DSL – Ecclesial Leadership
Shape the Future of the Church
Regent’s Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) in Ecclesial Leadership will teach you the theology and philosophy of the Church, as well as its organizational design. This terminal professional degree emphasizes leadership, communication, structure, team building and cultural understanding from a Christian perspective.
COVID-19 Update: Concerned about travel? Spring and Summer residencies will be held online for your well-being and convenience.
BECOME A ECCLESIAL LEADER
Explore the spiritual formation of the ecclesial leader and how you can develop as a leader in this important area of the Church.
GAIN INFLUENCE
Write and publish leadership-related topics in popular press publications and applied journals.
HARNESS SPIRITUALITY
Understand Christian spirituality, organizational spirituality, how communities form, and the spiritual formation of the Church leader.
BE EQUIPPED TO EXCEL THROUGH REGENT’S ECCLESIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Experience Regent, ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report for two consecutive years (2019 & 2020). Our programs have also been recognized among the Top 5 Best Graduate Online Business (Non-MBA) Programs in Virginia for six consecutive years.
Our award-winning faculty will bring out your inner leader, from performing expert analyses to mentoring teams through change.
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After completing the Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) in Ecclesial Leadership degree online, with a minimal on-campus residency in Virginia Beach, you will be able to:
- Apply the theory and practical components essential to organizational success.
- Follow excellent examples of Church leadership, incorporating biblical foundations and perspectives.
- Guide others using ecclesial leadership theories and models.
Career Opportunities
- Executive Leadership for Ministry, Nonprofits & Educational Institutions
- University Faculty
- Consulting
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 / Program | Cost 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 / Program | Cost 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.
- B.A. in Christian Ministry – Pastoral Care
- B.A. in Leadership Studies
- Certificate of Graduate Studies in Worship & Media
- M.A. in Church Leadership
- M.A. in Organizational Leadership
- M.A. in Practical Theology
- M.A. in Practical Theology – Worship & Media
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
- MBA – Master of Business Administration
- MBA – Master of Business Administration (Accelerated)
- Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership