Business Administration, DBA (Worldwide)
Program Overview
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is designed for professionals who want to further their career with the most advanced business degree program GGU offers. The DBA program addresses the learning needs and objectives of senior business managers, consultants and university professors. Its primary objective is to produce graduates who can contribute to the advancement of their professions and to the expansion of knowledge and awareness of contemporary strategic issues and practices.
Our curriculum has a three-tiered focus. Students examine current theories, practices, and issues in business; train in research methods; and study the relationships between business and social and global issues. We believe doctoral students must be adept in all these areas to be successful contributors to the expansion of knowledge and improvement of business practices. For the dissertation, students conduct original research on a topic of current importance and personal interest. The dissertation should impact and help illuminate the strategic issues they face in their professions.
The program encourages students to accept the added responsibility of a shared commitment to the advancement of their professions and to upholding the highest ethical standards in the private or public sector.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the DBA program will achieve the program’s primary objectives through the development of:
- A thorough knowledge of the scientific and scholarly research methods and their application in the business setting in a senior management position, as a consultant, as a professor at the university level;
- Advanced critical thinking, conceptual and analytical skills;
- A strong understanding of both the seminal theories and the latest practices in business management including an advance and intensive knowledge of theory and practice in one field of business;
- Intensive knowledge of theory and practice in a chosen field of business or public management;
- Advanced ability to use qualitative and quantitative tools to perform original applied research that advances business knowledge;
- An appreciation of cultural, ethical, and global issues and their impact on business theory and practices; and
- Advanced skills necessary for effective decision-making in complex environments through integrating theoretic insights with practical knowledge.
Admissions Requirements
For details about admission requirements, please check the Admissions page.
Curriculum
Requirements for the Doctor of Business Administration
The Doctor of Business Administration requires completion of 12 units of foundation courses, 12 units of concentration courses, and 32 units of dissertation work, for a total of 56 units. Students must earn a “B-” or better in each course and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better. Although research papers, reports and examinations may be required in doctoral seminars, the major assessment points in the DBA program are the qualifying examination, taken after the foundation curriculum is completed, and the dissertation research. Students must receive a passing score on the qualifying examination and successfully complete all required courses before they are allowed to present a dissertation proposal and officially advance to candidacy. Students must complete and successfully defend their dissertations within five years of beginning the program.
BUS 240 Data Analysis for Managers (Waived with documentation of student’s having completed equivalent course covering statistics and regression analysis with grade of “B” or better.)
After the foundation curriculum course work is completed, students must successfully pass a qualifying examination. This integrative examination will test the student’s mastery of the skills and disciplines of doctoral level research methods and analysis.
Select one of the following concentrations:
Business & Data AnalyticsSelect three courses from any of the concentrations listed above.
Students may register for DBA 890 Dissertation Topic Proposal only after having first completed all required doctoral foundation coursework and having passed the qualifying examination.
