Program Overview

Program Overview

The Business Administration DBA program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business theory and practice. The program requires 54 credits to complete and is typically finished in three years.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements

The program consists of 54 credits, which are distributed across several courses and a dissertation.

Required Courses

The required courses are as follows:

• BA 9801: Understanding the Firm through Management and Organizational Theory (3 credits)
• BA 9802: Scientific Inquiry through Applied Research (3 credits)
• BA 9813: Problem Solving using Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
• BA 9806: Integrative Perspectives on Business Knowledge (3 credits)
• BA 9815: Problem Solving using Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
• BA 9803: Navigating the Global Marketplace (3 credits)
• BA 9683: Research Project I (3 credits)
• BA 9783: Research Project II (3 credits)
• BA 9814: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
• BA 9817: Applied Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
• BA 9816: Creation and Dissemination of Business Knowledge (3 credits)
• BA 9883: Research Project III (3 credits)
• BA 9812: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the New Economy (3 credits)
• BA 9994: Preliminary Examination Preparation (3 credits)
• BA 9998: Pre-Dissertation Research (6 credits)
• BA 9999: Dissertation Research (6 credits)

Course Substitutions

Course substitutions may be permitted with the approval of the DBA Academic Director.

Culminating Events

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is an original investigation that makes a significant contribution to the field. It should expand the existing body of knowledge and demonstrate the student's own knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of their primary area of interest.

Dissertation Proposal

The proposal should include a statement of the general research problem and motivation for the research; the questions or hypotheses to be investigated; the relevance of the problem to business theory and practice; a review of relevant literature; an outline of the dissertation; a detailed description of the methodology to be used; and expected contributions and practical implications.

Dissertation Examining Committee

The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense, including the student's ability to express verbally their research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications.

Dissertation Defense

Executive DBA students should defend their dissertation in the Spring of their third year. Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Examining Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send to the Graduate School a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form at least 10 days before the defense. The department publicly announces the defense, and the Graduate School announces the defense on its website.