Regent’s Doctor of Ministry Program Experiences Exponential Growth

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (December 9, 2021) – Regent University’s School of Divinity restructured its online Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program for Fall 2021 and is pleased to announce the new format has resulted in an exponential growth in the school’s enrollment. D.Min. enrollment is up 125% and overall School of Divinity enrollment has seen a 22.8% increase since 2018.

“We are grateful for the excellent performance of our D. Min. program and trust that it will increase even more in the future. We believe that the program redesign contributed significantly to this uptick in students,” said Corné J. Bekker, D. Litt. et Phil., dean for the School of Divinity. 

“After 26 successful years of offering the D.Min degree, we believed it was time for a refresh,” said Dr. James Flynn, D.Min. program director and associate dean of Instruction & Operations for the School of Divinity. “The D.Min. committee looked in depth at the degree to ask: ‘What needs to be updated for the next season?’ There were two main areas we felt would improve the experience for our students. Our instincts were right.” 

Restructured Areas Prove Beneficial

The first change involved increasing the number of credit hours in the concentration portion of the degree from 9 to 18 credit hours. These are applied courses that focus on the specific discipline (Christian leadership or chaplaincy). To keep the total credit hours the same, core credit hours were reduced from 18 to nine. This new format allows students to focus on their ministry specialty. Students choose from the following two concentrations:

• The Chaplain Ministry & Leadership concentration prepares students to serve in a variety of chaplain ministries, including military, hospital, prison, and business. Graduates are equipped to lead other chaplains in ministry, partner with organizational leadership, and build and evaluate effective chaplain ministry programs.

• The Christian Leadership & Renewal concentration prepares students with senior-level leadership and advanced ministry administration tools. Graduates are equipped to lead in areas of spiritual renewal, ministerial development and transformation in ministry.

Additionally, D.Min. graduates qualify as graduate-level professors in accredited institutions that require 18 credits in a field of study to teach. 

The second change shifted the culminating experience, emphasizing the applied nature of the dissertation with an emphasis on the dissertation’s ministry project. The ministry project is a more germane opportunity for an applied doctoral degree and is used widely by other institutions offering a Doctor of Ministry degree. 

Program Highlights

Regent’s D.Min. program was among the first in the nation to receive approval by the ATS to be offered completely online with no residency requirement. This enables those currently serving in ministry to remain in their roles without relocating or spending excessive time away from their work. 

The program requires the completion of 36 credit hours of coursework. Full-time students can complete the program in three to four semesters. 

Take Your Next Step

Enjoy the benefits of this rewarding restructured program and position yourself to stand out in your ministry. You can also:

• Gain biblical insights and critical thinking skills that can help you dissect leadership styles, philosophical models, theories, and change dynamics.
• Develop advanced skills in decision making and strategy building, as well as practical theological and discipleship tools.
• Open your career opportunities and ministry reach as a military chaplain, pastoral leader, parachurch executive, ministry consultant, and more. 

The next session starts on January 10, 2022. Apply now online at regent.edu/apply or speak with an enrollment counselor by calling 800.723.6162.

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 About Regent University 

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university with more than 11,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University is ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for nine years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2021). 

About the School of Divinity

The School of Divinity is one of the fastest-growing seminaries in the nation. This interdenominational school of theology is anchored in a renewal perspective, with a focus on sanctification and the inner, personal change of self through the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the School of Divinity is listed among ATS’ Top 5 Largest M.Div. programs. Our degree programs prepare Christian leaders to serve in churches and on the mission field, and in education, the marketplace, military settings, and beyond. Whether online or on campus, you will receive the academically excellent, biblically focused education and practical tools needed to fulfill your ministry calling and impact lives for Christ.