Experience the Wesley DC Master of Divinity (MDiv)
RESIDENTIAL, ONLINE, OR HYBRID
EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING
- Why Choose the MDiv at Wesley DC?
At Wesley DC, faith and scholarship meet in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Prepare for ordination, chaplaincy, and Christian leadership through a program that integrates academic excellence, spiritual formation, and practical ministry.
Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, our MDiv equips you to lead the church and serve the world with wisdom, compassion, and courage.
Program at a Glance
- Degree: Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- Credit Hours: 81
- Typical Completion: 3 years full-time (up to 7 years part-time)
- Format: In-person, online, or hybrid
- Location: Washington, DC
Academic Foundations
Every MDiv student completes coursework across core areas of ministry and theology:
- African American Church Studies
- Children & Youth Ministry and Advocacy
- Theology and the Arts
- Public Theology
- Community Engagement
- General Chaplaincy
- Military Chaplaincy
- Student Pastor Program
You’ll also complete:
- Degree: Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- Credit Hours: 81
- Typical Completion: 3 years full-time (up to 7 years part-time)
- Format: In-person, online, or hybrid
- Location: Washington, DC
Your Calling, Your Context
Graduates serve as:
- Pastors and Elders in mainline denominations
- Chaplains in hospitals, schools, and the military
- Community and nonprofit leaders
- Public theologians engaging faith and justice in the world
Foundational Courses (First Year)
Your first 24 credits include:
- Degree: Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- Credit Hours: 81
- Typical Completion: 3 years full-time (up to 7 years part-time)
- Format: In-person, online, or hybrid
- Location: Washington, DC
Specialize your education in one of the following areas:
- Supervised Field Education
- An Intercultural Immersion experience
- A Washington Theological Consortium (WTC) course
Dual Degree Options
Combine the MDiv with a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Theological Studies (MTS) to deepen your expertise.
- Requires 111 total credit hours
- Fulfill both degree requirements
Formed to Lead. Called to Serve. Equipped to Transform.
- Choose Your Path to the MDiv at Wesley DC
Forming leaders for service to the church and world.
Wesley DC’s MDiv program prepares students for ordained ministry, chaplaincy, nonprofit leadership, and other forms of faithful service. Through deep theological study, spiritual formation, and real-world experience, students graduate ready to lead with integrity, compassion, and courage.
Wesley DC offers a range of course learning modalities to support diverse schedules, learning styles, and life commitments. The options below describe how individual courses are delivered, helping you choose the format that best fits your needs—without requiring you to commit to a single modality.
- In-Person
In-person courses meet weekly on Wesley DC’s Washington, DC campus at a specific time and place. Students learn face-to-face in a shared classroom setting that fosters embodied community and real-time engagement.
- Virtual (Synchronous)
Virtual courses meet exclusively on Zoom at a set day and time, with all students participating online together. Attendance with cameras on is required, creating an interactive, real-time learning environment wherever students are located.
- Hyflex
Hyflex courses meet synchronously at a scheduled time, with students choosing to attend either in person on campus or virtually via Zoom. All students participate together in real time, with cameras on for virtual attendees to support full engagement.
- Online (Asynchronous)
Online courses are fully asynchronous, allowing students to complete coursework on their own schedule within set deadlines. There are no required meeting times, offering maximum flexibility while maintaining academic rigor
- Hybrid
Hybrid courses are primarily online and asynchronous, with required in-person intensive weeks held once each fall and spring. Students complete online work before and after the intensive, with full participation during the on-campus hybrid week required to complete the course.
- In-Person: Traditional, classroom-style teaching
- 100% Online: Mix real time virtual group calls and in-person experiences
- Hybrid: Remote coursework with semesterly in-person learning intensives
Admissions Requirements
As a graduate degree program, the Wesley MDiv usually requires transcripts from previous studies indicating that you hold at least an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Sometimes, exceptions are made for those with significant ministry experience on a case-by-case basis.
- Official transcripts from all your previous undergraduate and graduate schools. If you are an international student, your transcripts will be accessed by the Registrar for appropriate academic credit.
- Personal Statement (400-500 words) describing 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. Finally, include your reasons for wanting to pursue theological education at Wesley.
