Curriculum
The D.B.A. program is a blended (online/onsite) program that offers maximum flexibility for working professionals.
Designed to accommodate busy schedules, the Professional Doctor of Business Administration program is a three-year, 48-credit program. In addition to working remotely, D.B.A. cohort members will gather on campus three times each year (August, January, and June) for intensive weekend residencies that will include classroom instruction, seminars, and networking events.
Timeline
- Year One: You will learn about theory development; conceptual models; qualitative and quantitative methodologies; the publication process for applied business research, and then apply what you learn to your project as a step toward becoming practitioner-scholars that will inform your dissertation.
- Year Two: You will learn about more advanced methods, ethics, and how to disseminate knowledge. Work will be done on solving your problem and developing a research output during the coursework.
- During the last three semesters, you will register for a total of 15 additional hours of dissertation work aimed at addressing the business problem. During this period, you will be expected to produce a dissertation.
Sample Course Schedule
The following is a sample course schedule for the D.B.A. August Before Labor Day After Labor Day II. DBA 611 Seminar: Business Theory for Applied Business Research (3 credits) January Post January Residency II. DBA 615 Course: Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis (3 credits) June Post June Residency August Post August Residency II. DBA 621 Course: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis (3 credits) January Post January Residency II. DBA 625 Seminar: Social Ethics and Evidence-Based Management (3 credits) June Post June Residency August Post August Residency January Post January Residency June Post June Residency August
First Year
Year 1: Fall Semester
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).
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.
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.
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
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)
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.
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
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will be introduced to the classes you will take during the semester (DBA 699)
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
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)
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.
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
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)
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.
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
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday) During this residency, you will continue building your skills for your doctoral dissertation (DBA 699)
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
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)
*Dissertation Proposal Defense
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
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)
DBA 699 Dissertation Research (6 credits)Year 3: Summer
3-day residency (Friday–Sunday)
DBA 699 Dissertation Research (3 credits)
*Dissertation Defense
2-day residency (Saturday–Sunday)
D.B.A. Graduation Ceremony
Learning Outcomes
GOAL 1: Executives will apply theory and advanced research techniques to solve business problems.
| Learning Outcome | 1. Apply business theories to the analysis of complex business problems. | 2. Integrate advanced, theory-driven, and methodologically sound research methods (qualitative, quantitative) and analytic techniques to frame and develop insights about current business challenges. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBA600 | I | |||
| DBA610 | I | I | ||
| DBA611 | R | |||
| DBA614 | I | |||
| DBA615 | I | |||
| DBA620 | E | |||
| DBA621 | E | |||
| DBA624 | E | |||
| DBA625 | ||||
| DBA699 | R/E | R/E |
GOAL 2: Advance knowledge within your industry through your completed dissertation.
| Learning Outcome | 3. Design, conduct, analyze, and interpret research using an ethically responsible approach. | 4. Translate complex research findings into actionable insights that are understood by multiple audiences. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBA600 | I | I | ||
| DBA610 | I | I | ||
| DBA611 | ||||
| DBA614 | ||||
| DBA615 | ||||
| DBA620 | ||||
| DBA621 | ||||
| DBA624 | R | |||
| DBA625 | E | |||
| DBA699 | R/E | R/E |
I = Outcome Introduced
R = Outcome Reinforced
E = Outcome Emphasized