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A meeting: Pursue a Doctorate in Strategic Communication at Regent University.

Doctor of Strategic Communication

Earn Your Doctor of Strategic Communication

Are you ready to make an immediate impact on how communication is understood and practiced in the world today? The Doctor of Strategic Communication is a highly marketable degree designed to meet the demand for exceptional professionals in high-level communication positions within the government, business, nonprofit, religious, and higher education sectors. You can learn strategic messaging tools and theories that can help guide you in real-world applications across various disciplines. You can also develop the tools necessary to handle crisis communication situations and learn how to apply communication solutions in a new media context.

Online w/ Residency
51
May 12, 2025
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INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL

Advance in leadership roles and position yourself to earn a higher salary.

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE through the doctor of strategic communication program

Develop a theoretical foundation and apply the latest communication tools to solve real-world communication problems.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Presented from a Christian worldview, this degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach. Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by U.S. News & World Report (2019, 2020 & 2022). Experience the difference through the Doctor of Strategic Communication program. 

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

On completing the Doctor of Strategic Communication program, you can:

  • Develop effective models of strategic communication for both public and private sectors.
  • Conduct original independent research to properly assess communication issues and effectiveness.
  • Integrate communication solutions based on research and practical expertise.

Career Opportunities

  • Scholar/Researcher
  • Strategic Communications Consultant
  • New Media Influencer
  • C-Level Leader
  • Writer/Author
  • Crisis Communication Expert
$86Thousand
Approximate Average Salary of a Strategic Communications Consultant, 2022 Salary.com
Featured Courses
COM 721Introduction to Applied Doctoral Studies in Communication3
Residency course. Provides overview of the historical roots, methodologies and trends in the communication field with particular attention paid to specialized vocabulary and important writers and works.
COM 722Communication for the Professional: Quantitative Methodologies3
A study of classic and contemporary social science research methodologies and statistics utilized in the study of communication with an emphasis on applications for the communication professional.
COM 723Communication for the Professional: Qualitative Methodologies3
A study of classical and contemporary social science qualitative research methodologies used in and by strategic communication professionals.
COM 724Communication for the Professional: Applied Methods3
Advanced application of social science research methodology. Focus on conducting effective communication audits in preparation for doctoral project. Prerequisites: COM 722 and 723.
COM 753Strategic Crisis Communication3
An overview of crisis communication through examination of the history, prominent researchers, theories, strategies, and best practices used in all stages and types of crisis and crisis communication. Emphasis is on current real-world application which includes monitoring trends, utilizing digital tools, responding ethically, and critical thinking.
COM 755Strategic Communication Theory3
An interdisciplinary study of theory and research with critical evaluation of strategic communication application, ethical practices, and theoretical approaches.
COM 785Doctoral Seminar1-3
Special topics courses focusing on specific subdisciplines or involving broad interdisciplinary study. May be taken more than once under varying titles. Taught online unless part of a required residency.
COM 789Doctoral Project Preparation
A zero-credit course covering the doctoral project process.
COM 793Strategic Communication Doctoral Project I3
Supervised doctoral project planning, preparation, and investigation. Involves initiating and performing various stages of a Communication Audit for a complex organization or multiple smaller organizations. Prerequisite: COM 724. Pass/No Pass.

2024-25 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 9Monday, August 19
Session EFriday, May 2Monday, May 12

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 a Graduate Degree Paper

Please submit a five-page minimum scholarly or published writing sample that demonstrates your research, writing, analytical and problem-solving skills. This writing sample may include either a copy of your master’s thesis (or a portion of it, plus bibliography) or a formal paper or report. Research skills mean both the skill to utilize a writing style manual (e.g., APA) and the skill of integrating published research into an academic paper or report. The paper should be uploaded 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)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9206$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9503$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9503$2,850

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9209$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9506$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9506$5,700

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)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9206$5,520
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9503$2,850
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9503$2,850

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Acting (MFA)$9209$8,280
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)$9506$5,700
Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC)$9506$5,700

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 »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Fall 2024

October 23-25, 2024
COM 721 – Intro to Applied Doctoral Studies in Communication (DSC) 

Spring 2025

No residencies.

Summer 2025

June 4-6, 2025
COM 821 – Intro to Applied Doctoral Studies in Communication (DSC)

June 11-13, 2025
COM 785 – Doctoral Seminar: DSC Advanced Strategic Communication (DSC)

Residency Requirements

Residency is a necessary component to building academic fellowship and camaraderie among a community of scholars. All doctoral students must attend a 3-credit hour on-campus course, COM 721 Introduction to Applied Doctoral Studies in Communication, scheduled for three days in the student’s first semester of study. This course is a reading/lecture/writing course in the field of strategic communication. The course is also designed to orient students to the DSC program, the School’s faculty, and doctoral-level study in the communication field. Residencies are offered in the summer and fall.

As a Regent University doctoral student, you will complete original research supervised by a faculty member of your school. You will reach milestones for your dissertation as you complete your coursework for the Doctor of Strategic Communication program.

These milestones include:

  • Exploring a dissertation topic
  • Crafting a proposal
  • Drafting your dissertation
  • Implementing your dissertation design
  • Defense of your dissertation

Discover previous dissertations submitted for the Doctor of Strategic Communication.

Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.

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