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A person studying the Bible: Pursue a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Chaplain Ministry and Leadership at Regent University.

D.Min. – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership

Pursue a Doctoral Degree in Chaplain Ministry & Leadership

Has God called you to ministry as a chaplain leader? Regent’s Doctor of Ministry – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership can give you the tools to fulfill that call. Chaplain ministry is growing worldwide as more organizations, corporations, and institutions discover the value that chaplains bring to their people and mission. This terminal degree can equip you to discern and analyze the spiritual dynamics of your environment. You can partner with organizational leadership, lead other chaplains in ministry, and build and evaluate effective chaplain ministry programs. You can also be qualified to bring these enhanced skills into all functional areas of chaplaincy such as healthcare, corporations, sports teams, military, education, community, public safety, crisis response, prisons, and more. This degree can prepare you to strategically expand your missional ministry in ways the church is otherwise limited. Moreover, Regent’s D.Min. program is among the first in the nation to receive approval by the ATS to offer the degree completely online with no residency.

Online
36
May 6, 2024
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ENHANCE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS

Minister effectively in today’s culture, technology, and diversity.

GAIN HANDS-ON TRAINING

Simultaneously minister and learn as you complete an original D.Min research project.

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Qualify for strategic chaplain ministry leadership positions.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 5 School by Military Friendly®, 2023-24, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020. Our Military Resource Center is dedicated to serving you. Experience the Regent difference through the Doctor of Ministry – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership program.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Regent University is accredited by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) who fully approves the online D.Min. program.

On completing your doctorate in Chaplain Ministry & Leadership, you can:

  • Work flexibly and fruitfully as a skilled ministry leader in any of the 10 functional areas of chaplaincy, including many subareas.
  • Lead and supervise chaplains and volunteers to maximize ministry effectiveness in larger settings.
  • Assess, analyze and engage prevalent identify and belief systems in secular, multicultural, multireligious settings.
  • Enhance and enlarge the scope and spread of chaplain ministries.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

  • Senior Chaplain
  • Seminary Professor of Chaplain Ministry
  • Chaplain Endorser
  • Graduate-Level Teaching
8.2%
Employment increase for clergy, 2016-26 Bureau of Labor Statistics
Explores the theory and practice of chaplain leadership and how chaplains working in advisory roles can best support leaders for the success of both the institution and its personnel.
How to analyze, understand, and engage identity and belief systems from a Gospel perspective to appropriately apply authentic Gospel ministry. How to minister through community relationships and religious leader engagement.
Focuses on unique dynamics of leading ministry programs. Learn how to successfully use chaplain personal and professional protocol to effectively lead chaplaincy teams.
Addresses challenges chaplains face when ministering in secular settings. Learn how to form transformational responses that meet secular presuppositions with workable and effective ministry solutions.
Explores the biblical, theological, and philosophical dynamics at work when ministry occurs in multicultural and multifaith settings. Learn how to formulate appropriate and effective redemptive responses that promote healthy ministry and unity for people from diverse backgrounds.
Learn to identify, understand, and leverage common institutional dynamics to develop biblical strategies that facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit as a means of transformation for institutions and their people.
Training at a site approved by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) to earn one unit of CPE. A Regent instructor oversees the training, providing intake, debrief sessions, and spiritual formation for CPE students. Must be accepted by training site to register. Cross-listed with PMIN 696. Repeatable for credit for a maximum of 6 credits. Pass/No Pass.

2023-24 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before 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.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 11Monday, August 21
Session BFriday, October 13Monday, October 23
Session CThursday, January 4Monday, January 8
Session DFriday, March 1Monday, March 11
Session EFriday, April 26Monday, May 6
Session FFriday, June 7Monday, June 17

Prerequisites

To be considered for acceptance into the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at the School of Divinity, an applicant must have completed either of the following:

  • Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree (or equivalent theological master's degree of at least 72 credit hours) from a regionally accredited, post-secondary institution or an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
  • M.Div. equivalency of 72 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, with at least 48 credit hours being graduate-level seminary credits.
  • Applicants who possess a master’s degree of at least 36 credit hours in an area of ministerial studies (e.g. Regent’s M.A. in Spiritual Formation or M.A. in Church Leadership) are invited to apply and will be reviewed for admissions consideration on a case-by-case basis. Upon review, you will receive an additional essay prompt asking you to describe the following:
  1. Your ministry calling and current activities
  2. Your personal devotional life and desire for growth
  3. How you believe studies in the D.Min. program will increase your ministry effectiveness

In addition, applicants to the Doctor of Ministry program should have:

  • High intellectual achievement and scholarship as evidenced by college transcripts and the applicant's writing sample
  • Spiritual maturity, integrity of character and willingness to grow as a leader
  • Personal goals consistent with the mission of Regent University
  • Understand and accept the Statement of Faith

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Resume

Submit a professional resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your significant ministry experience, detailing your current place of ministry where you desire to complete your ministry project. Please upload your document to regent.edu/items.

Step 4: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$5306$3,180
Master of Divinity (MDiv)$5306$3,180
Master of Theological Studies (MTS)$5306$3,180
Master of Theology (ThM)$6703$2,010
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)$6703$2,010
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)$6703$2,010

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$5309$4,770
Master of Divinity (MDiv)$5309$4,770
Master of Theological Studies (MTS)$5309$4,770
Master of Theology (ThM)$6706$4,020
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)$6706$4,020
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)$6706$4,020

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$5156$3,090
Master of Divinity (MDiv)$5156$3,090
Master of Theological Studies (MTS)$5156$3,090
Master of Theology (ThM)$6703$2,010
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)$6703$2,010
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)$6703$2,010

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$5159$4,635
Master of Divinity (MDiv)$5159$4,635
Master of Theological Studies (MTS)$5159$4,635
Master of Theology (ThM)$6706$4,020
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)$6706$4,020
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)$6706$4,020

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

“All the professors at Regent are truly gracious and willing to talk to you and help you — even if it's not class-related. They treat their job like it's their calling. Through them, I learned to care for people like a pastor would.”

Derek Hirtz, M.Div., 2015

“It’s tough being a student when you’re older but [Regent] had so much flexibility and understanding that enabled me to pursue my degree.”

Ed Lee, M.A., 2017 Practical Theology

“Regent was the final yes to answering my call to ministry. My Regent M.Div. degree was exactly what I needed to equip people in ministry.”

Nina Anderson, M.Div., 2014 Pastor, The Well; Kingdom Strategist, Nina Anderson Ministries; Motivational Speaker; Family & Service Pastor, New Life Church

“I received a direct commission to the U.S. Army Reserves in the rank of Second Lieutenant on April 10, 2019. The decision to pursue a military career came as a result of my prayerfully discerning a clear call from God to join ministry, specifically through military chaplaincy during this time.”

Whitney Mathis, M. Div., 2020

“The online and on-campus experiences were different, but both very rewarding. The way they designed online learning really felt like a live classroom environment — still very informative and relational, even with people from around the world there.”

Jesse Eisenhart, Joint M.A., 2009 M.A. in Practical Theology & Human Service Counseling