Program Overview

Graduate Programs

Doctorate of Business Administration

The DBA is a four-year blended part-time program and is structured in two stages. Stage One consists of two years of course work that covers research philosophies, qualitative and quantitative research methods, research in support of business functions, literature review & critique, and human factors and social responsibility. Stage Two lasts two years and comprises the DBA thesis. At this stage, the formal teaching aspect of the program ends, and students are expected to use the knowledge gained from Stage One to undertake a research investigation that represents an original contribution to professional thinking and practice and has high academic merit. DBA candidates often tackle issues of real importance to their own organizations, thus delivering high-utility outcomes and enjoying the rewards of seeing their solutions beneficially implemented. During this period, the student's work will be overseen by a Thesis Committee. The program is completed after successful submission and defense of the dissertation.

Program Objectives

• Enabling senior managers to enhance their professional practice and contribute state-of-the-art knowledge in their chosen area of study.
• Producing research-oriented professionals with advanced capabilities in leadership and change management.
• Allowing graduates to take back to their organizations increased understanding and conceptual thinking in business management at the highest level.
• Enhancing competitive advantage for the executives and their organizations, by participating in discussions with academics and practitioners at the cutting edge of their fields.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Communicate effectively, in writing and orally, highly complex and diverse academic and professional information to expert audiences.
• Apply a range of mastered critical thinking skills and techniques including synthesis, evaluation, planning, and reflection to extend and redefine professional practice and knowledge.
• Evaluate highly technical data and information to provide innovative and sustainable practical solutions to challenging and interdisciplinary business problems.
• Demonstrate effective leadership capabilities, to act with autonomy and integrity, in various professional contexts.
• Assess diverse issues, using ethical reasoning, in managing highly complex interdisciplinary organizational problems.
• Create new knowledge and innovative, practical solutions to challenging and interdisciplinary business problems.

Degree Requirements

Required Credit Hours: minimum 54 hours

Program Courses

• Required Courses (24 hours)
  • DBA711: Philosophy and Process of Applied Business Research | 3
  • DBA712: Quantitative Data Analysis | 3
  • DBA713: Qualitative Research Methods | 3
  • DBA714: Advanced Techniques in Quantitative Analysis | 3
  • DBA715: Organizational Leadership | 3
  • DBA716: Theory and Practice of Managing Organizations | 3
  • DBA717: Emerging Markets and Global Models of Business | 3
  • DBA718: Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship | 3

Qualification Requirements (Req. CH: 0)

• Required Course
  • DBA800: Comprehensive Examination | 0

Research Requirements (Req. CH: 30)

• Required Course (30 hours)
  • DBA919: Dissertation Research Proposal | 9
  • DBA920: Dissertation Research Part 1 | 9
  • DBA921: Dissertation Research Part 2 | 12