Doctor of Ministry Courses
The Doctor of Ministry program operates on a cohort model which begins each fall with a cluster of students attending an on-campus week long modular experience. All five core courses are offered one time each year in this modular format. In addition various elective courses are also offered, making it possible for students to complete the core and professional concentration courses (a total of eight courses) in as little as one year.
Doctor of Ministry core courses are taught in a modular format each semester, meaning that although the coursework is done throughout the semester, students need only come to campus during the modular portions of the program. Thus, it is not necessary for students to move to Virginia Beach to complete the program. In addition to required modular core courses, a variety of elective courses are offered in modular and online formats.
Break-out of Core Courses
Core Courses Descriptions
DCOR 700: D.Min. Orientation (2)
This foundational course orients new participants to the Doctor of Ministry experience. As the introductory step into the D.Min. program, this course strives to bring spiritual refreshment and revitalization to each student in the context of retreat-oriented as well as peer-interactional learning. During this time, the adult-learning instructional approach is explained and modeled. Special emphasis is given to the Regent D.Min. philosophy of leadership development and its relevance to personal growth and the practice of ministry. Participants are also introduced to the biblical/theological reflection and research skills techniques necessary for the completion of D.Min. seminars and the final ministry dissertation. The course is mandatory and offered once annually.
DCOR 701: Leader’s Life and Values (4)
This course grapples with ethical and integrity issues affecting the lives of leaders today. The course will offer participants a unique experience for personal assessment, refocusing, and growth. With emphasis on core values, spiritual formation and relational development, this course is designed to enhance leadership competence and confidence for a lifetime. The course is mandatory and offered once annually.
DCOR 702: Vision, Mobilization and Management (4)
This skill-enhancement course addresses the leader’s ability to catalyze change by casting vision, conducting strategic planning, and managing multi-phased projects and processes. Special attention is given to people skills related to: recruiting, assimilating, retaining, mobilizing and managing volunteer and staff resources for the achievement of organizational mission. As technology and consultants are available, participants may be oriented to the use of interactional technology and software systems designed for enhanced organizational effectiveness. The course is mandatory and offered once annually.
DCOR 703: Leading Spiritual Formation and Renewal (4)
Ministry leaders must be able to influence—in cooperation with the Holy Spirit—conditions of spiritual growth and renewal in their own lives and in the lives of the people they serve. Looking at the topic as a ministry leadership practice, proven principles of spiritual formation will be examined for personal growth and the equipping of disciples. Special emphasis is given to the design and implementation of spiritual formation and renewal practices and strategies for daily spiritual exercise, congregational renewal and retreat programming. The course is mandatory and offered once annually.
DCOR 704: Prophetic Leadership and Redemptive Focus (4)
Prophetic and redemptive leaders are people who have discerned God's agenda for His world and made it their own lifestyle and ministry agendas. Like the prophetic leaders and reformers of Scripture and church history, they have considered the following as their sources for discernment: the pursuit of God's glory, obedience to Scriptural mandates, the progress of redemptive history, moral urgencies within the Church/society and the advancement of the Christian movement at home and abroad. They believe that, whatever God is doing in the world, He is bringing about the realization of His redemptive kingdom; these leaders want to be vitally aligned with God's redemptive plan for the world.