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Pursue a Doctor of Strategic Leadership in Human Resources program at Regent University.

DSL – Human Resource Development

Lead HR at the Highest Levels

With this executive doctoral degree, you’ll be able to meet today’s organizational challenges and be better equipped to transform your workplace. Our human resources doctorate emphasizes both the practical and theoretical components of leadership, team building and cultural understanding from a Christian perspective.

Online w/ Residency
60
January 13, 2025
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COVID-19 Update: Concerned about travel? Spring and Summer residencies will be held online for your well-being and convenience.

HONE EXPERT TRAINING METHODS

Discover training and development techniques that can strengthen both the learner and the facilitator.

MAXIMIZE YOUR STAFF

Explore critical HR issues and trends, as well as models for developing your employees.

INNOVATE HR PRACTICES

Learn how to leverage individual, group and team perspectives as you develop and implement more effective HRD practices and procedures. Our award-winning faculty will bring out your inner leader, from performing expert analyses to mentoring teams through change.

Regent has been ranked among top national universities by the U.S. News & World Report for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020). Our programs have also been ranked by it among the Top 5 Best Graduate Online Business (Non-MBA) Programs in Virginia for six years in a row. Experience the Regent difference through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Human Resource Development program.

Regent University ranked #2 of Top 25 Accredited Online PhD & Doctoral Degree Programs | Learn.org, 2020

After completing the DSL in Human Resource Development degree online, with a minimal on-campus residency in Virginia Beach, you will be able to:

  • Understand human development as it relates to the workplace.
  • Identify emerging trends and ethical practices to advance the field of human resources.
  • Apply workforce planning and employment strategies.
  • Manage compensation management systems.
  • Elevate individuals, teams and systems to their God-given potential.

Career Opportunities

  • HR Administration & Executive Leadership
  • HR Director/Vice President
  • HR Consulting
  • Training & Development
98%
98% of students believed the education they received was worth the expense

2020-2021 Semester Check-In Deadlines:

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester 2 weeks prior to the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session

Semester Check-In

Session Start Date

Session A

Friday, August 14

Monday, August 24

Session M

Friday, September 11

Monday, September 21

Session B

Friday, October 16

Monday, October 26

Session C

Tuesday, January 5

Monday, January 11

Session T

Friday, January 29

Monday, February 8

Session D

Friday, March 5

Monday, March 15

Session E

Friday, April 30

Monday, May 10

Session F

Friday, June 11

Monday, June 21

Doctoral Degree Requirements for Admission

When applying to the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership or the Doctor of Strategic Leadership programs, the admissions committee, comprised of several faculty members, will use a rubric to independently evaluate and score each of the following criteria:

  • Academic achievement in bachelor’s and master’s programs
  • Writing quality
  • Alignment of personal goals to Ph.D. or DSL outcomes
  • Number of years in leadership positions
  • Leadership development and impact
  • Number of leadership positions held

Prerequisites:

Doctoral applicants must:

  • Hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, as evaluated by a credential evaluating agency.
  • Submit all application materials such that they are received by the deadline for the semester to which they are applying. Once the application requirements have been fulfilled, an admissions interview may be requested. Interviews are by invitation only.

Admissions Process:

1. Complete Your Online Application

Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

2. Pay Your $50 Application Fee

Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.

3. Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts

We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcripts from U.S.-based schools, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, in order to review you for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to our Transcript Request team by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SBL Doctoral Application Pieces.

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.

International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institutions, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. We will notify you if your previous institutions will not release transcripts directly to us.

4. Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire

Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs.

The admissions questionnaire can be found here. Once completed, our admission office will be able to upload this to your application file.

5. Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.

2019-20 Tuition Rates

Degree Level / ProgramCost Per Credit Hour

Doctor of Strategic Leadership

$995 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state)


 

Student Fees Per Semester

Enrollment Deposit$250
University Services Fee (Online Students)$550
Residency

$375 per residency

Note: All students are responsible for their own lodging, travel arrangements and incidental expenses.

ENGL 500-01 Graduate Academic Writing Course$70
RU Library Course Fee$50 (one-time fee)

2020-21 Tuition Rates

Degree Level / ProgramCost Per Credit Hour

Doctor of Strategic Leadership

$995 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state)


 

Student Fees Per Semester

Enrollment Deposit$250
University Services Fee (Online Students)$600
Residency

$375 per residency

Note: All students are responsible for their own lodging, travel arrangements and incidental expenses.

ENGL 500-01 Graduate Academic Writing Course$70
RU Library Course Fee$50 (one-time fee)

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

TITLE IV LOANS:If students are receiving Title IV Federal Student Loans, they are permitted to enroll in the same course number a maximum of only two semesters. Therefore, doctoral students are encouraged to carefully plan the dissertation/final project stage of their program.

The School of Business & Leadership is committed to the historical foundations of the doctoral degree in which a community of scholars is created among faculty mentors and student scholars. Regent University mirrors this historical tradition by using student cohorts, intensive on-campus residencies and a variety of interactive discussion modes that extend beyond topical course discourse.

The Ph.D. and DSL programs in the School of Business & Leadership include two required residencies, each covering four days and held on the campus of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The first residency covers program orientation and guidelines, the library use course (UNIV LIB Information Research & Resources) as well as in-class instruction for the first two courses of the core curriculum. The second residency focuses on class instruction for the courses to be taken in the semester as well as doctoral program requirements such as comprehensive exams, doctoral dissertation, DSL Integrative Paper and Final Project.

View upcoming residency dates, registration and lodging details.

“It was such a stretching experience to interact with people from the corporate world, small business and the military. My perspective on leadership practice is much richer and diverse.”

Harvey Herman, Ph.D., 2007 Strategic Leadership

“Best college class I've ever taken. Hands down. I haven't stopped raving about it to my friends and family.”

Kristen Aguilar, MBA, 2018 General Management

“I was particularly impressed with the highly organized online Ph.D. program. The faculty is second to none when it comes to their intelligence, teaching ability, compassion and their desire to work with students.”

Tom Norbutus, Ph.D., 2012 Human Resource Development

“This isn't just a job for me — this is a ministry. Whatever I've done at Regent I've always had the sense that this is what God has called me to do.”

Doris Gomez, Ph.D. Dean, Regent University's School of Business & Leadership

“Through my Regent MBA, I got to see things at different levels, not just the small level. I had a few employees and a small organization, as compared to some of the case studies we had dealing with multinational corporations. That was exciting to me and a really good learning experience.”

Jason Crowther, MBA, 2015 Dean of Enrollment at Grace College of Divinity