Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)
America’s First Online Doctor of Strategic Leadership Program
Become the servant leader you were called to be—elevating individuals, teams, and systems to their God-given potential. Regent’s Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) degree emphasizes leadership, communication, structure, team building, and cultural understanding from a Christian perspective. Through this terminal professional degree, you can become grounded in theory and practical components essential to organizational success. Customize your program with DSL concentrations and be mentored by seasoned business professionals through the Executive Mentor Program. 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.
Careers | Concentrations | Courses | Admissions | Tuition
EXCEL IN ADMINISTRATION
Understand the intricacies of organizational assessment, organizational change, and how to lead strategic initiatives.
BECOME A VISIONARY
Monitor and assess organizations’ skills to innovate learning environments that continually increase effectiveness and efficiency.
DEVELOP A SERVICE-FIRST APPROACH
Study the biblical foundations, perspectives, and examples of servant leadership with a focus on current application in a contemporary world.
BE MENTORED DURING THE DSL PROGRAM
Gain a mentor through the School of Business & Leadership Executive Mentor Program. Receive insights into your career’s growth trajectory, networking skills, and professional development.
JOIN REGENT’S DOCTOR OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP LEGACY
Regent launched the first online Doctor of Strategic Leadership, in 2001. Experience a transformative doctorate program. Our award-winning faculty can 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 our Doctor of Strategic Leadership Program, you can:
- Understand the intricacies of organizational assessment, organizational change, and how to lead strategic initiatives.
- Monitor and assess organizations’ skills to innovate learning environments that continually increase effectiveness and efficiency.
- Understand how to move a product from idea through development to marketplace introduction and success.
- Elevate individuals, teams, and systems to their God-given potential.
Career Opportunities
- Executive Leadership & Executive Coaching
- University Faculty
- Consulting
- Nonprofits
- Government Agencies
- The Military
Ecclesial Leadership
Explore the spiritual formation of the ecclesial leader and how you can develop as a leader in this important area of the Church through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Ecclesial Leadership program.
Entrepreneurial Leaders
Be equipped to transform systems and teams through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Entrepreneurial Leadership program. Learn to harness the power of innovation, market orientation, organizational culture and networking.
Global Consulting
Prepare to assist international organizations and build a successful consulting practice through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Global Consulting program. Develop key cross-cultural interpersonal consulting skills and competencies.
Healthcare Leadership
Prepare to advance your career as an influencer of healthcare reform and accountability through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Healthcare Leadership program. Position your career for executive healthcare roles.
Human Resource Development
Be equipped to meet today’s organizational challenges and transform your workplace through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Human Resource Development program. Explore critical HR issues and trends, as well as models for developing your employees.
Individualized
Become the servant leader you were called to be—elevating individuals, teams and systems to their God-given potential. Choose courses that meet your unique professional goals through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Individualized program.
Leadership Coaching
Prepare for leading organizational coaching initiatives, developing leaders through executive-level coaching, and building your coaching practice through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Leadership Coaching program. Learn how to launch, market, and develop a coaching business.
Servant Leadership
Examine the importance of a service-first approach in effective leadership and how to apply servant leadership skills authentically through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Servant Leadership program.
Strategic Foresight
Learn about the intricacies of organizational change and how to lead strategic initiatives through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Strategic Foresight program. Gain an insight into the practical components essential to organizational success.
Strategic Leadership
Be equipped to lead and transform organizations through the Doctor of Strategic Leadership – Strategic Leadership. This program emphasizes leadership, communication, structure, team building and cultural understanding from a Christian perspective.
| BUS 600 | Graduate Foundations for Business/Leadership | 2 | Provides the knowledge, resources, and essential skills needed for success at the graduate level. Topics include academic writing, online learning, information literacy, and advising and support services for Business/Leadership students. |
| LDSL 710 | Organizational Strategy & Design | 3 | Relationships between organizational strategy and design/structure in contexts of culture, communication, technology, and leadership cultures. |
| LDSL 711 | Strategic Foresight | 3 | 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 718 | Organizational Culture, Value & Ethics | 3 | The role of organizational values and ethics and the impact of Judeo-Christian faith principles on leadership formation around the globe. |
| LDSL 720 | Applied Exegetical Studies | 3 | Reading and understanding the sacred texts of the Bible, foundational methodologies of applied biblical exegesis, and the use of simplified socio-rhetorical criticism. |
| LDSL 722 | Leaders & Followers | 3 | 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 726 | Human Resource Development | 3 | Fundamental principles and practices of managing and developing human resources from a senior leadership perspective. Consideration from biblical and theological perspectives. |
| LDSL 727 | Global Leadership | 3 | Understanding of global issues and the significance of global leadership competencies. Perquisites: LDSL 710, 718, 720, 722, 728, and 732. |
| LDSL 728 | Leadership Theory & Communications | 3 | An overview of leadership and communication theory to enhance leadership and communication application and scholarship. |
| LDSL 730 | Leadership Analytics | 3 | Effective decision-making, using data, analysis, and systematic reasoning to improve efficiency, risk-management, and profits. |
| LDSL 731 | Consulting Principles | 3 | 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 732 | Creativity & Innovation | 3 | The roles of creativity and innovation in organizations as components for building vibrant transformational entities. |
| LDSL 733 | Leadership Development | 3 | Salient and essential aspects of leadership development emphasizing the importance of finding the balance between personal, professional, community, spiritual and family priorities. |
| LDSL 861 | DSL Project | 3 | DSL project work. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all DSL core courses. |
| LDSL 862 | DSL Project | 3 | DSL project work. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all DSL core courses. |
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.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
| Session M | Friday, September 6 | Monday, September 16 |
| Session B | Friday, October 11 | Monday, October 21 |
| Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
| Session T | Friday, January 31 | Monday, February 10 |
| Session D | Friday, March 7 | Monday, March 17 |
| Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
| Session F | Friday, June 13 | Monday, 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
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
| Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
| Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
Part-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Business (PhD) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
| Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) | $1,020 | 3 | $3,060 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Business (PhD) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
| Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) | $1,020 | 6 | $6,120 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*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.