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:
- Meets (or exceeds) the educational requirements for ordination in most denominations;
- Qualifies the person educationally for chaplaincy in the U.S. military, state and federal prison systems, or hospital context;
- Meets the admissions prerequisite for the Doctor of Ministry degree program or, in some cases, seminary-related Ph.D. programs;
- Stands alongside the degrees earned at either the medical or law school as the "first professional" degree for formal Christian ministerial leadership; and
- Gives the student a breadth of study within biblical, theological, and practical studies.
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. 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 option to demonstrate significant research skill by writing a master'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.
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. The student should provide the Dean with a copy of the transcript and a course description from the academic catalog of the institution from which s/he wishes to transfer.
Our accreditation grants us "the right to determine if credits applied toward other graduate degrees can be transferred to the institution'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" (source).
If you have earned a masters degree from another institution and want to pursue studies at Wesley, contact the Academic Affairs office to discuss the possibilities of degree integration.
Block scheduling entails a class meeting for three hours at a time once a week (3x1) throughout the semester rather than the traditional three class meetings per week of an hour (1x3). This scheduling method provides students the opportunity to schedule the majority of their classes in ways that maximize their time on campus, potentially freeing up large blocks (or entire days) for work or ministry obligations outside of WBS. This proves particularly helpful to those who live outside of the Jackson metropolitan area and commute long distances to attend WBS. Classes are not scheduled on Fridays or Monday mornings.
Textbook lists and course resources for every class are listed in our virtual bookstore provided by MBS. The books are sold at competitive, generally under-retail, prices. The MBS Virtual bookstore does provide international shipping through DHL. On the other hand, many students elect to obtain the textbook lists and order from other sources.