- Resume
- Recommendations, one each from Pastor/Clergy, Professor/Employer, and Layperson
- $60 Application fee (may be waived for open house attendees)
To contact Admissions, email admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or call 202-885-8659.
Degree Overview
Whether you choose the traditional MDiv residential program, either full-time or as a part-time commuting student, or embrace our exciting new Hybrid MDiv Experience, you will benefit from Wesley’s world-class faculty and diverse student body in the setting of Washington, DC, where singular opportunities exist to see the intersection of faith and politics and access resources and networks only available in the nation’s capital.
The Master of Divinity degree is a graduate degree that will help you fulfill the requirements to become ordained within most mainline Christian denominations.
Wesley’s MDiv will help you prepare if you are called:
- To pastor a church,
- Serve as a chaplain, or
- Do ministry beyond the local church. Many Wesley graduates go on to create innovative ministries or start non-profits with a Master of Divinity.
Online courses supplement both the residential MDiv program as well as the Hybrid/Online MDiv Experience, which is a non-residential degree that has intensive on-campus residencies during the degree, with the remainder of the course work completed online.
Wesley provides courses in a variety of formats, to fit your learning preferences and schedule:
- Online (both synchronous courses on Zoom and asynchronous courses)
- Hybrid (one intensive week per semester with the remainder of each course online)
- In person (weekly on Wesley’s campus)
Practice of Ministry and Mission (hands-on ministry experience in churches, nonprofits, and other ministry-related entities throughout the DC region)
Meet an MDiv Student!
Thiara Herrera Leiva, MDiv expected May 2027
Thiara, an international student from Chile, is pursuing her Master of Divinity. She is currently one of the leaders for the youth group at Cherrydale United Methodist Church. Thiara also serves as an intern at the Kay Spiritual Life Center (KSLC) at American University alongside the University Chaplain and KSLC Director, Wesley DC alum, Rev. Eric Doolittle, MDiv ’03.
United Methodist Studies and Ordination Pathways
If you’re seeking ordination or commissioning as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church (UMC), Wesley Theological Seminary (Wesley DC) offers the academic, spiritual, and practical foundation you need for ministry.
Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, Wesley DC’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) and other graduate programs fulfill most of the Book of Discipline (2016) educational requirements for ordination. Additional courses can be completed as electives or after graduation.
Tip: Consult with your faculty advisor, District Superintendent, or Board of Ordained Ministry to confirm the requirements for your annual conference.
Basic Graduate Theological Studies (BGTS)
To meet ordination requirements, candidates must complete at least one graduate-level course in each of the following areas:
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Theology
- Church History
- Mission of the Church in the World
- Evangelism
- Worship / Liturgy
- United Methodist Doctrine
- United Methodist Polity
- United Methodist History
Flexible Learning Options: Courses may be taken on campus, online, or in hybrid format. As of 2023, the University Senate allows students to complete a fully online MDiv at approved seminaries.
Required Courses for Certified Candidacy
- United Methodist Polity (CM-251) – 2 credits
- History & Doctrine in Methodist Traditions (ST-463, ST-464) – 4 credits
- Evangelism – One course (CM-129, CM-222, CM-270, CM-271, CM-273, or CM-470)
- Mission of the Church in the World – One course (CM-150, CM-205, MM-350, WR-204, or WR-294)
Pathways for Ministry Formation
Course of Study School
Wesley DC serves as the Regional Course of Study School for the Northeast Jurisdiction, offering programs in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and the New England Annual Conference.
Deacon Education
Students called to the Order of Deacon, a ministry of word, service, compassion, and justice, typically pursue the MA or MDiv at Wesley DC.
UMC Certification Programs
Wesley offers approved coursework for United Methodist certification in Christian education, youth ministry, and evangelism. Courses may count as electives for students already enrolled in a degree program.
Deacon Education
Through partnerships with schools such as Princeton, Union, Pittsburgh, Moravian, and Eastern Mennonite, Wesley DC provides United Methodist Studies courses to students enrolled at other institutions. Partner school students may apply as non-degree learners with a letter of good standing.
Questions? Contact admissions@wesley.materiell.net for guidance.