Program Description
The Marshall University Doctor of Business Administration program is a research-based doctoral program that combines a disciplined approach to scholarship with a focus on compelling problems of practice. Students will study seminal and contemporary business literature to develop research questions in their area of interest. They will perform literature reviews, design and perform research studies, analyze data, and draw relevant conclusions that affect economic development and business innovation. Students will choose a concentration that focuses on one broad business area, and they will be required to complete a proposal and dissertation as part of the program.
Duration of Degree Program
The D.B.A. program is a 66-credit hour cohort program extending over three years with the coursework completed during the first two years. The third year is devoted to the completion of the dissertation. It is a full-time program with no part-time option. The entry term is in August (Fall Semester).
Concentrations
There are three concentration areas to choose from: accounting, health care management, or management and entrepreneurship. Students must declare one of these concentration areas when entering the program and finalize their choice during the first semester of study.
Program Delivery
Classes in the D.B.A. program are delivered using the hybrid method, which includes both online and face-to-face interactions. The face-to-face portion of the classes meet two times during the fall and spring semesters, and once in the summer semester. These face-to-face classes will be scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays and will consist of approximately 12 to 15 hours of instruction. There are also three virtual classes held each semester (two during the summer session) on Saturdays The remainder of the instruction and coursework will be completed online using Marshall's MUOnline learning platform. These online courses will be delivered asynchronously so that each student may work at a personal pace. Students will be required to possess a personal computer that is compatible with MU software for completion of the coursework.
Program Requirements:
Proposal
D.B.A. program students are required to complete and submit a dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee. Students take nine hours of the dissertation course DBA 790 Dissertation Design, during the spring and summer semesters of their second year. In the last semester enrolled in DBA 790 Dissertation Design, students must defend their dissertation proposal and receive final approval from their dissertation committee. If students do not defend the proposal and receive final approval, within the nine required hours of DBA 790 Dissertation Design, they must register for additional hours of DBA 790 Dissertation Design until this is completed.
Dissertation
D.B.A. program students are required to complete and submit a doctoral dissertation to their Dissertation Committee. Students take nine hours of dissertation courses DBA 791 Dissertation, both semesters of the third year upon satisfactory completion of all other coursework and the proposal defense. In the last semester enrolled in DBA 791 Dissertation, students must defend their dissertation and receive final approval from their dissertation committee. If students do not defend and receive approval, within the eighteen required hours of DBA 791 Dissertation, they must register for additional hours of DBA 791 Dissertation until this is completed.
Grades And Time Frame
Proposal and dissertation courses are graded credit/no credit. Students must pass these courses and complete all other courses with a letter grade of "B" or better. Should a student fail to pass or complete a course with the required grade, the D.B.A. Program Committee may offer an alternative activity as a substitute or place the student on academic probation that, in some circumstances, could lead to dismissal from the program. The D.B.A. Program Committee will handle other delays in progress on a case-by-case basis. Students must complete the D.B.A. program within six years of starting the program.
Academic Conference Requirement
Students are required to present at two academic conferences, approved by the Program Director, prior to graduation.
Admission Requirements
The program will admit students every fall semester in a cohort. Students must meet all MU requirements for admission and be admitted to graduate study. Please refer to the Graduate Studies webpage at http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.
The admission process for the D.B.A. program will be competitive and will emphasize academic ability, professional work experience, and other indicators of potential for program success. The D.B.A. Program Committee will consider the following items as preferred qualifications:
- A completed master's degree in business or a related area from an appropriately accredited institution (must have a bachelor's degree at minimum);
- Relevant professional and/or senior level management experience;
- Other evidence of achievements and experience including written or oral contributions to the field of expertise, professional certifications, professional development programs, and awards/honors; and
- GMAT or GRE scores (optional).
The D.B.A. Program Committee is more likely to consider candidates for admission to the program if they have more of these qualifications. The materials that are required in the application package include:
- A cover letter and resume listing and describing the applicant's academic and work experience, and other qualifications;
- A personal interest statement that is 4 to 5 pages in length and explains the candidate's objectives for joining the program, goals upon graduation, potential research questions of interest, and how the candidate's work experience will contribute to this research;
- Academic transcripts showing all undergraduate work and graduate work, if applicable; and
- Three letters of recommendation.
The D.B.A. Program Committee will review all documents to identify candidates who have a high likelihood of succeeding in the program. The D.B.A. Program Committee will interview these candidates before making a final offer.
