Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 54
Required Courses1:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| BA 9801 | Understanding the Firm through Management and Organizational Theory | 3 |
| BA 9802 | Scientific Inquiry through Applied Research | 3 |
| BA 9813 | Problem Solving using Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 9806 | Integrative Perspectives on Business Knowledge | 3 |
| BA 9815 | Problem Solving using Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| BA 9803 | Navigating the Global Marketplace | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| BA 9683 | Research Project I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BA 9783 | Research Project II | 3 |
| BA 9814 | Advanced Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| BA 9817 | Applied Qualitative Methods | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 9816 | Creation and Dissemination of Business Knowledge | 3 |
| BA 9883 | Research Project III | 3 |
| BA 9812 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the New Economy | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| BA 9994 | Preliminary Examination Preparation | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BA 9998 | Pre-Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 9999 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 54 | |
- 1
Course substitutions may be permitted with approval of the DBA Academic Director.
Culminating Events:
Proposal:
The doctoral dissertation is an original investigation that makes a significant contribution to the field. It should expand the existing body of knowledge and demonstrate the student's own knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of their primary area of interest. In consultation with the committee chair, the proposal should include a statement of the general research problem and motivation for the research; the questions or hypotheses to be investigated; the relevance of the problem to business theory and practice; a review of relevant literature; an outline of the dissertation; a detailed description of the methodology to be used; and expected contributions and practical implications. Executive DBA students should defend their dissertation proposal defense in the Fall of their third year.
Dissertation:
The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense, including the student's ability to express verbally their research question, methodological approach, primary findings and implications. The Dissertation Examining Committee votes to pass, conditionally pass, or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation based on whether the requirements laid out in the dissertation proposal and agree upon by the committee and the student have been successfully met.
Executive DBA students should defend their dissertation in the Spring of their third year. Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Examining Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date and room for the defense, the student must send to the Graduate School a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms," at least 10 days before the defense. The department publicly announces the defense, and the Graduate School announces the defense on its website.