Why should I do a DMin at Wesley?
Through Wesley Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program, your ongoing practice of ministry will be enhanced and expanded by outstanding faculty, diverse student cohorts, and unique educational tracks, all in the distinctive setting of Washington, D.C. Through interactive classes, engaging dialogue, and relevant thesis projects, you will be acquainted with current trends and issues in the theological disciplines, encouraged to integrate these theological disciplines in your practice of ministry, equipped to add to the church's knowledge about the practice of ministry, and provided with the opportunity to establish lasting collegial ties with other DMin students.
What are tracks?
A DMin track is a specialized program of study designed to meet the specific ministry needs and goals for a cohort of students. A cohort, or track, has a maximum of 20 students who share an interest in the particular area of study. Past and present tracks include Church Leadership Excellence; The Arts and Theology; Spirituality and Story; Practical Theology for Pastors, Chaplains, and Clinicians; Missional Evangelism; Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community; Wesley and the Poor; Campus Ministries; Preaching for the 21st Century; and Spiritual Leadership for the Global Church: the Asian Track. More information is available on our DMin tracks.
What is the length of the DMin program?
The DMin program normally requires 3½ years to complete. Students must complete the degree within 6 years.
When are classes offered?
DMin classes are offered on our campus during Intensive Terms in January and May. Each class is one week's duration, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. See the Intensive Term Calendar for future dates of our program. We do not have online classes in the DMin program.
What is an intensive term?
Because the DMin program is designed for full-time pastors, classes are offered in one-week time periods: 2 weeks in January and 2 weeks in May for a total of 4 classes per year. Reading lists for courses are posted on the website approximately 3 months before the intensive term. Students are expected to complete all reading and any pre-class assignments before the first day of class. A post-class assignment, generally a 15-20 page paper, is due 6 weeks after the end of the intensive term.
How many classes do I take?
The DMin program requires 8 core classes, including Project Seminar, and 2 electives. Core classes are specific to each track. Certain tracks may specify 10 core classes or particular electives for that program. Elective credits may be earned through elective courses offered at Wesley during our DMin terms, Independent Studies with Wesley faculty, transfer of doctoral level credit from an institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, study trips offered by Wesley Seminary, seminars at the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, or Washington Theological Consortium DMin courses. Local students may take a master's level class if the professor agrees to assign additional work to make the class doctoral level for that student, and approval is granted by the director of the program.
Can I combine classes from two different tracks?
Students are required to take all 8 core classes in their track. Students may receive permission to use a core class from another track as one of their electives. Normally core classes are closed to students from other tracks; however, exceptions may be made with approval from the director of the program.
How do I choose and complete a final DMin project?
The Project Seminar course is designed to direct you in writing your project proposal. You will name the project question and its context based on your own ministry setting and particular interest. With guidance from the director of the program, you will identify the theological component, imagine the project steps, assemble a preliminary bibliography, and create a plan to write your project paper. The appropriate forum for the public presentation of your project will be considered.
Your final project proposal will be approved by the DMin Committee members, who assign an appropriate faculty reader. You will consult your reader during the execution of the project and while writing the project paper. The faculty reader gives final approval to your project paper before graduation. A list of DMin Project Paper Titles is available.
What is the cost of the program?
Costs for the DMin program include tuition, books, $25 facilities fee for each intensive term, housing, meals, and travel. The program requires a total of 30 credit hours; each course is 3 credits. Tuition for the 2008-2009 year is $450 per credit hour. Books are estimated at $100-150 per course. A $250 Reader's fee is charged to students when they are assigned a faculty reader for their DMin Project Paper. Wesley Seminary's Financial Aid Office has more information on financing your education, including estimating the cost of attendance, the Stafford Loan application process, and possible outside scholarship opportunities.
Is housing available for DMin students?
Limited dormitory-style housing is available for DMin students during the January and May DMin intensive terms. Students request housing as part of the registration process for each term; rooms are then assigned on a first-come basis. The 2009 housing cost is $250 per week plus $7 for linens if requested. The housing office will assist students in finding other accommodations if necessary.
What is required to apply for admission?
Applicants must hold a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree from a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and must have completed 3 years of ministry experience prior to entering the DMin program. Admission is based on academic achievement as well as the Seminary's ability to meet the applicant's goals. GPA should be 3.0 or better at the MDiv level.
Applicants are required to submit the application with the $50 application fee, official academic transcripts from all colleges and seminaries attended, references from 5 persons, and 4 essays. The Application is available online.
List your 5 references on the application. Download the Recommendation Form and ask each of your referrers to submit the form to the Office of Admissions.
The 4 essays, approximately 2 pages each, include:
a. A brief biographical statement that describes your career in ministry in chronological order
b. A personal evaluation of your professional competence
c. A statement on how you use your seminary education in the practice of ministry, especially studies in Bible, theology, and church history
d. Your reason for pursuing a DMin at Wesley (1 page).
International Students
Wesley welcomes the chance to include international students in all tracks as well as in tracks designed for particular groups of international students, such as the current Spiritual Leadership for the Global Church: the Asian Track. Our track Redefining the Church's Mission in Europe and America from a Wesleyan Perspective was offered in 2002.
Do I need to submit a TOEFL score?
Yes. All international students who do not have English as their first language must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score. The minimum TOELF scores required for admission are:
550 on Written TOEFL
213 on the Computer Based TOEFL
80 on the Internet Based TOEFL
TOEFL's website is http://www.toefl.org/.
We also accept the IELTS exam. Students who take the IELTS need a score of 6.5 for admissions. For more information on IELTS testing see http://www.ielts.org/.
Students who have earned previous academic degrees from U.S. regionally accredited colleges and universities can request to be waived from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
What is Wesley Seminary's institutional TOEFL code?
The institutional code is 5899.
Can I get a visa to study in the United States in the DMin program?
The DMin program at Wesley is not a residential program, therefore we do not grant the I-20 document to doctoral students. Out-of-country students in our program generally travel to Wesley on a tourist visa for January and May classes.
