Doctor of Business Administration, DBA

DBA Program Purpose

The purpose of the Newman DBA program is to provide experienced professionals and academics with advanced skills and credentials in business beyond the MBA. Using a scholar- practitioner model, the program seeks to graduate students who are grounded in both theory and research who can also recognize problems in the modern workplace, examine them closely, propose productive solutions, and create new knowledge.

DBA Program Learning Outcomes

In light of our mission and purpose, the faculty of the School of Business have established the following learning outcomes for the DBA program.  Each student will:

• Be capable of identifying, executing, and interpreting appropriate research methods so as to investigate and test constructs/hypotheses, and perform effective business analysis.
• Be able to create and evaluate advanced theoretical and applied research in the subject area of business administration.
• Be able to evaluate programs for the improvement of business and organizational practices.
• Be able to evaluate ethical situations in business, especially in light of Newman University’s Catholic identity and mission.
• Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills consistent with the expectations of either an academic career at a teaching-oriented institution or an executive career within industry.

Cohort Model

The DBA Program is a year-round doctoral program. Students take all course work with the other members of their cohort. Thus, it is imperative that students take each course in the prescribed sequence and complete the comprehensive exam successfully in order to advance to candidacy and complete the doctoral program in a timely manner.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the DBA program is competitive, and the submission of admission materials does not guarantee admission to the program.  Further, admission to the graduate program does not constitute degree candidacy status in the program. The university reserves the right to refuse admission or readmission to any prospective student or re-enrollment to any student. Any applicant who intentionally withholds pertinent information or who falsifies information may be required to withdraw from the DBA program and/or Newman University. The regulations listed herein are subject to change. The university reserves the right to make necessary changes to admission requirements without notice.

Applicants must submit a completed application and supplemental materials to the Newman University Admissions Office in order to be considered for admission. Once a completed set of admission materials is received by the Office of Admissions, the materials will then be sent to the DBA Admission and Progressions Committee for review. Upon completion of review, the applicant will then be informed of his/her acceptance, denial, or probationary acceptance into the program.

Applicants are evaluated based upon the following criteria:

1. A completed master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from a college or university accredited by a body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  Applicants who hold a master’s degree other than an MBA may still apply but may be required to complete additional preparatory coursework.
2. Official transcripts from the conferred graduate degree granting institution.  Transcripts must show a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) on all masters-level coursework.
3. Submission of a 2-page career statement that articulates the purpose for pursuing the DBA and how it will assist the student in reaching his/her future career goals.
4. Submission of a complete resume or curriculum vitae.
5. Documentation of any professional licenses or credentials (e.g., CPA, SHRM-CP, State Bar License, etc.).
6. Submission of three original letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s potential as a doctoral scholar.
7. An interview with the DBA Admissions and Progressions Committee.

Degree Requirements: 62 credit hours / courses required for the Doctor of Business Administration.

International Students

Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide evidence of English proficiency via the TOEFL exam.  See the Academic Catalog for policies and procedures for submitting TOEFL scores and minimum requirements. Please note, the DBA is not considered a residential program and therefore students may not be eligible for a student visa.

Transfer Credits

With approval, up to fifteen (15) semester hours of graduate credits may be transferred into the DBA program. Transfer of coursework may be granted for the DBA Program if the following requirements are met: (a) courses must be comparable in content to the corresponding Newman DBA courses; (b) courses must carry a grade of at least a B; (c) courses transferred in must have been taken at the doctoral level, not the masters level, and (d) coursework must have been completed within the five years prior to the student’s date of admission. Comprehensive exam credit and dissertation coursework may not be transferred into the Newman DBA program.

Only courses from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by CHEA are eligible for transfer credit. Courses from university-approved institutions that meet regional or national accreditation equivalency will be accepted for transfer credit based on this transfer credit policy.  Applicants are responsible, via the academic advisor, to request for consideration of transfer credit during the application process.  Transfer credit will not be granted once the student has matriculated into the DBA program.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to other regulations governing graduation as stated in the Newman University catalog, DBA students must meet the following graduation requirements:

1. A minimum of 45 semester hours of DBA coursework must be taken in residence at Newman University.
2. A cumulative 3.0 GPA for all doctoral coursework.
3. The dissertation must be successfully defended and approved with all required signatures.  The final manuscript must be submitted to the Dugan Library.
4. All contracts and requirements made between the DBA Admissions and Progressions Committee and the student upon acceptance into the degree program must be satisfied before the degree will be awarded.          
5. Submission of a Graduation Application to the Registrar’s Office and payment of applicable fees.

Research Competency

This program component concentrates on the student’s development as a researcher. Every effort is made to develop scholars with the perspective and capacity to pursue significant research or problem-solving. Students are challenged to increase not only their quantitative and qualitative skills, but also their ability to craft research designs appropriate to either an academic or business/industrial setting.

Core Seminars

This program component is designed to ensure that doctoral students have the necessary breadth of exposure to the foundational knowledge and theories to succeed in the program.  Core subject areas defined by the faculty are strategy, organizational theory/behavior, marketing, human resource development, accounting & finance, and teaching & facilitation.

Subject Area Coursework

This program component is designed to ensure that doctoral students have the necessary depth of exposure within the subject area of Management. The level of competence required in this area is that of a scholar-practitioner concentrating in the field and contributing to its progress through research and practice.  Thus, students must be knowledgeable of its literature and possess a detailed understanding of both classical theory and current research.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive exam is administered to the student at the end of the student’s coursework.  These exams are given during the summer residency, generally in the third year.  These exams cover all material from the core seminars and the major coursework.  The student must notify the program director of his/her intent to sit for the exam by February 1 of that year.  The program director will solicit the faculty for questions to be included on the exam. 

Dissertation

The final program component requires the student to complete a significant research project that contributes to the body of knowledge. After being admitted into degree candidacy, the student completes the dissertation under the guidance of the dissertation chair and the individual student’s dissertation committee.

Final Defense

The final component of the DBA program is an oral defense of the dissertation in a public forum.  The dissertation committee serves as the reviewers.