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Graduates at the library: Pursue a Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Individualized degree program at Regent University.

DSL – Individualized

Meet Your Personal Career Goals in Leadership through an Individualized DSL

Become the servant leader you were called to be—elevating individuals, teams, and systems to their God-given potential. This terminal professional degree emphasizes leadership, communication, structure, team building, and cultural understanding from a Christian perspective. Through the Individualized concentration of the Doctor of Strategic Leadership, you can choose courses that meet your unique professional goals. Be mentored by seasoned business professionals through the Executive Mentor Program. Regent has been ranked among top national universities by the U.S. News & World Report, 2024, and has also been ranked as a Top 10 Military Friendly® School by Military Friendly®, 2024-25. There are no GMAT/GRE requirements. Experience the difference of a program customized to your unique calling.

Online w/ Residency
51
January 13, 2025
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Careers | Courses | Other Concentrations | Admissions | Tuition

CUSTOMIZE YOUR COURSEWORK IN AN INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM

Review and apply best practices to meet the unique needs of your organization.

BECOME A THOUGHT LEADER

Write and publish leadership-related topics in popular press publications and applied journals.

DEMONSTRATE EXPERTISE WITH A DOCTOR OF STARTEGIC LEADERSHIP

Develop a substantive final project that integrates biblical and global perspectives and gives evidence of a deep understanding of the theory and practice of organizational leadership. Our award-winning faculty will bring out your inner leader, from performing expert analyses to mentoring teams through change.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE AT REGENT UNIVERSITY

Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2024). 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).

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

After completing the DSL – Individualized degree online, you can:

  • Monitor and assess organizations’ skills to innovate learning environments that continually increase effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Understand the intricacies of organizational assessment, organizational change, and how to lead strategic initiatives.
  • Elevate individuals, teams, and systems to their God-given potential.

Career Opportunities

  • Executive Leadership for Healthcare, Nonprofits & Educational Institutions
  • University Faculty
  • Consulting
98%
98% of students believed the education they received was worth the expense
Featured Courses
LDSL 710Organizational Strategy & Design3
Relationships between organizational strategy and design/structure in contexts of culture, communication, technology, and leadership cultures.
LDSL 711Strategic Foresight3
Strategic leaders’ future orientation as they assess emerging changes in an organization’s external environment, market diversities, competitive complexities, resource changes, socio-political shifts, and across technological discontinuities.
LDSL 718Organizational Culture, Value & Ethics3
The role of organizational values and ethics and the impact of Judeo-Christian faith principles on leadership formation around the globe.
LDSL 720Applied Exegetical Studies3
Reading and understanding the sacred texts of the Bible, foundational methodologies of applied biblical exegesis, and the use of simplified socio-rhetorical criticism.
LDSL 722Leaders & Followers3
Strategic leadership as it explores the insights and tools of followers in effective partnership with leaders. This course contains the first of two required residencies.
LDSL 726Human Resource Development3
Fundamental principles and practices of managing and developing human resources from a senior leadership perspective. Consideration from biblical and theological perspectives.
LDSL 727Global Leadership3
Understanding of global issues and the significance of global leadership competencies. Perquisites: LDSL 710, 718, 720, 722, 728, and 732.
LDSL 728Leadership Theory & Communications3
An overview of leadership and communication theory to enhance leadership and communication application and scholarship.
LDSL 730Leadership Analytics3
Effective decision-making, using data, analysis, and systematic reasoning to improve efficiency, risk-management, and profits.
LDSL 731Consulting Principles3
Principles of consulting that undergird effective organizational change. Examines the knowledge base of the consulting profession focusing on the relationship between theory and practice.
LDSL 732Creativity & Innovation3
The roles of creativity and innovation in organizations as components for building vibrant transformational entities.
LDSL 733Leadership Development3
Salient and essential aspects of leadership development emphasizing the importance of finding the balance between personal, professional, community, spiritual and family priorities.
LDSL 861DSL Project3
DSL project work. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all DSL core courses.
LDSL 862DSL Project3
DSL project work. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all DSL core courses.

Choose any 4 courses from the other DSL concentrations and/or other Regent University graduate programs with the consultation and approval of the program director at the School of Business & Leadership.

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 MFriday, September 6Monday, September 16
Session BFriday, October 11Monday, October 21
Session CWednesday, January 8Monday, January 13
Session TFriday, January 31Monday, February 10
Session DFriday, March 7Monday, March 17
Session EFriday, May 2Monday, May 12
Session FFriday, June 13Monday, June 23

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 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) / Master of Science (MS)$6956$4,170
Master of Business Administration (MBA)$6956$4,170
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)$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 of Business Administration (DBA)$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 (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) / 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 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

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.

“Regent challenged me to think beyond the mechanics of business. I was able to address work-life balance and focus on core personal leadership attributes. The strong academics and values-based leadership focus helped move me from sales to management almost immediately.”
Jonathan Freeland, MBA, 2000 VP, Product Marketing at Cox Communications
“I definitely want to work for corporate America. I want to see what God has for me. I believe I have all of the experience and also have the theory and the biblical principles ― that I've learned from Regent ― to really apply what I've learned in the right way.”
Leo Motta, MBA, 2015
“God is setting up students with an incredible program at Regent, under the guidance of outstanding professors. I was confident that I would be able to do great things with my degree, but now as I begin to read the qualifications of jobs in my field, they match what I’ve learned perfectly. I believe I can do just about anything with my Regent degree.”
Terri Hannibal, DSL '22
“Thank you, Dean Gomez, for introducing me to the Executive Mentorship Program. It has blessed me greatly over my last 3 years in the DSL program. Mr. Walt Pilcher an amazing author and man of faith, helped me realize budding spiritual gifts and connect my spirituality to business endeavors. Dr. Katrina Thornton, a senior executive, helped me to consider what it meant to enter and engage with C-suite leaders challenging me to move from tactical leadership to systemic leadership. As a result of my interaction with these leaders I'm leaving this university grateful and mindful of the investment in helping me become a Christian Leader prepared to change the world.”
Derrick Rodgers, Doctor of Strategic Leadership, 2024 Mentee
“My mentor and I are mutually keeping each other lifted up in prayer and with encouragement in the midst of life's challenges. This mentorship connection has delivered extra focus for me by giving me a living example of what I desire to be engaged in upon graduating from Regent. Since I will be over 55 when I finish, my executive mentor demonstrates how there are decades of fruitfulness ahead of me and that completing this program is worth the rewards and open doors in the future.”
Wade Jensen, Doctor of Strategic Leadership, 2025 Mentee