer credit and waivers of requirements in order to complete the degree at Wesley. Students with a completed theological or non-theological degree may request Advanced Standing at Wesley in lieu of transfer.

Credit Transfer and Advanced Standing

CREDIT TRANSFER Expand
(For a chart of the maximum number of transfer credits see the 'Frequently Asked Questions' below)

Master’s degree applicants who meet the requirements for admission and have completed courses at another theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) may be considered for transfer admission. Those wishing to be considered for transfer equivalency should notify the Admissions Office during the application process. A written transfer evaluation will be provided.

Previous academic credit will generally be considered for transfer only if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • The credit is above the Bachelor’s level and is from a graduate theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)*.

  • The grade is “B-” or higher graded on a conventional grading scale. “Pass” grades are not considered for transfer credit, although such courses may be used to waive core requirements of the Wesley degree if the original course was not eligible for a conventional (letter) grade.

  • The course was completed no more than ten years prior to the date of admission to Wesley.

  • The course is not thesis or writing hours.

Students may receive transfer credit in the form of credit hours and/or the waiver of certain core requirements of the Wesley degree program. The two are evaluated independently from one another, i.e. the receipt of waivers for core requirements does not guarantee a certain number of credit hours will automatically transfer. The articulation of transfer credit is made by the Registrar, often in consultation with the Dean, faculty, and applicable program Directors.

*Credit for Non-Theological Studies

Applicants who have earned Master’s level credit hours in a non-theological area from a regionally accredited school may be considered for not more than fifteen credit hours toward a prospective M.Div. or M.T.S. degree sought at Wesley. M.A. transfer credits are capped at 6 hours. Requests for such transfer should include a written explanation specifying how each non-theological course relates to the overall degree sought at Wesley. This petition should accompany the evaluation request.

ADVANCED STANDING Expand

Applicants who have previously earned a theologically oriented degree from an ATS accredited school may be considered for Advanced Standing, both in the form of credit hours and possible waiver of equivalent degree requirements.

Advanced standing is a form of credit transfer and is bound by the same general regulations as outlined in the section above; however the maximum number of credits awarded for advanced standing is limited to not more than one-third of the credit hours required to complete the Wesley degree or half of the credits required to complete the previous degree, whichever is lower.

  • M.Div. Advanced Standing students are only eligible to transfer in 27 credit hours

  • M.T.S. Advanced Standing students are only eligible to transfer in 20 credit hours of previous coursework.

  • M.A. students may only transfer in 6 credit hours toward their degree (the only exception to this policy). 

Applicant FAQs

How many credit hours can I transfer in? Expand

Maximum Allowable Transfer Credits

Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Divinity (M.Div) and Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)

To earn an M.Div or M.T.S. degree from Wesley, no more than half of the credit hours required for the degree program may be fulfilled by transfer credits from another institution. Additionally, the final half of the degree program must be completed at Wesley unless prior approval for anticipated transfer credit is granted by the Registrar’s Office. M.A. degree candidates may only transfer in 6 credit hours of work. Every candidate for a degree at Wesley must meet all degree requirements outlined in the Curriculum section of the Catalog from the same year as the student entered the degree program. This includes the four-credit Practice in Ministry and Mission field placement for M.Div. students.

M.Div.
M.T.S.
 
M.A.
40 maximum
  30 maximum
 
6 maximum
       

 


Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Coursework transferred into the D.Min. program cannot go towards fulfilling core requirements of the degree. Transfer credit can only count as elective credit and must be approved by the Director of the D.Min. prior to beginning the course. Note: any D.Min. transfer of credit request incurs a $60 fee.

Work done toward another degree cannot be transferred into the D.Min. program. Additionally, work completed prior to entry into the D.Min. program at Wesley may not be applied towards the D.Min. degree.

Academic credit will be considered for transfer only if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • The credit is above the Master’s level.
  • The credit is from a graduate theological school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).
  • The grade is “B-” or higher graded on a conventional grading scale. “Pass” grades are not considered for transfer credit.

Maximum Allowable D.Min. Transfer Credits
Up to six credit hours may be transferred as elective credit toward the D.Min. degree.
The D.Min. transfer of credit request form can be found at: www.wesleyseminary.edu/forms.

Will I be eligible for 'Honors' as a transfer student (Master’s only)? Expand

Although transfer students at the Master’s degree level may complete a degree at Wesley after beginning their studies at another institution, the Faculty is committed to a minimum residency standard for students to be considered for honors at graduation.

To be eligible for honors, students with transfer credit must have completed at least two-thirds of their accumulated credits at Wesley and have at GPA of 3.7 or higher.

