For those students seeking ordination and commissioning as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church, many of the required foundational courses for the M.Div. degree will fulfill the UMC’s requirements in accordance with the Book of Discipline 2016. Additional courses must be taken as well.

*These are church requirements for ordination and not a Seminary requirement for the professional Master’s degree. Accordingly, Wesley students take these courses as electives toward their degree program or at some point after  graduation. Current students should consult with their faculty advisor and District Superintendent or Board of Ordained Ministry to ensure that specific requirements for your annual conference will be met.

The 2016 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (Par. 324.4a) requires that candidates for ordained ministry shall complete the following graduate theological studies within or in addition to their basic seminary degree: "Old Testament; New Testament;  theology; church history; mission of the church in the world; evangelism; worship/liturgy; and United Methodist doctrine, polity and history." Election to probationary membership and commissioning cannot be granted until these requirements are successfully completed.

Additional required courses for certified candidacy include:

• Polity of the United Methodist Church CM-251 2 credit hours
• History and Doctrine in Methodist Traditions ST-463 and ST-464 4 credit hours
• Evangelism One course of the courses below, 2- 3 credit hours
  CM-129
  CM-222
  CM-270
  CM-271
  CM-273
  CM-470
• Mission of the Church in the World One course of the courses below, 2- 3 credit hours
  CM-150
  CM-205
  MM-350
  WR-204
  WR-294

View the Master's Course Descriptions here.

To find out when these courses will be offered, view the course schedule or email registrar@wesleyseminary.edu.

If you are a degree-seeking student, application materials are available at https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/apply.

If you are a non-degree-seeking student and currently hold a graduate or undergraduate degree from another institution, you may use our one-time application/registration form.

Questions? Contact the Admissions Office, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or submit the request information form.

These may be completed as part of a theological degree or in addition to a master’s degree and/or professional certification in specialized ministry. 

Students must take at least one course in each of these Basic Graduate Theological Studies categories:

• Evangelism
• New Testament
• Old Testament
• Church history
• Theology
• Mission of the church in the world
• Worship/liturgy
• United Methodist doctrine
• United Methodist polity
• United Methodist history

*For those seeking to become elders, it's recommended that up to two-thirds of coursework taken in seminary may be taken online. However, per GBHEM: "On Jan. 26, 2023, the University Senate met virtually for its first bi-annual meeting of 2023. During the meeting, the Senate voted to approve a policy change that allows United Methodist students the opportunity to engage in a fully online Master of Divinity degree program.

The information that you need: Our Catalog houses the course descriptions and ordination requirements. Please click here to view and download our current catalog.

Please view our course schedule listed by term on our website.

Course of Study School

Wesley Theological Seminary is the Regional School for the Northeast Jurisdiction.  We administrate programs on our campus in Washington, DC, as well as satellite programs in Philadelphia and the New England Annual Conference. Learn more here.

In The United Methodist Church, the Order of Deacon leads the congregation in its servant ministry and equips and supports all baptized Christians in their ministries alongside the Order of Elder. Students who feel called to the Order of the Deacon are called to word, service, compassion and justice. Most deacon candidates enter Wesley through the Master of Arts program, although some may complete the Master of Divinity.

Questions? Contact the Admissions Office, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or submit the request information form.

Wesley offers several UM requirements each semester. UM History, UM Doctrine, and UM Polity are offered during the summer.

Please view our current and previous course schedules listed by term on our website. 

Several courses are offered every term to fulfill GBHEM Requirements.

Here is a sample:

• CM-251 Polity of the United Methodist Church 

* Fulfills the UM Polity requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-463-OL History of the United Methodist Church, ONLINE

• ST-463-OL History of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

**Fulfills the UM History requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-464-OL Doctrine of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

• ST-464-OL Doctrine of the United Methodist Church,  ONLINE

**Fulfills the UM Doctrine requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

To find out when these courses will be offered, view the course schedule here or email Registrar@wesleyseminary.edu.

If you are a degree-seeking student, application materials are available at https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/apply

If you are a non-degree-seeking student and currently hold a graduate or undergraduate degree from another institution, you may use our one-time application/registration form found here.

Questions? Contact the Admissions Office, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or submit the request information form.

Wesley offers several UM requirements each semester. For example, UM History & UM Doctrine typically are offered and rotate each spring/fall. UM Polity is offered each summer semester. A combined course, including all three subjects (UM Polity History and Doctrine), is offered every other year in two parts.

Please view our current and previous course schedules listed by term on our website. 

Here is a sample:

Several courses will be offered to fulfill GBHEM Requirements. We have highlighted a few below (course formats and offerings are subject to change):

• CM-248 United Methodism: History, Doctrine And Polity 1^

^Fulfills the UM History, Doctrine, and Polity (1 of 2 - Part 2 is taken in the spring semester) for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• CM-251 Polity of the United Methodist Church*, (may not offered in the fall when CM-248-0 is offered)

* Fulfills the UM Polity requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• ST-463 History of the United Methodist Church**

**Fulfills the UM History requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

• CM-271 Evangelism in the Wesleyan/Methodist Tradition***

***Fulfills the Evangelism requirement for election to probationary membership and commissioning in The United Methodist Church as specified in The Book of Discipline.

To find out when these courses will be offered, view the course schedule here or email Registrar@wesleyseminary.edu.

If you are a degree-seeking student, application materials are available at https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/apply

If you are a non-degree-seeking student and currently hold a graduate or undergraduate degree from another institution, you may use our one-time application/registration form found here.

Questions? Contact the Admissions Office, admissions@wesleyseminary.edu or submit the request information form.

Partner Schools - United Methodist Studies

Wesley offers United Methodist (UM) Studies to students at other seminaries throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Master’s level courses in Bible, church history, mission, theology, worship, UM polity, history, doctrine and evangelism are required for ordination and must be taken at a seminary approved by the United Methodist Senate.

Through several partnerships with non-UM seminaries, Wesley’s curriculum is available to United Methodist students on a non-degree basis. Learn more here.

United Methodist Studies for Partner School Students: This includes but is not limited to the following schools: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Moravian Theological Seminary.

Students from other seminaries with whom Wesley is partnered, who wish to take specific courses toward United Methodist ordination requirements at Wesley, should apply directly for admission as a non-degree student. Apply here.

In lieu of previous academic transcripts, these students may submit a “Letter of Good Standing” from the partner school Registrar to verify their academic standing and matriculation status.

The application fee will not apply, however, the student will need to contact the Admissions Office to request their online application fee be waived. (Email: admissions@wesleyseminary.edu)