Good question. The answer depends on what your calling is and what forms of ministry or leadership responsibilities you will carry in the future. For starters, the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is the broadest seminary degree that offers the graduate the greatest number of ministry options. Consider the fact that the M.Div:
You may be looking for a more academic oriented degree that focuses primarily on a selected field of academic study. You are interested in research and teaching. You want to delve deeply into biblical or theological studies. You plan is to teach in college or seminary. If this is your interest, it could be that the Master of Arts (M.A.) program is adequate for you. This program allows for in-depth study of either Bible or theology with the requirement to demonstrate significant research skill by writing a masterandrsquo;s thesis.
You may be looking for training in discipleship within the local church. You want to direct the discipling energies or Sunday School ministries of a congregation. If so, the Master of Arts with the Christian Studies concentration may be the degree for you.
These are some very general and broad guidelines related to the three programs offered at WBS. Make your choice after further consultation with the catalog descriptions and advisors at the seminary.
Students are allowed to register as "Special Students" and take regular graduate courses. This status means the student is not seeking a degree.
Wesley accepts graduate-level work that has been done at recognized schools. The courses must fit within the "general electives" category of a selected degree program or be very similar to required courses. Evaluation of the transferred course work is done in the Vice President for Academic Affairs office during the time of admission.
Our accreditation grants us "the right to determine if credits applied toward other graduate degrees can be transferred to the institutionandrsquo;s ATS-approved degree programs. If an institution determines it will accept credits applied to other graduate degree programs, not more than half of the credits required for the other degree may be transferred into an ATS-approved degree program, and not more than half of the credits required by an ATS-approved degree may be granted on the basis of transfer credits" (http://ats.edu/accredit/acm.htm).
If you have earned a masters degree from another institution and want to pursue studies at Wesley, contact the Vice President for Academic Affairs office to discuss the possibilities of degree integration.