The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program is designed to transform mature learners into leaders. Doctoral candidates study industry-relevant decision making techniques, while also working to develop the research and writing skills that accompany high level responsibility in the academic and business environments.

Business executives must be able to perform in a dynamic environment where market expansion is global, where competition presents ever-changing decision-making challenges, and change is the norm. Excellence in leadership, strategic management, and organizational change management are essential to develop effective corporate executives and hence organizational viability.

Quick Facts:

  • Credits required: 60
  • Cost per credit: $545
  • Program length: 4 years (full-time status)
  • Max transfer credits: 30 credits

Time to degree completion can be shortened by accelerating completion of courses and through credits accepted in transfer.

Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible for transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

What you’ll study

Employ written communication skills in a variety of modalities to communicate strategic approaches to business practices and translate research findings into actionable guidelines for management.

Employ appropriate oral communication skills to successfully interact with people from a variety of experiences and backgrounds in presentations, discussions, negotiations, and conflict management situations.

Apply advanced critical and conceptual thinking skills in analyzing the effective handling of business problems and opportunities.

Acquire an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the interconnectedness of the social and cultural dimensions within communities and their impact on business theory and practices.

Identify the nature and scope of the information needed in relation to accessing and evaluating scholarly materials and applying current research to business and management.

Integrate formal academic learning to align with personal experiences in business administration, leadership, and management so that learning is meaningful and relates to personal and/or professional goals.

Apply qualitative and quantitative tools to Integrate internal and external data to support evidence‑based decision making and to perform effective business analysis.

Utilize the requisite research skills and generate empirical evidence to apply situational analyses and evaluate the impact of managerial actions.

Demonstrate ethical behavior as it relates to legal and ethical principles, professional standards of practice, social responsibility, and corporate governance in business situations.

Potential career paths may be found in the following industries:

Banking and Finance

Healthcare Administration

Information Technology

Operations Management

Consulting

Higher Education

Venture Capital/Management

CalSouthern cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement.

Doctor of Business Administration Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements Credits
Required Core Courses 30
DBA Concentration / Elective Courses 15
Comprehensive Essay Examination 1
Doctoral Project Courses 14
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR THE DBA 60

Courses + Credits

Below, you’ll find the required courses offered by the CalSouthern School of Business and Management for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program. The DBA consists of an integrated sequence of doctoral courses, a comprehensive essay examination, and a doctoral project that encompasses 60 credits beyond a master’s degree.

To facilitate the interdisciplinary cross-fertilization of ideas, which drives innovation in business, the doctoral program will allow the electives requirement to be completed from the selection of all graduate-level courses offered at CalSouthern in any discipline to enable learners to build their own doctoral degree program.

Required First Year Core Courses

  • ACT 7530 Management Finance and Control — 3-credits
  • BUS 7300 Advanced Measurement and Statistics for Business — 3-credits
  • BUS 7305 Ethnography of Corporate Culture — 3-credits
  • MGT 7500 Organizational Development and Design — 3-credits
  • MGT 7525 Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Governance — 3-credits
  • MKT 6505 Consumer Behavior, Theory, and Analysis — 3-credits

Required Second and Third Year Core Courses

  • IB 6516  Global Business Strategic Management — 3-credits
  • MGT 7515 Information, Organization, and Strategy — 3-credits
  • MGT 7520 Business Research Methods — 3-credits
  • MGT 6540 Quantitative Research Methods — 3-credits

Doctoral Comprehensive Essay Examination

  • BUS 7805 Doctoral Comprehensive Essay Examination — 1-credit

DBA Concentration Courses

Financial Management Concentration

  • ACT 6515 Financial Statement Analysis — 3-credits
  • ECO 6601 Managerial Economics — 3-credits
  • FIN 6505  Corporate Finance — 3-credits
  • FIN 6507 Lending in the Consumer and Corporate Markets — 3-credits
  • FIN 6509  Management in Banking and Financial Services — 3-credits
  • FIN 6513  Investment Management — 3-credits
  • FIN 6514  Financial Institutions — 3-credits
  • FIN 6516  Capital Markets — 3-credits
  • FIN 6518  Behavioral Corporate Finance — 3-credits

Healthcare Administration Concentration

  • HCA 6800  Healthcare Administration — 3-credits
  • HCA 6802  Healthcare Compliance, Law and Ethics — 3-credits
  • HCA 6804 Healthcare Economics — 3-credits
  • HCA 6806  Managing Epidemiology — 3-credits
  • HCA 6810 Healthcare Informatics — 3-credits
  • HCA 6812 Quality Control in Healthcare — 3-credits
  • HCA 6814 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare — 3-credits

Human Resource Management Concentration

  • HRM 6603  Human Resource Management — 3-credits
  • HRM 6502  Compensation Issues in Human Resource Management — 3-credits
  • HRM 6503 Labor Relations — 3-credits
  • HRM 6504 Supervisory Concepts and Practice — 3-credits
  • HRM  6505 Effective Training and E-Learning — 3-credits

