D.Min. – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership
Pursue a Doctoral Degree in Chaplain Ministry & Leadership
Has God called you to ministry as a chaplain leader? Regent’s Doctor of Ministry – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership can give you the tools to fulfill that call. Chaplain ministry is growing worldwide as more organizations, corporations, and institutions discover the value that chaplains bring to their people and mission. This terminal degree can equip you to discern and analyze the spiritual dynamics of your environment. You can partner with organizational leadership, lead other chaplains in ministry, and build and evaluate effective chaplain ministry programs. You can also be qualified to bring these enhanced skills into all functional areas of chaplaincy such as healthcare, corporations, sports teams, military, education, community, public safety, crisis response, prisons, and more. This degree can prepare you to strategically expand your missional ministry in ways the church is otherwise limited. Moreover, Regent’s D.Min. program is among the first in the nation to receive approval by the ATS to offer the degree completely online with no residency.
ENHANCE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS
Minister effectively in today’s culture, technology, and diversity.
GAIN HANDS-ON TRAINING
Simultaneously minister and learn as you complete an original D.Min research project.
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
Qualify for strategic chaplain ministry leadership positions.
ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE
Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2024). We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 5 School by Military Friendly®, 2024-25, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020. Our Military Resource Center is dedicated to serving you. Experience the Regent difference through the Doctor of Ministry – Chaplain Ministry & Leadership program.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Regent University is accredited by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) who fully approves the online D.Min. program.
On completing your doctorate in Chaplain Ministry & Leadership, you can:
- Work flexibly and fruitfully as a skilled ministry leader in any of the 10 functional areas of chaplaincy, including many subareas.
- Lead and supervise chaplains and volunteers to maximize ministry effectiveness in larger settings.
- Assess, analyze and engage prevalent identify and belief systems in secular, multicultural, multireligious settings.
- Enhance and enlarge the scope and spread of chaplain ministries.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Senior Chaplain
- Seminary Professor of Chaplain Ministry
- Chaplain Endorser
- Graduate-Level Teaching
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 B | Friday, October 11 | Monday, October 21 |
| Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
| Session D | Friday, March 7 | Monday, March 17 |
| Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
| Session F | Friday, June 13 | Monday, June 23 |
Prerequisites
To be considered for acceptance into the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at the School of Divinity, an applicant must have completed either of the following:
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree (or equivalent theological master's degree of at least 72 credit hours) from a regionally accredited, post-secondary institution or an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- M.Div. equivalency of 72 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, with at least 48 credit hours being graduate-level seminary credits.
- Applicants who possess a master’s degree of at least 36 credit hours in an area of ministerial studies (e.g. Regent’s M.A. in Spiritual Formation or M.A. in Church Leadership) are invited to apply and will be reviewed for admissions consideration on a case-by-case basis. Upon review, you will receive an additional essay prompt asking you to describe the following:
- Your ministry calling and current activities
- Your personal devotional life and desire for growth
- How you believe studies in the D.Min. program will increase your ministry effectiveness
In addition, applicants to the Doctor of Ministry program should have:
- High intellectual achievement and scholarship as evidenced by college transcripts and the applicant's writing sample
- Spiritual maturity, integrity of character and willingness to grow as a leader
- Personal goals consistent with the mission of Regent University
- Understand and accept the Statement of Faith
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 Resume
Submit a professional resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your significant ministry experience, detailing your current place of ministry where you desire to complete your ministry project. Please upload your document to regent.edu/items.
Step 4: 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) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Divinity (MDiv) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Theological Studies (MTS) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Theology (ThM) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
| Doctor of Ministry (DMin) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Divinity (MDiv) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Theological Studies (MTS) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Theology (ThM) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
| Doctor of Ministry (DMin) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
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) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Divinity (MDiv) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Theological Studies (MTS) | $530 | 6 | $3,180 |
| Master of Theology (ThM) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
| Doctor of Ministry (DMin) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | $670 | 3 | $2,010 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Divinity (MDiv) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Theological Studies (MTS) | $530 | 9 | $4,770 |
| Master of Theology (ThM) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
| Doctor of Ministry (DMin) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | $670 | 6 | $4,020 |
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.