Program Overview

Doctor of Business Administration Program

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is designed for working professionals who wish to make a lasting contribution to the field of business through high-level positions in upper management, consulting, research, or teaching in academic institutions. Students in the DBA program graduate with valuable skills and knowledge they can immediately apply to real-world problems and career opportunities, including how to:

• Integrate the theory and practice of business
• Generate solutions for complex business problems
• Build and grow sustainable businesses and organizations
• Critically review contemporary business research and literature

Program Highlights

The University of La Verne's DBA program is for professionals with three or more years of work experience who are motivated to develop a deeper knowledge of business disciplines and ideas through applied research and other advanced skills. The DBA curriculum emphasizes an understanding of the relationship between business theory and functional areas of business so graduates have the ability to innovate and create solutions for complex business problems.

Program Structure

The program consists of 54 units, with three years of coursework and additional time to complete the dissertation. Students take three classes per semester, with classes taking place in the evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate full-time work schedules. The program is offered in a hybrid format on the La Verne Campus as well as fully online.

Careers in Business Administration

Graduates of the DBA program will be prepared to expand their career options into the top level of the business profession. Analytical skills learned in the program will give graduates the confidence to lead and guide organizations with strategic thinking and operational know-how in upper-level management. Meanwhile, business proficiency and applied research will prepare other graduates to transition into consulting, research, or teaching careers, so that others may benefit from their vast experience and knowledge.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites

Applicants should possess a master's degree, ideally in Business Administration or a closely related field. Applicants must also have a minimum of three years of work experience. Exceptional applicants holding a bachelor's degree in business or a related field who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their industry or have successfully led entrepreneurial ventures, may be considered for admission to the DBA program without requiring a master's degree.

Admission Process

Applicants are evaluated in a two-stage process:

• First stage: applicants are initially screened based on:
  • A master's degree transcript evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. master's degree
  • A bachelor's degree transcript, equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, may also be requested
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume
• Second stage: applicants advancing to the second stage will be required to schedule a personal interview (in-person or via zoom). Letters of recommendation may be required if a definitive decision cannot be made on the basis of the application materials. A standardized test score (e.g. GMAT or GRE) and additional transcripts may be required if recommended by the Faculty Admissions Committee.

Curriculum

Plan of Study Grid

First Year

• DBA 681 Nature of Inquiry (3 units)
• DBA 656 Advanced Topics in Leadership and Management (3 units)
• DBA 628 Applied Managerial Economics (3 units)
• DBA 651 Seminar in Organizational Behavior (3 units)
• DBA 675 Quantitative Research I: Applied Regression Analysis (3 units)
• DBA 643 Ethics & Social Responsibility (3 units) Total units: 18

Second Year

• DBA 635 Finance (3 units)
• DBA 615 Innovation & IT in Business (3 units)
• DBA 665 Marketing Theory (3 units)
• DBA 674 Qualitative Research (3 units)
• DBA 694 Seminars in Strategic Management (3 units)
• DBA 684 Dissertation Seminar A (3 units) Total units: 18

Third Year

• DBA 685 Dissertation Seminar B (3 units)
• DBA 686 Dissertation Proposal Development (3 units)
• DBA 676 Dissertation Data Analysis (3 units)
• DBA 687 Dissertation I (3 units)
• DBA 688 Dissertation II (3 units)
• DBA 689 Dissertation III (3 units) Total units: 18

Dissertation Units

Students must be continuously enrolled in either DBA 699C Dissertation Seminar I or DBA 699D Dissertation Seminar II until they successfully complete their dissertation and their degree is posted.

Post Coursework Semesters

• DBA 699C Dissertation Seminar I (one semester hour per semester as needed)
• DBA 699D Dissertation Seminar II (two semester hours per semester as needed)

Program Details

• Total units: 54
• Time to completion: 3-4 years
• Campus locations: La Verne, Online
• Start terms: Fall
• Program director: Zhen Zhang, PhD
• Cost per unit: $1,350