The Concordia University Chicago Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is designed to meet the demand for doctoral business education that is the next step in individual professional development. The program, one of the top DBA programs in Chicago, provides a further tier of leadership and management preparation beyond the master’s level. The DBA creates an opportunity for students and faculty to cultivate further the global perspectives, knowledge and networks already established through the expanding global presence of the College. The curriculum, residencies, specializations and the Mentor interface are innovative by design and delivery. A unique feature of Concordia University Chicago's DBA program is that the dissertation process begins immediately, with students choosing a preliminary topic at the beginning of their program of study.
The Concordia University Chicago Doctor of Business Administration is designed for professionals who seek professional enrichment and want to focus on real-life business challenges while developing application-oriented research. Seasoned business professionals know that they must blend research with their management practice. They must know how to assess current global trends in business, leadership and management that affect their organizations. The DBA program is committed to scholarly business research, and qualified candidates will have research interests that align with one of the two specializations offered. Those who earn a DBA degree will be prepared to advance in their profession and to use their research expertise to positively impact organizational goals.
Two DBA specializations are offered:
- Innovation in Health Care Management
- Strategic Leadership and Innovation.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| DBA-7010 | Foundations of the Doctoral Experience | 2 |
| DBA-7020 | The Global Leader: Social Responsibility and Ethical Decision Making | 3 |
| DBA-7030 | Strategy Formulation, Deployment and Innovation: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| DBA-7040 | Global Business Operations | 3 |
| DBA-7050 | Business Analytics and Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| DBA-7060 | Global Concepts in Strategic Marketing | 3 |
| DBA Mentor Course Rooms 1 | ||
| DBA-7404 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 1 | 1 |
| DBA-7405 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 2 | 1 |
| DBA-7406 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 3 | 1 |
| DBA-7407 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 4 | 1 |
| DBA-7408 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 5 | 1 |
| DBA-7409 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 6 | 1 |
| DBA-7401 | Mentor Course Room 1 | 3 |
| DBA-7402 | Mentor Course Room 2 | 3 |
| DBA-7403 | Mentor Course Room 3 | 3 |
| Residencies | ||
| DBA-7000 | DBA Residency Experience I | 1 |
| DBA-7200 | DBA Residency Experience II | 1 |
| DBA-7300 | DBA Residency Experience III | 1 |
| Research Methods | ||
| DBA-7901 | Doctoral Research Design for Business | 4 |
| DBA-7605 | Quantitative Data Analysis for Applied Business Research | 3 |
| DBA-7700 | Qualitative Data Analysis for Applied Business Research | 3 |
| Specialization | ||
| Select one of the following specializations: | 9 | |
| Dissertation 2 | ||
| DBA-8000 | Dissertation Session 1 | 3 |
| DBA-8010 | Dissertation Session 2 | 3 |
| DBA-8020 | Dissertation Continued Studies 3 | 0 |
| DBA-8021 | Dissertation Continued Studies 3 | 0 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Specializations
Innovation in Health Care Management
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DBAH-7701 | Innovative Best Practices in Health Care Management | 3 |
| DBAH-7702 | Health Care Analytics and Financial Applications for Health Care Management | 3 |
| DBAH-7703 | Governance of Health Care Systems | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Strategic Leadership and Innovation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DBAL-7701 | Leadership: Strategy & Thought | 3 |
| DBAL-7702 | Strategic Leadership Practice | 3 |
| DBAL-7703 | Disruptive Innovation Execution | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| 1 | The DBA Mentor course rooms run concurrently with core, research and specialization courses. The Mentor course room begins the student’s introduction to the dissertation process starting in the second term of the student’s program. Each Mentor course room has a specific deliverable that coincides with one of the elements of the dissertation. |
| 2 | As a requirement of graduation, students must publish their dissertations in ProQuest. |
| 3 | After the completion of the required hours of dissertation, candidates enroll in DBA-8020 Dissertation Continued Studies and DBA-8021 Dissertation Continued Studies (as needed) to maintain continuous enrollment in the program. |
Doctoral Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application as a doctoral graduate student in this program.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for this degree and program,
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- If transfer credit is approved to be applied: have on file an approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s) or evaluation(s).
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Have on record the dissertation uploaded into ProQuest.
- Take and pass the final examination or terminal requirements in the program during or after the final course.
- Approval of the faculty.
- Payments of all tuition and fees due to Concordia University Chicago. All holds must be removed to receive transcripts and diploma.
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.