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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 will learn strategic messaging tools and theories that will help guide you in real-world applications across various disciplines. You will 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
49
August 21, 2023
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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
An interdisciplinary examination of the most current theories, scholarship, published research and trends and issues in all areas within the communication and arts fields.
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.
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.
A study of classical and contemporary social science qualitative research methodologies used in and by strategic communication professionals.
Advanced application of social science research methodology. Focus on conducting effective communication audits in preparation for doctoral project. Prerequisites: COM 722 and 723.
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.
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. Cross-listed with COM 685.
A zero-credit course covering the doctoral project process.
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.

2022-23 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All new 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 12Monday, August 22
Session CWednesday, January 4Monday, January 9
Session EFriday, April 28Monday, May 8

Admissions Process:

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: 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 Admissions Office by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SCA 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.

Step 3: Graduate Program Academic 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. Email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SCA Doctoral Application Pieces or fax to 757.352.4725.

Step 4: 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.


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 Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Television & Video Production (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 Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Television & Video Production (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)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

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 Screenwriting (MFA)$6706$4,020
Master of Fine Arts in Television & Video Production (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 Screenwriting (MFA)$6709$6,030
Master of Fine Arts in Television & Video Production (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
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

Summer 2023:

  • COM 721: Thursday, June 8 – Friday, June 9, 2023
  • COM 785: Thursday, June 15 – Friday, June 16, 2023

Residency is a necessary component to building academic fellowship and camaraderie among a community of scholars. All doctoral students must attend a 1 credit hour on-campus course, COM 721 Introduction to Applied Doctoral Studies in Communication, scheduled for two 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 spring, 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.

“Regent professors caused me to learn to think critically in a way I had never done. [They] forced me to think well, and at the root of writing well is thinking well.”

Charles Martin, Ph.D., 2000 New York Times Best-Selling Author

“The professors here never allowed me to settle for good, always pushing me towards giving my best.”

Padmakshi "Paddy" Parkhe, M.A., 2011 Journalism

“When I started my master's in Summer 2017, I had no idea what was ahead. I'm thankful for everything I was able to learn during my time at Regent and know it will open doors.”

Amber Huckaby, M.A. in Film-Television, 2020

“Regent University has a reputation of developing Christian leaders. I am so grateful to be growing toward that end. ”

Caleb Kinchlow, M.A. in Communication - Digital Media, 2012 Senior Videographer/Editor/Digital Content Producer, CBN; TV host; Author

“When I came to Regent, life had kind of clipped my wings. In hindsight, I see that Regent wasn’t so much a restoration project, but rather a new-construction project. ”

Bruce Long, M.A. in Cinema/ TV Acting & Directing, 2001 Executive Director, CITA Producer, The Repertoire Fund