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2012/2013 Graduate Catalog

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

[Program Overview] [Program Outcomes] [Curriculum] [Admission Criteria]
 [Appeal of Admission Denial] [Orientation] [Application Requirements]
[Academic Standing] [Time to Completion] [Faculty] [Contact Information]

Program Overview

The Doctor of Business Administration is an innovative doctoral program whose curriculum and research requirements focus on applied management practice. An internationally recognized alternate to the PhD program, the DBA enhances the knowledge and skills of experienced business practitioners and higher education faculty to prepare them for demanding positions in management, post-secondary teaching, and consulting. The Metropolitan State University DBA program provides a rare opportunity for professionals to earn a high quality, applied doctoral degree on a part-time basis.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the DBA program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of the business common bodies of knowledge at an advanced level
  • Apply complex research and practice-based information to organizations
  • Integrate and analyze complex research and practice-based information valuable to business practitioners
  • Develop effective strategies for organizations, clients, or students
  • Complete a dissertation utilizing applied research concepts and practices

Curriculum

The DBA curriculum requires 52 doctoral credits beyond an MBA (or an equivalent management-related master's degree program). Prerequisite courses (minimum of two credits each) must have been completed with at least a B grade and include the following:

  • Graduate courses in organizational behavior, management information systems or information systems, finance, and a strategy or related capstone course.
  • Three other graduate courses from among accounting, economics, marketing, and operations/project management or process modeling.

Phase One (32 credits)

Consists of completion of eight, four-credit core doctoral courses offered by the College of Management over a two year, six consecutive semester schedule. These courses are scheduled as follows:

First Year

First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester

Second Year

Fourth Semester
Fifth Semester
Sixth Semester

During this two-year period, students identify an applied research project topic, prepare a literature review on the topic, and select a research methodology. This work is done in assigned courses and incorporated into the doctoral dissertation research proposal. Students complete a comprehensive examination at the end of this two year period before beginning Phase Two.

Phase Two (20 credits)

Involves completion of two six-credit sections of DBA 795 Directed Research on Applied Projects, and two of the following four-credit, elective courses:

In this phase, students complete an applied research project, prepare a dissertation on the project, and deliver an oral presentation describing study methodology and findings/recommendations to the dissertation subcommittee, project sponsors, invited faculty, students, and guests.

Admission Criteria

The DBA Admissions Committee reviews the complete application, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Admission criteria include:

  • An earned MBA or equivalent management-related master's degree.
  • Completion of graduate-level prerequisite courses, each with a B grade or higher. DBA prerequisite graduate courses are finance, organizational behavior, management information systems, and a strategy or capstone course. In addition, three graduate courses are required from among accounting, economics, marketing, and operations/project management or process modeling.
  • The ideal applicant will have earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average.
  • The ideal applicant will have a GMAT or GRE scores above the 51st percentile.

Students seeking admission to the DBA program may complete required prerequisite courses in the College of Management without being admitted to a COM graduate program if they meet the following criteria:

  • Have earned an MBA or management-related master's degree
  • Achieved a 3.0 GPA in their master's degree program
  • Have completed at least five years of professional work
  • Indicate in writing an intent to apply for the DBA program in a specific year

Appeal of Admission Denial

Applicants denied admission to the DBA program may contact the COM Director of Graduate Programs for additional information about the denial decision. Initial appeals of decisions by the DBA Admissions Committee should be made to the Dean of the College of Management. Appeals of the Dean's decisions should be made to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. Decisions made by the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies are final and not subject to further appeal.

Orientation

All DBA students must attend a graduate student orientation before or during the first semester of doctoral course work.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials:

  • Application
  • Official Transcripts
  • GMAT or GRE Scores
  • Current Vita or Resume:  A current vita documenting extensive professional work or full-time teaching experience. For those in business professions, the vita documents should clearly state responsibilities and organizational achievements. For those in teaching, the vita documents should note achievements regarding students, program and course development, and other related faculty accomplishments.
  • Goals Essay:  A very well written goals essay addressing professional development and interests as well as goals for achievement in the DBA program.
  • Two Professional References:  Reference letters (one academic and one professional) that attest to the importance of the DBA enhancing the applicant's professional development, and commenting on the applicant's ability to pursue and successfully complete a doctoral program. If a reference from a full-time faculty member or academic administrator cannot be secured, a reference from a second professional is required.

See Applying to the Program for application packets and details on the requirements and deadlines.

Academic Standing

Students must maintain satisfactory progress to remain in the DBA program. Only courses for which a student receives a letter grade of C (2.0) or better count toward degree requirements, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. If a student receives a letter grade of C+ or below in any graduate course, s/he will be placed on academic probation. If s/he receives a letter grade of C+ or below in two courses, the student will be dismissed from the DBA program. The policy for an "incomplete" grade is consistent with University policy. That is, an incomplete grade must be satisfied by the end of the following semester; otherwise the student will automatically fail the course. The instructor may set a completion date prior to the end of the following semester, in which case, the student must comply with that date; otherwise, s/he will fail the course.

Time to Completion

Students have seven years to complete all graduation requirements from enrollment in the first semester of DBA courses.

Faculty

All faculty members are:

  • Holders of doctorates in their fields
  • Authors of applied or refereed publications
  • Professionally trained as advisors for applied research projects
  • Experienced in their employment fields

David Bahn, Allen Bellas, David Bouchard, Steve Creason, Tim Delmont, Marcia Hagen, Ken Hess, Ronald Jacobson, Katryna Johnson, Barbara Keinath, Nancy Nentl, Hameed Nezhad, Narasimha Paravastu, Roger Prestwich, Jayant Saraph, Gary Seiler, Adrianne Slaymaker and Minh Vo.

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