Build a career utilizing advanced business research skills
The Doctorate of Business Administration degree, offered by the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, serves experienced professionals who may be considering careers in academia, consulting, or in advanced professional positions. The DBA is carefully constructed to provide students with a foundation in research, an in-depth exposure to academic literature, and a supportive environment through faculty guidance and mentorship. The online curriculum is augmented by optional on-campus residences and allows students to maintain momentum in their career while pursuing their doctoral degree.
The program is designed to be completed in three years. The program is 53 credit hours with 17 credit hours in research methods, 16 credit hours in content seminars, 20 credit hours in research and the dissertation. Beginning in Summer 2023, the DBA program is offering concentrations in accounting, economics, management, and marketing.
The DBA is built on three foundational areas:
Disciplinary Content (16 credit hours)
The content area encourages students to acquire a critical understanding
of conceptual foundations grounded in their own unique real-world business
perspective. The coursework includes four research seminars, as well as two
pedagogy seminars.
Research Methods (17 credit hours)
As highly experienced business professionals, our students will have experience
identifying meaningful resolutions to complex organizational and marketplace
issues. In this program, they pursue more in-depth explanations using cutting
edge, current, and rigorous research methods with the ability to navigate
data archives and access relevant populations that are potentially rich settings
for empirical research. The coursework emphasizes methodological skills to
do high-quality research on emerging business issues to contribute to knowledge,
including a statistics boot camp and five research methods seminars.
Dissertation/Research (20 credit hours)
Students will put their research skills into practice under the guidance
of their expert faculty mentor to engage and conduct meaningful and impactful
research that is focused in solving problems in industry.
The program develops students’ ability to generate high-quality original research that drives new business and academic insights. Moreover, there is a strong emphasis on conducting this research at a quality level that is publishable in high-quality scholarly journals.
DBA Educational Goals
Learning Goal 1: Students will be able to apply the holistic nature
of research to business opportunities and problems.
Learning Goal 2: Students will be able to apply research methods
and data analysis to solve business problems.
Learning Goal 3: Students will be able to develop a theory-based
research plan to address unique business problems.
Learning Goal 4: Students will be able to apply research skills
to analyze and develop solutions to business problems.
Learning Goal 5: Students will be able to create and communicate
original scholarship that addresses researched solutions to business problems.
Experienced Cohort that Bridges Academia and Industry
The DBA addresses the shortage of doctoral-qualified faculty in the field.
Given the experience level of the students entering the program, this will
create graduates who can easily help bridge the gap between academia and
the industry. DBA students will benefit from their faculty members’ expertise
but will learn a great deal from their peers through professional networking
and sharing experiences and expertise.
Attend a Virtual Information Session
Thank you for your interest in the Doctorate of Business Administration Degree program at West Virginia University! Attend a Virtual Information Session and learn more about the Doctorate of Business Administration Degree program.