First Year

Year 1: Fall Semester

August
4-day residency (Thursday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 600, DBA 610, and DBA 611).

Before Labor Day
DBA 600 D.B.A. Initiation and Kick-Off (3 credits)
The prerequisite course will provide an overview of theory development and scientific inquiry, and will explore a breadth of topics, including different types of constructs, methodologies, and the publication process for applied business research. It begins with four days in residence (face-to-face) and continues online.

After Labor Day
I. DBA 610 Seminar: Philosophy and Process of Applied Business Research (3 credits)
This course introduces the fundamental philosophy and development process of applied business research. Practitioner-scholars will learn the basic principles of theory development and testing as well as how to build a conceptual research model.

II. DBA 611 Seminar: Business Theory for Applied Business Research (3 credits)
This course provides practitioner-scholars with an interdisciplinary introduction to the theories commonly used in business research. It will expose practitioner-scholars to organizational theory and other foundational theories and research in different fields of business.

Year 1: Spring Semester

January
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 614, DBA 615)

Post January Residency
I. DBA 614 Course: Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis (3 credits)
This course is designed to introduce practitioner-scholars to the fundamentals of the scientific method, quantitative research methods and analyses.

II. DBA 615 Course: Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis (3 credits)
This course is designed to introduce practitioner-scholars to the fundamentals of qualitative research methods and analyses. Perspectives on what it means to draw conclusions and build theory from qualitative data are explored.

Year 1: Summer

June
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 699)

Post June Residency
DBA 699 Doctoral Dissertation Project Development (3 credits)
Mentor-guided review of current topics identified by the executives to support the development of dissertation idea. Engage in the IRB process as needed.
*Collect quantitative and qualitative data based on RQ developed in Year 1

Second Year

Year 2: Fall Semester

August
3 day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 620, DBA 621)

Post August Residency
I. DBA 620 Course: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis (3 credits)
This course explores advanced methods in quantitative research including multivariate data analysis so practitioner-scholars can select and apply a broader range of statistical techniques to business problems and data.

II. DBA 621 Course: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis (3 credits)
During this course, practitioner-scholars will review contemporary and classic studies that employ qualitative methods and provide guidance on how to write and publish qualitative research. There will be a strong emphasis on hands-on training.

Year 2: Spring Semester

January
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 624, DBA 625)

Post January Residency
I. DBA 624 Seminar: Knowledge Dissemination to Influence Management (3 credits)
This writing-intensive course is designed to familiarize practitioner-scholars with the most effective ways to present and disseminate research findings to drive organizational change.

II. DBA 625 Seminar: Social Ethics and Evidence-Based Management (3 credits)
This course is designed to reinforce the importance of various stakeholders and evidence-based management, and will explore the roles of stakeholders.

Year 2: Summer

June
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will continue building your skills for your doctoral dissertation (DBA 699) *Dissertation Proposal Defense

Post June Residency
DBA 699 Doctoral Dissertation Project Development (3 credits)
In-depth discussion of papers and development of research models in collaboration with the dissertation chair. Students should be able to complete their dissertation proposal by the end of the summer.

Third Year

Year 3: Fall Semester

August
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)

Post August Residency
DBA 699 Dissertation Research (6 credits)
During the last three semesters, students will register for an additional 15 hours of dissertation work aimed at addressing a contemporary business problem. During this period, students will be expected to organize an independent research project and produce a dissertation project, which will be defended orally in Summer III.

Year 3: Spring Semester

January
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)

Post January Residency
DBA 699 Dissertation Research (6 credits)

Year 3: Summer

June
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)
*Dissertation Defense

Post June Residency
DBA 699 Dissertation Research (3 credits)

Graduation: practitioner-scholars can select to participate in either the December University graduation or the May college ceremony in Year 4.

Practitioner-Scholars can elect to defend their dissertation in the Spring semester of Year 3 after consultation with and approval from their major professor.  Early completion will permit the student to walk in the May College Graduation Ceremony in Year 3.  Please reach out to the DBA Executive Director for more information on this option.