National Capital Semester for Seminarians
NCSS is a semester-long, intensive program of study in ethics, theology and public policy. Seminary students from across the United States come to Wesley in Washington, D.C., for the spring semester.
For Spring 2021, NCSS will be offered virtually for the first time, enabling seminary students from across the country to participate.
The application deadline is January 5, 2021.
NCSS offers seminarians a semester filled with unique opportunities to:
- Study the intersection of faith and politics
- Interact with those involved in policy formation, implementation and evaluation
- Engage in community organizing
- Work with faith-based education and advocacy organizations
- Dive deeper into specific issues at the intersection of faith and politics
EXPERIENCE PUBLIC THEOLOGY IN ACTION
Spring 2021 Semester
- A four-credit hour semester-long virtual seminar, including engagement with Capitol Hill, faith-based advocacy agencies, think tanks, news media, and non-profit faith-leaders and policy experts.
- Ability to take other online courses at Wesley for transfer credit in order to maintain degree progress
- Independent research project on a specific policy or issue
- Application deadline January 5, 2021
Eligibility and Tuition
NCSS is open to any student 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. If you are uncertain if your school is a participating institution, see the list below, or if you would like to find out how it can join, please reach out to Admissions at admissions@wesleyseminary.edu.
Other NCSS students pay tuition directly to Wesley Theological Seminary at Wesley's regular tuition rate noted on the application form.
NCSS students have served in internships in the past at a variety of locations, including:
Bread for the World • Sojourners • White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships • UMC General Board of Church & Society • Friends Committee for National Legislation • Churches for Middle East Peace • PC-USA Office of Public Witness
In the future, our staff and faculty will be able to help students connect with potential placements through the NCSS network of institutional partnerships that align with their interests and skills.
Click the button below for a print PDF flyer.
Participating Institutions
In addition to institutions of the Washington Theological Consortium, the seminaries in the following listing have become Participating Institutions in NCSS with designated faculty representatives:
Asbury Theological Seminary • Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries • Bangor Theological Seminary • Boston University School of Theology • Candler School of Theology, Emory University • Catholic Theological Union (Chicago) • Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis) • Columbia Theological Seminary (Georgia) • Drew University Theological School • Duke University Divinity School • Earlham School of Religion • Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary • Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary • Harvard University Divinity School • Iliff School of Theology • Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta) • Lancaster Theological Seminary • Lexington Theological Seminary • Meadville/Lombard Theological School • Methodist Theological School in Ohio • Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary • New Brunswick Theological Seminary • Northern Baptist Theological Seminary • North Park Theological Seminary • Pacific School of Religion • Palmer Theological Seminary • Perkins School of Theology • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary • Princeton Theological Seminary • School of Theology at Claremont (California) • Southern Methodist University • Union Theological Seminary (New York) • United Theological Seminary (Dayton, Ohio) • United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities • University of Dubuque Theological Seminary • Vanderbilt University Divinity School
