Business Administration, Doctor of Business Administration

Admission

Please refer to www.wilmu.edu/admission/dba_admission.aspx for general doctoral admission information and requirements.

For consideration and admission to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, applicants must present evidence of the following:

  1. A master’s degree in business or a related field from a regionally accredited institution, or an appropriately certified foreign institution.
  2. A grade point average of at least 3.3 (on a scale of 4.0) in work leading to a master’s degree.
  3. A minimum TOEFL® score of 173 on the computer-based version for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution where English is the language of instruction.
  4. Significant work experience: applicants need to have experience in a management or leadership position, or as an educator in a classroom setting, and have the support of their organization.
  5. Students will be asked to verify that they have a level of technological literacy adequate to successfully pursue the DBA.

For consideration and admission to the DBA program, applicants should submit:

  1. A doctoral application for admission accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
  2. Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. The transcripts must be from an accredited college, university, or other degree-granting institution, verifying completion of a bachelor's and master's degree. Send official transcripts directly from the identified college or university to the Wilmington University Graduate Admissions office or have official transcripts sent electronically from the institution to gradadmissions@wilmu.edu.
  3. A current resume.
  4. Three letters of recommendation. At least one letter should be from an employer who is able to discuss your professional skills. If possible, at least one letter should be from a professor who is able to comment on your academic performance and ability to pursue doctoral studies.
  5. Statement of Goals and Objectives. Prepare a two or three page, double-spaced essay covering the following points:
  • What are your professional and/or personal reasons for pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration degree?
  • Collegial support (helping each other develop as professionals) is fundamental to the DBA program. Provide an example in which you helped a peer solve a career-related problem or strengthen needed skills. What personal skills and insights will be valuable in helping other DBA students succeed in the program and grow professionally?
  • The ability to maintain a purpose in spite of difficulties and/or obstacles is essential to the DBA program. Provide an example of a time when you encountered significant resistance or a major setback on a project you were working on, but managed to work through it anyway. What steps did you take to complete the project? What factors did you consider?
  • Describe one or two areas of business research that are of special interest to you. Explain why there are interesting research areas.
Your essay will be evaluated for content, organization, and grammar.

The items listed above are minimum requirements for applying. Please note that meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

Program Purpose

The DBA program is designed to facilitate the continuing development of professionals as senior managers or innovative leaders who wish to build upon master’s-level core skills and knowledge. The DBA enables students to develop a higher level of competence in conducting applied research and in the comprehension of theoretical and applied literature in a chosen business discipline. The DBA helps students to develop critical knowledge and skills that will enhance their success in service to their profession and community; in future professional development; and in attaining credentials and skills that are essential to business consulting, management, and academia.

Accreditation

The DBA program is an institutional member of and fully accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). 

Program Competencies

Students will achieve an advanced level of skills and knowledge in key business functions. Upon graduation the student will be able to demonstrate competencies in:

  1. Oral Communication

    Demonstrate advanced oral business communication skills by selecting appropriate communication tools and utilizing them in a highly effective, professional manner.

  2. Written Communication

    Demonstrate a high skill level in academic writing by properly utilizing information literacy and research methods, critically analyzing results, and expressing findings using clear, concise tools and writing styles and proper academic writing formats.

  3. Disciplined Inquiry
    1. Exercise critical thinking strategies, including scientific reasoning for business problem definition, problem analysis, and evaluation of solutions, and be able to appropriately apply them at high levels in organizational settings.
    2. Select appropriate research methods and be able to properly apply them to the economic, behavioral, and social science theories that provide the foundation for strategic research in business administration.
  4. Information Literacy
  5. Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, and use information and information technologies to enhance the effective utilization and practice of business research.

  6. Ethics
  7. Properly evaluate and apply high ethical and legal principles to guide professional behaviors and decision-making in business organizations.

  8. Professional
    1. Evaluate the theories and tools that are essential to implement change in the business environment and be able to apply them effectively at strategic levels.
    2. Formulate an understanding of the issues facing business leaders in a contemporary global environment and develop strategies to effectively address those issues.

Program Design

The DBA degree requires the completion of 54 semester credit hours distributed as follows:

  • Common core course requirements, 21 credit hours
  • Program core course requirements, 24 credit hours
  • Dissertation or research project requirements, 9 credit hours
The program course work is designed to be completed within a 2½ year time frame. The dissertation or culminating research project will require additional time to complete, typically 1-2 years. The program is organized and scheduled to accommodate the needs of people who maintain full-time employment while pursuing the degree. The program design permits students to complete the requirements for the DBA at their own pace.

