The DBA program seeks to serve the educational and career development needs of executives and professionals. It differs from the traditional PhD program in a number of ways. Traditional PhD programs are designed to prepare students who want to become full-time professors, emphasizing developing new theories and conducting scholarly research. Unlike most traditional doctoral programs, the DBA is designed for working adults who cannot take time off from work and is not a fully residential program. The residential component is on weekends (Friday and Saturday) once a month. The rest of the learning takes place online. The chosen method of delivery is “web-enhanced,” where the faculty and students interact in multiple ways during the period between the weekends they attend in-person classes.  For their dissertation research, students will be encouraged to select a subject of relevance to the business world, which will answer previously unsolved problems, generate new knowledge, and respond to the challenges faced by business executives. 

The College of Business accepts applications for admission to the DBA program.  Applicants are reviewed by the Office of Graduate Studies and the College of Business DBA Admission Committee.  

Program Learning Goals

• Program Goal 1: Mastery of Content: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge, cognizance, analysis, and solution for managing diverse organizational challenges.
• Program Goal 2: Ethical Leadership: Graduates will be cognizant of ethical challenges and leadership issues pertaining to a business environment.
• Program Goal 3: Global Perspective: Graduates will develop knowledge regarding the global issues, practices, challenges to be successful leaders in a global economy.
• Program Goal 4: Communications: Graduates will be effective rhetorical savvy to be compelling, persuasive, and influential in the management of modern corporations.

Admission Requirements

1. A Master's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0-grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 grading scale.
2. Official transcript(s) for all college work (undergraduate and graduate from each institution previously attended) are required for admission.
3. Seven or more years of professional or managerial experience that requires high levels of responsibility
4. Interview with the DBA Admission Committee
5. Two essays: Statement of Purpose essay (maximum two pages) and the Proposal of Research Interest essay (maximum five pages). The Statement of Purpose essay should describe the applicant's motivations for pursuing the DBA program and the goals the applicant would like to accomplish. The Proposal of Research Interest essay should outline planned research objectives or practical problems of interest, how they are relevant to academic literature and real-world business practices, what research methodologies are employed, how data are collected, how research outcomes can contribute to academic literature and solve real-world business problems, etc. 
6. Three letters of recommendation from supervisors and/or colleagues who can attest to your professional and managerial experience by describing your job responsibilities and accomplishments in detail.
7. A non-refundable fee

DBA Program Requirements 

EDBA 7311	Research and Academic Writing	3
EDBA 7312	Applied Statistical Analysis I	3
EDBA 7313	Qualitative Research Methods	3
EDBA 7314	Applied Statistical Analysis II	3
EDBA 7317	Dissertation Mini-Proposal I	3
EDBA 7318	Dissertation Mini-Proposal II	3
EDBA 7321	Applied Research in Accounting	3
EDBA 7322	Finance Theory and Applications	3
EDBA 7323	Information Systems Research	3
EDBA 7324	Organizational Leadership Theory and Applications	3
EDBA 7325	Strategic Business Analysis	3
EDBA 7326	Business Analytics and Supply Chain	3
EDBA 7327	Marketing Theory and Applications	3
EDBA 7328	Global Economic Systems and Issues	3
EDBA 8691	Dissertation I	6
EDBA 8692	Dissertation II	6
EDBA 8693	Dissertation III	6
Total Hours		60

Marketable Skills

Marketable skills, as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30TX Plan, include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas, are valued by employers, and can be either primary or complementary to a major. Marketable skills are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. 

Doctor of Business Administration

Degree Skills

1. Enhanced skills in analytical and statistical competencies to advance to the C-suite as executive scholars
2. Enhanced knowledge in dealing with complicated business problems resulting from advanced technologies to work as management consultants or entrepreneurs
3. Academic research skills coupled with real-world experience to teach and continue research at a community college or university