International Business Concentration

  • IB 6512  International Economics — 3-credits
  • IB 6513  International Marketing — 3-credits
  • IB 6514 Cultural Environment of International Business — 3-credits
  • IB 6517 International Business Law — 3-credits
  • IB 6518 International Financial Management — 3-credits

Project Management Concentration

  • MGT 6529 Project Management — 3-credits
  • PM 6900  Project Management Concepts and Essentials — 3-credits
  • PM 6901  Project Management Strategic Design — 3-credits
  • PM 6902  Project Management Organization — 3-credits
  • PM 6903  Project Management Integration — 3-credits
  • PM 6910  PM Capstone — 3-credits

Strategic Leadership Concentration

  • SLDR 6600 Essential Concepts for Strategic Management and Leadership — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6601 Role of Leadership in Strategic Management Communications — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6602  Effective Human Relations Skills for Leaders — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6603 Leadership for Promoting Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6604  Conflict Management Strategies and Resolution — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6605  Leadership Strategies for Developing High Performance Teams — 3-credits
  • SLDR 6606 Customer Service Leadership — 3-credits

Doctoral Project Courses

  • MGT 8995 Doctoral Project I — 3-credits
  • MGT 8996 Doctoral Project II — 3-credits
  • MGT 8997 Doctoral Project III — 3-credits
  • MGT 8998 Doctoral Project IV — 3-credits
  • MGT 8999 Doctoral Project V — 2-credits

Download the University Catalog for full course descriptions, prerequisite information, and program details.

Recent Doctoral Projects

The culmination of the DBA program, these projects represent the research, efforts, and academic contributions our learners are making in the field of business and management. These projects have officially been added to the CalSouthern Library and the ProQuest global database and will serve as academic resources for current and future learners.

School of Business and Management Doctoral Projects

April-May 2021

  • Bradshaw, June. Success strategies for small business sustainability in Trinidad.
  • Carges, Stephen. Faculty retention of full-time faculty at for-profit university.
  • Ejigu, Akawak. Investigating poverty and politics as barriers to international investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Krnac, Rachel A. B2B telecommunications pricing and promotions to appeal to the millennial generation.
  • Lewis, Camisha. Applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to determine the factors influencing the acceptance and use of online Patient Electronic Payment Portals.
  • Mahabir, Gaitri. The link between inexperience and ethics in auditors.
  • Rose, Teresa M. Emotional intelligence and job satisfaction in emerging adults.
  • Sarangi, Sunil. Employees’ perspectives about corporate social responsibility practices and impact on corporate finance.
  • Singh, Nadira D. Investigating employee engagement, job satisfaction and retention in the information technology sector.
  • Taylor, Robert Scott. Exploring the impact of the Small Business Development Center Program on entrepreneurial activity.
  • Tillman, Hannah K. Supply chain management in a virtual marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program?

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a degree program designed for learners who want to further develop their leadership skills and decision-making techniques through research and writing.

What will I study in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program?

Candidates in this degree program participate in comprehensive courses, dba concentration/elective courses as well as doctoral project courses and a comprehensive essay examination. Courses include business management, statistics, leadership ethics, and business research methods. Candidates will study effective communication skills for a global culture, ethical and legal principles, professional standards of practice, and social responsibility.

When and where can I begin my Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program?

You can begin your online education at CalSouthern now. Classes at CalSouthern begin monthly. Completion of the CalSouthern admissions process will depend on how quickly you complete the steps in the application process. You may speak to an Admissions Advisor over the phone (1-800-477-2554 ext. 4226) or request information online. Once you’ve completed the online request, you may hear from an advisor within 24 hours to discuss the next steps toward starting your degree program.

How many credits are required to complete a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program?

CalSouthern’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) requires a total of 60 hours. You may be eligible for transfer credit with provided official transcripts. CalSouthern accepts up to 30 hours of the qualifying credits you need toward your degree.*

*Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

Why should I pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program?

CalSouthern’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program is designed for learners interested in further developing their business leadership skills and the application of data to drive organizational operations. We offer flexible courses in a curriculum tailored to skills and training utilized in the education industry today. In addition, it was developed for working adults. Degree candidates can pursue this degree online, allowing the flexibility to study on their own schedules.

The program layout and structure allows full-time employees the flexibility needed to obtain a higher degree.

– Taylor H., DBA Program, 2020

Ready to pursue your educational goals? We can help!

Contact us to learn more about our online courses, degree and certificate programs.

Accreditation

ACBSP Logo

California Southern University is a member of the American InterContinental University System. The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

CalSouthern’s Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Business Administration degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Please visit the Accreditation & Licensure page to learn more.

CalSouthern cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. CalSouthern does not accept applications from residents of Massachusetts, New York, and certain foreign countries.

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      By clicking the button below you consent to California Southern University using automated technology and/or prerecorded means to call, text and email you at the information above, including your wireless number, if provided, regarding educational services. You also agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This consent is not required as a condition to purchase a good or service. Msg & data rates may apply.”

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