*For an M.Div. student completing 81 credit hours, 54 of these credit hours must stem from Wesley coursework; for an M.T.S. student completing 60 credit hours, the requirement is at least 40 credit hours of Wesley coursework. M.A. students must complete 30 of their 36 hours at Wesley to be eligible for honors at graduation.

Students should consider these limits when electing to transfer credit into Wesley from outside institutions, including the dual-degree program with American University, since they have the option to transfer more credits than would allow receipt of honors at graduation.

How do I find out how many of my credits will transfer? Expand
  1. Submit your entire admissions application to Wesley.
  1. Request an admissions team member to ask the registrar’s office to review and evaluate your transcripts and your file for any possible transfer credits.
How can I request that my transfer credits are added to my Wesley transcript? Expand
  1. Complete 9 credit hours at Wesley (equivalent to one full-time semester).
  2. Submit the transfer of credit request form to the registrar's office.
  • Select the second check box to have these credits applied to your official Wesley transcript.

Current Student/Alumni FAQs

Can I enroll in an additional Master's degree? Expand

Students who wish to add an additional Master’s degree while in progress toward completion of a degree at Wesley should use the Degree Change Request Form available in the Registrar’s Office or at www.wesleyseminary.edu/forms to apply for the additional degree. This request will be assessed by the Dean and the Office of Community Life, and the Registrar’s Office.

I'm a Wesley Master's graduate. Will all of my previous degree credits transfer? Expand

Yes. All of your credits will transfer to another Wesley Master's degree. Please note: students who have already completed a Wesley Master’s degree must follow the requirements regarding the total number of credits for completion for dual degree enrollment.

Dual MDiv/MTS

Students who wish to do a dual M.Div. – M.T.S. are required to complete 111 credit hours and the course requirements of both degrees.

Dual MDiv/MA

Students wishing to do the dual M.Div. – M.A. degree are also required to complete 111 credit hours and the course requirements of both degrees.

Dual MTS/MA

Students wishing to do the dual M.A. – M.T.S. are required to complete 90 hours and the course requirements of both degrees.

I've started classes without transfering credits. How do I request a transfer credit evaluation? Expand

Please complete the transfer of credit request form.

  • Select the first check box for an "evaluation."

Additional Information for Applicants

Application Deadlines Expand
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)

How long will it take for Wesley to determine my admissions status? Expand

Generally, it takes 1-2 weeks, depending on the time of year, if:

  • We have received all of your application materials, and
  • When our Admissions Committee has made a decision
How do I apply for Financial aid? What is the financial aid deadline? Expand

Financial Aid

How do I apply for financial aid?

Begin by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here to complete the FAFSA.
Read the instructions for applying for financial aid.

Learn more about financial assistance at Wesley here.

Students are encouraged to borrow conservatively, exhausting all other sources of aid first. Federal Direct Loans provide students with the best borrower benefits, with a low fixed interest rate and low fees. The FAFSA code for Wesley Theological Seminary is 00146400.

The FAFSA Application must be completed in order to request Federal Direct Loans.

What is my deadline for applying for financial aid?

You should apply for financial aid via FAFSA as soon as possible, prior to being admitted. Use the admissions deadline dates as a guideline. Offical FAFSA deadlines are published here.

Is housing available for me? Expand

Yes.  Explore the available housing options for living on campus.

Questions? Reach out to us today!

Contact the Office of Admissions for additional guidance by email, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or phone, (202)885-8659.

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Wesley helps prepare students for ministry by developing a tuition rate that is a third of the actual cost of tuition and offers varying financial assistance options.

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Masters Study at Wesley

Wesley Theological Seminary offers a wide selection of academic and applied masters degrees and duel degrees in cooperation with American University, Washington, D.C. Learn about our degree plans here.

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Doctor of Ministry at Wesley

Wesley's Doctor of Ministry Program enables pastors to develop an integrated theology of ministry that embraces the total life and mission of the church. Learn more here.

I Chose Wesley

Wesley welcomes diversity and makes its efforts to work together as one in Christ. I also say practicality, as Wesley is a school that offers various classes that give you practical opportunities to test the waters before you enter in the ministry world. 

- Jinny Kim, MDiv '2021

I chose Wesley because the seminary provides many useful and practical tools which is helping me to integrate my learning to real ministry settings. Wesley has deepened and stretched my understanding of the Bible and different kinds of theology, and the instruction has enhanced my ministry skills.

- YouJung Jung, MDiv '2021

About Wesley

Located in Washington, D.C., Wesley Theological Seminary is one of the largest and most diverse seminaries in the world. Since 1882, we have prepared persons for Christian ministry, fostered theological scholarship, and provided leadership on issues facing the church and the world.

Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
p 202.885.8600
f 202.885.8605

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Contact Us
Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
p 202.885.8600
f 202.885.8605
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