Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies
Introduction
The Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies (GradDipCS) is...
- Flexible: Study at your own pace and control your own curriculum, choosing 50% of your courses. Take as long as you need to finish.
- Relevant: Invest in a program designed to show you how Christ is integral to every square inch of life—whether you're at church, the office, the cottage, or the workshop.
- Transferable: If you decide to pursue further study, all of your credits can be transferred to Regent's Master of Arts in Theological Studies or Master of Divinity programs.
Students who take this program typically...
- Are taking a sabbatical to reflect on their vocation or ministry;
- Want to deepen their understanding of faith, but don't need a master's degree for their vocation; or
- Want to test the waters of theological study before committing to a full master's degree.
Seventy-five percent of GradDipCS students go on to complete a master’s degree at Regent. The other 25 percent typically leave with fresh energy to return to their existing vocations or pursue new vocational directions.
Program Structure
| Credit Hours | Time to Complete | Program Costs | Online Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 |
Full course load: 2 terms Part-time: Unlimited |
Total onsite tuition: $13,080 (24 credit hours at $545 per onsite credit hour) |
You can take up to 12 credits online |
Program Requirements
The GradDipCS program is designed to help you delve deeply into the Christian story and see why it matters for all of life. A series of required courses lay the foundation for solid, reliable theological thought, while electives give you the freedom to focus on your most burning questions.
In order to graduate from the program, you must successfully complete 24 credit hours with a GPA of 2.7 (B-) or higher. Of those 24 credits, 12 are free electives. The remaining 12 must be chosen from the Foundational Core courses listed below.
You can use the GradDipCS Worksheet to keep track of your progress toward completing your program.
Download GradDipCS Worksheet (PDF)
Foundational Core Courses
In order to receive a GradDipCS, all students must take the following Foundational Core courses:
| Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Old Testament Foundations (BIBL 501) | 3 |
| New Testament Foundations (BIBL 502) | 3 |
| One of the following: |
3 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies elective | 3 |
One of the highlights of the GradDipCS program is that it includes 12 credits of free electives, giving you the freedom decide how you want to spend your time at Regent. You can focus on a single critical question, or study more broadly: it's up to you.
Notes
If you think you might be interested in pursuing a master's program, we recommend that you choose your theology course and electives carefully in light of the requirements of the program you're considering. (Old Testament Foundations and New Testament Foundations are required for the MACS, MATS, and MDiv programs, so those courses will transfer regardless of the program you choose.) We also recommend that you choose your electives carefully in light of the requirements of the master's program—and, if applicable, the concentration—you might be considering.
You can find worksheets summarizing the requirements for most programs on the Program Information & Policies page. Our Academic Advisor can also help with course selection and program planning.
Foundational Core Courses
Additional Requirements
Notes on the Requirements
Featured Faculty
Admission Requirements
Your application needs to demonstrate that your background and experiences have prepared you to succeed in graduate-level studies. This usually means that you have completed a bachelor's degree a grade point average of at least 2.8 out of 4.0 (or equivalent).
If you do not have a bachelor's degree but are at least 28 years old, you can apply as a mature student. You'll be asked to explain how your life, work, ministry, and/or educational experience can be seen as equivalent to a university degree.
Contact the Admissions team or see our Admission Requirements page to learn more.