Format

Wilmington University is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals by providing high quality programs, affordable tuition, and formats that fit busy lifestyles. In order to achieve this commitment, the DBA program offers two formats in which students can progress through the program: the hybrid face-to-face weeknight format and a 100% online format.

In order to provide a seamless program for our students, your choice of enrollment will remain the same for the entire program. We will make adjustments for a student on an individual basis.

Hybrid Weeknight

Hybrid weeknight classes include a mixture of face-to-face and online learning in each course. Hybrid weeknight classes follow a 7 week block schedule, with 7 face-to-face meetings over the 7 weeks. A student in this format will take one class in Block 1 and then another in Block 2, both on the same weeknight. This format is geared towards the working professional from the surrounding area. All classes take place at the Wilson Graduate Center.

100% Online

The online program is identical to the hybrid program with respect to courses, expectations, tuition, and instructors. The essence of Wilmington University’s DBA program is fostering a highly participative learning community. Peer interaction and support are key elements of the learning and discovery process. Accordingly, all of the online courses will utilize interactive webinars or similar communication tools. These virtual meetings will be scheduled as needed by course requirements at times most appropriate for the instructor and students in the course. The webinars will include short lectures, discussions, debates, and student presentations. All online students are expected to participate actively in these webinars. In addition to the webinars, various online learning experiences will be used, including discussion boards and videos.

Classes run for 7 week blocks, similar to the hybrid weeknight format. The typical load will be two classes per semester. Including spring, summer, and fall semesters, a student taking two courses per semester would complete six classes per year.

Residency Requirement

One residency is required for online DBA students. This residency will take place toward the end of the content courses and will be scheduled during RES 7111 Research Design. The residency is two days in length, and it will consist of workshops and consultation with faculty members designed to develop a solid plan for the student’s dissertation process.

Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy

At or near the completion of the student’s course work, but before embarking on the DBA dissertation or research project, the student is required to achieve a passing grade on a formal Comprehensive Examination, which is the DBA portfolio project assessment. In addition, the student is required to form a dissertation committee and gain approval for a concept paper describing the purpose and approach envisioned for dissertation research. After completing these requirements, the student will advance to doctoral candidacy.

Dissertation or Research Project

The DBA dissertation (traditional five chapter or Critical Evaluation Recommendation Paper) requires a minimum of 9 semester credit hours for completion. A dissertation or research project proposal must be completed, reviewed, and approved by the student’s dissertation committee prior to the beginning of data collection in the area of the research topic. Once the dissertation or research project is complete, the student will present the results before the dissertation committee and colleagues.

Qualifications for Degree

To qualify for the DBA degree, a student must satisfactorily complete 54 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including 4 research foundation courses, 11 program-specific courses, and a dissertation or research project. The student must: (1) maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0; (2) achieve a grade of at least “B-” or better in all courses; (3) achieve satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination; (4) obtain approval of the student’s research proposal; and (5) successfully complete and defend the dissertation or research project. These requirements must be completed within seven years of matriculation into the program.

Course Requirements

Course sequencing

LDR 7000Experiential Learning: Leadership Issues

3

DBA 7600Ethics in Business and Management

3

DBA 7510Business Intelligence

3

RES 7105Statistics for Research

3

RES 7106Disciplined Inquiry I

3

LDR 7100Managing Innovation and Change

3

DBA 7400Advanced Seminar in Managerial Finance and Accounting

3

RES 7107Disciplined Inquiry II

3

DBA 7800Global Management Models

3

DBA 7100Organizational Strategy and Policy

3

DBA 7310Executive Decision-Making

3

RES 7111Research Design

3

DBA 7200Advanced Organizational Behavior

3

DBA DBA 7900Advanced Marketing Seminar

3

DBA 8000Seminar on Research in Management

3

DBA 9000DBA Research

3

DBA 9001DBA Research

3

DBA 9002DBA Research

3

DBA 9004DBA Research

0

*DBA 7200 and DBA 7900 are elective courses and any EdD course can be substituted with approval from the DBA and EdD program Chairs

Total credits required for program completion: 54