Length of the Program: The 30 hours of course work are normally completed within three and a half years and are made up of at least seven required and elective courses plus electives. Up to six years are allowed for completion. Course work must be started within two years after admission into the program.

Design of Program: Two intensive residential terms are held each year in January and May consisting of two courses of 3 credits each. In addition required core courses and some electives will also be offered on-line in the summer and fall. Each track will have four core courses scheduled over the course of one academic year with space allowed for one of the two elective courses.

• Residential courses run 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday (with the exception of the seminary graduation day in May).
• Reading lists and preparatory assignments are made available to students two months before the program (November for January term and March for May term)  on Blackboard.  Students must be registered for classes to access the booklists and syllabi on Blackboard.
• Students are allowed up to six weeks to complete post-course assignments.
• Online courses will include both core and elective courses in the summer and fall semester.
• In addition there are opportunities for study trips on a rotating basis each summer such as Alabama Civil Rights (Birmingham, AL) and the Leadership Institute at Church of the Resurrection (Leawood, KS).

Peer learning and ministerial setting are essential parts of Wesley Doctor of Ministry programs. Students are encouraged to engage people in their ministry settings in a variety of ways, from personal support and accountability to participation in the projects.

Each student will write a project proposal in the Project Seminar taken in the third year of study. When the proposal is approved by the seminar instructor, the proposal is forwarded to the Doctor of Ministry Committee for approval and assignment of a faculty reader. The faculty reader will serve as a consultant to the candidate for selection of the specialized elective courses as well as the development of the Project Paper.

The Project itself should be started as soon as possible following the approval of the proposal, advancement to candidacy, and assignment of a faculty reader. A first draft of the complete Project Paper is due in the Doctor of Ministry Office by January 15 preceding the year of graduation. During the month of March preceding graduation, each candidate will make an oral presentation and evaluation of the project. Proposed venues for this presentation should be cleared with the Doctor of Ministry Office. One copy of the Project Paper in final form, together with one copy of a 100-word abstract, and various forms must be submitted to the Library on-line via Blackboard no later than April 1 of the year of graduation

Elective(s) are required for each of the tracks offered in the Doctor of Ministry Program at Wesley Theological Seminary. These three-credit courses may be taken either in class, online, or as a study trip created specifically for this program and sponsored by the seminary. Students may also take courses for other tracks with the permission of the instructor.

A list of possible electives is available to students already admitted to the Doctor of Ministry program on the DMin student portal in Blackboard.

Wesley holds commencement once a year usually on the second Monday in May.  Information for students anticipating graduation in will find current information here.  

All Wesley students need to apply for graduation by October 15 in the year before you anticipate graduating.

Please contact the DMin office with any additional questions.  202-885-8688