D.B.A. Doctor of Business Administration

SE Catalog > Degree Programs – Graduate > D.B.A. Doctor of Business Administration

Degree: Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) | Total Hours: 54 | Department: Management and Marketing | School: John Massey School of Business | Major Code: 134

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program was approved in 2025 and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The program delivers advanced, practitioner-oriented business education for experienced professionals, with concentrations in Strategic Management and Organizational Leadership. The DBA prepares students for leadership roles in industry and consulting, with an emphasis on applied research.

Vision and Mission

The JMSB DBA strives to be the recognized leader for AACSB accredited doctoral business study that is accessible, affordable, and applicable. The JMSB strives to improve lives, organizations, and communities through excellent teaching, mentorship, and preparation of leaders who focus on purpose and conscious capitalism.

Admissions Requirements

  1. A master’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum 3.0 GPA, normally from an accredited MBA program. Students without an accredited MBA must complete the following prerequisite courses or approved equivalents: ACCT 5233 Accounting for Managers, BUS 5253 Data Analysis for Managers, ECON 5133 Managerial Economics, FIN 5213 Financial Management.
  2. A minimum of five years of progressive business experience including at the managerial level or higher.
  3. A completed application, resume, and two letters of recommendation verifying work experience.
  4. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate college work. No more than nine graduate hours from an accredited doctoral program may be transferred into the DBA.

Admittance is limited to 25 students per year. After all application materials are received, the DBA Admissions Committee reviews the file and reports to the Dean of Graduate Studies, who then informs candidates of the admission decision.

Course Requirements

Core Courses (24 hours)

CourseTitleHours
MNGT 6103Purpose & Conscious Capitalism3
MNGT 6203Industrial/Organizational Psychology3
MNGT 6303Foundations of Doctoral Research3
MNGT 6403Applied Research Design3
MNGT 6503Research Methodologies3
MNGT 6603Strategic Managerial Communication3
MNGT 7403Conscious Leadership & Change Management3
CIS 7303Data Mining & Pattern Recognition3

Option Courses — Choose Option A or B (12 hours)

Option A: Strategic Management

CourseTitleHours
ACCT 7503Accounting & Performance Analysis3
BLAW 7103Contract Law & Mediation3
MKT 7403Marketing & Consumer Behavior3
MNGT 7903Strategic & Purpose Driven Decision-Making3

Option B: Organizational Leadership

CourseTitleHours
FIN 7503Strategic Financial Leadership3
MNGT 7203Conflict Management & Negotiation3
MNGT 7603Creativity & Problem-Solving3
MNGT 7803Strategic & Purpose Driven Leadership3

Individualized Research and Application Courses (18 hours)

CourseTitleHours
MNGT 8103Research Design & Proposal3
MNGT 8903Doctoral Research Project (repeatable up to 15 hours)15

Total Hours Required: 54