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Alumnus Mark Batterson: Pursue a Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Ecclesial Leadership degree at Regent University.

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. Be mentored by seasoned business professionals through the Executive Mentor Program and explore the Church Matching Grant. There are no GMAT/GRE requirements. Regent has been ranked among top national universities by the U.S. News & World Report, 2023, and has also been ranked as a Top 10 Military Friendly® School by Military Friendly®, 2023-24. Experience the difference of a Christ-centered, transfer and military-friendly university.

Online w/ Residency
51
October 23, 2023
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Careers | Courses | Other Concentrations | Admissions | Tuition

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

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Our programs have also been recognized among the Top 5 Best Graduate Online Business (Non-MBA) Programs in Virginia for 9 consecutive years (2015-23).

Our award-winning faculty will bring out your inner leader, from performing expert analyses to mentoring teams through change.

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

After completing the Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) in Ecclesial Leadership degree online, you can:

  • 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
98%
98% of students believed the education they received was worth the expense
Theological and philosophical developments in ecclesial leadership theories, models, praxis and research. Prerequisites: LPHD 752, 754, 757, 761, 762, 763, and 764.
Historic research methodologies, the origins and historic developments of ecclesial leadership, and key differences in ecclesial organizational and leadership traditions. Prerequisites: LPHD 752, 754, 757, 761, 762, 763, and 764.
Ecclesial organizational designs, traditions and practices in leadership formation, principles of leadership legitimacy and ordination processes. Prerequisites: LPHD 752, 754, 757, 761, 762, 763, and 764.
Christian spirituality, organizational spirituality, communal formation, ecclesial spirituality, and the spiritual formation of the ecclesial leader. Prerequisites: LPHD 752, 754, 757, 761, 762, 763, and 764.

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 MFriday, September 8Monday, September 18
Session BFriday, October 13Monday, October 23
Session CThursday, January 4Monday, January 8
Session TFriday, January 26Monday, February 5
Session DFriday, March 1Monday, March 11
Session EFriday, April 26Monday, May 6
Session FFriday, June 7Monday, June 17

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial College Transcripts

  • Email your unofficial college transcripts to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Unofficial Transcripts.
  • Upon conditional acceptance, Regent University will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

  • Email a photo of your government-issued ID to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Government ID.
  • Please note that 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) / Master of Science (MS)$6956$4,170
Master of Business Administration (MBA)$6956$4,170
Doctor in Business Administration (DBA)$1,0203$3,060
Doctor of Philosophy in Business (PhD)$1,0203$3,060
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)$1,0203$3,060
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)$1,0203$3,060

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)$6959$6,255
Master of Business Administration (MBA)$6959$6,255
Doctor in Business Administration (DBA)$1,0206$6,120
Doctor of Philosophy in Business (PhD)$1,0206$6,120
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)$1,0206$6,120
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)$1,0206$6,120

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850
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) / Master of Science (MS)$6956$4,170
Master of Business Administration (MBA)$6956$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)$1,0203$3,060
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)$1,0203$3,060

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)$6959$6,255
Master of Business Administration (MBA)$6959$6,255
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)$1,0206$6,120
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)$1,0206$6,120

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.

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 online residencies and a variety of interactive discussion modes that extend beyond topical course discourse.

The Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) program in the School of Business & Leadership includes two required residencies, held virtually. The first residency covers program orientation and guidelines, the library use course (UNIV LIB Information Research & Resources) as well as 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 the Final Project.

View upcoming residency dates, registration and lodging details.

“Working full time made earning my business degree more challenging, but Regent was a perfect fit for me. The faculty have real-world experiences and helped me use what I was learning to think more broadly and influence decisions at the university where I work.”

Danielle Richter, M.A. in Organizational Leadership, 2016 Director of Marketing & Recruiting, Center for Graduate & Professional Studies, Midland University

“A lot of my training at Regent related to a broader area of work in terms of providing leadership for Christian education. This job is a good fit for the experience and training I have and the education I've undertaken.”

Bryan Easley, Ph.D., 2011 Dean of Online Learning, Oklahoma Wesleyan University

“I run a restaurant, but I am also looking for ways to benefit the community — whether it’s helping the food banks every week, supporting programs at the Y, partnering with churches. Regent really influenced me in that.”

David Cheney, MBA, 2005 Co-Owner, Chick-fil-A

“The focus on Christian values and principles adds depth to the whole area of organizational leadership … when you bring it into the context of the church, into the context of Christ working in us as leaders, then we are more able to take on the character of Christ in the leadership environment.”

Frederick Kawuma, Ph.D., 2016

“This isn't just a job for me — this is a ministry. Whatever I've done at Regent I've always had the sense that this is what God has called me to do.”

Doris Gomez, Ph.D. Dean, Regent University's School of Business & Leadership