Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

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PROGRAM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Pre-Education:
IAU requires evidence of an earned bachelor degree with a minimum of a 2.5 CGPA. Further, IAU requires a master degree with a minimum of a 3.0 CGPA. At least one degree must be in business, management, administration, or related discipline. All degrees must be earned at an appropriately accredited institution or foreign equivalent. IAU understands the differing rigor of schools and grading scales around the world, and IAU evaluates prior academic credentials within their own context. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Professional Experience:
IAU recommends a minimum of 5 years of full-time professional work experience.

Information Technology:
Possess computer and internet skills sufficient to effectively participate in IAU’s pedagogical model and conduct research at the graduate level.

Evidence of English Proficiency:
IAU requires writing skills at the appropriate level. Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English is essential to your success at IAU. If English is not the applicant’s native language, or if an applicant has not had his/her secondary education taught in English, s/he will be required to provide proof of English Proficiency. Since classes are taught in English, an applicant must demonstrate his/her ability to read, write and speak English.

Application Materials in additional to Standard Required Documents:

1. Letter of Interest: The Letter of Interest will contain three parts: Personal Statement, Professional Statement, and Research Statement. Each part will be described below.
   • Personal Statement: Please express in no more than one page how your experience, education, and training qualify you for the DBA program.
   • Professional Statement: Please describe in more than two pages your interests in the DBA program and how you plan to complete it.
     • Why do you want to pursue a DBA degree?
     • What do you see as the most significant qualities or experiences that you would bring to the DBA program?
     • What are your career aspirations after you receive the doctorate degree?
     • What obstacles/ challenges do you envision having to overcome to complete your degree within a reasonable time frame (i.e. 3 years), and what is your plan to address these obstacles/ challenges?
     • What concrete steps will you take to manage your time to tackle classes and up to 30 hours a week of study?
   • Research Statement: Please describe in no more than three pages your research interests and what topic you plan to pursue.
2. Letter of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation should be requested from professionals in academe or industry who can comment on the following:
   • Your personal and professional accomplishments and how you achieved them.
   • Your academic pursuits.
   • Your demonstrated leadership and your potential for doing advanced academic work.
   • Your oral and written communication skills.
   • Your potential as an instructor.

Maximum Total Credit Awarded is 30 units:
Transfer Credit (TRC): 30 credits
Standardized Exam Credit (SEC): 0 credits

Pre-Enrollment Disclosure

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program serves the needs of mature students, helping them to advance in their careers through quality graduate Christian education. The program is designed to graduate scholar practitioners who will set the standard for best practice and contribute to the solution of critical business and management problems through research, teaching, and consulting. The program is designed to serve the needs of both fully employed and full time students. Doctor of Business Administration program is designed for experienced business professionals who want to translate their industry expertise into leadership positions as consultants or as executives within their organizations, as well as imbuing biblical teachings and Christian morals and ethics. The proposal course creates an opportunity for the student to demonstrate application of the knowledge and skills gained in the course work portion of the program and to demonstrate the critical thinking and analytical skills required to successfully complete the Doctoral Project.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program will allow students to:

• Develop advanced managerial, entrepreneurial, and strategic knowledge and skills;
• Develop the knowledge and skills for managing all facets of contemporary organizations;
• Acquire the expertise in research design and methods necessary to be able to undertake a doctoral-level research project;
• Develop the ability to integrate graduate-level skills of research, analysis, argumentation, and effective communication through the writing of a doctoral project in a selected area of interest in business/management;
• Acquire a ‘state of the art’ understanding of theory and practice in their area of research;
• Acquire creativity, research aptitude, analytical thinking, critical analysis, and innovative solutions to organizational problems;
• Understand how Christian values can enhance a worldview of teaching, research and service;
• Develop the motivation for and appreciation of the acquisition of lifelong learning skills.

PROGRAM MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Instruction can be completed through classroom-hybrid and/or online instructional methodologies.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Foundation Module:
Students, who did not complete an MBA or related degree, must complete these courses. Foundation requirements are designed to develop an appreciation of the institution of business.

Core Module:
DBA students will gain a deeper understanding of contemporary business concepts and practices. By completing the Core Courses, students can be confident that they will be well-prepared to tackle the real-world challenges that organizations face.

Elective Module:
The Electives Module requirement can be fulfilled by taking any graduate courses that are not already a requirement. Graduate course codes are 500-999.

Consortium Module:
DBA students are required to attend three consortium workshops held on campus. The consortium workshops will discuss research and scholarly writing, completing the research prospectus and proposal. DBA students will have an opportunity to ask questions to current and past DBA students to gain insight on how to approach the DBA project.

Research Module:
Once most core and elective coursework has been successfully completed, Doctoral Students are required to complete the research courses. These allow a student to start to think about the design of their project and research background information about the topic.

Project Module:
The final step is the completion of a Doctoral Project. The Committee Chair/Mentor will work with the doctoral student and serve as the liaison during the process. Together, with guidance from the Committee, the student will complete a Doctoral Project that is worthy to be published. The Doctoral Project will be a practical application of a field-based project. A review is given to research design, modes of observation, and techniques of analysis, the social and ethical context of research, and the uses of research. A focus is placed on the delineation of a problem in business and a plan for conducting substantive research leading to its resolution or recommendations.

The doctoral student selects two other members, in addition to the Committee Chair/Mentor, to create a Project Committee to review and complete the project. A presentation of the Doctoral Project is required. The Doctoral Project is graded by the committee and is graded as Pass/Fail.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Student must complete 54 semester units of prescribed curriculum. One semester unit is equivalent to 15 contact hours or the equivalent in accelerated or distance learning terms.
• Satisfactory completion of all required course work with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Satisfactory completion of Comprehensive Examinations.
• Satisfactory completion Doctoral Project.
• Complete a minimum of TWO internships.
• Students must apply for graduation and meet all academic and financial requirements.

COMPLETION TIME

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

For the course descriptions, click here.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

* Source: National Center for O*NET Development. O*NET OnLine

Chief Executives, General and Operations Managers, Sales Managers, Administrative Services Managers, Industrial Production Managers, Transportation/Storage/Distribution Managers, Construction Managers, Social and Community Service Managers, Managers (All Other), Cost Estimators, Management Analysts, Business Teachers (Post-secondary).

EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS FILLED BY IAU STUDENTS

Account Coordinator (13-2011),  Accountant (13-2011),  Analyst/Software Intern (15-1130),  Assistant Manager (11-9199),  Business Analyst (13-1199),  Business Analyst Intern (13-1199),  Business/Quality Analyst Intern (13-1199),  Customer Service Representative/Account Manager (43-4051/11-2000),  Customer Service/Sales Associate (43-4050),  Market Research Analyst (13-1161),  Marketing Manager (11-9199),  Marketing Specialist (13-1161),  Office Assistant (43-6010),  Sales/Marketing Analyst (13-1161),  Senior Accountant (13-2011),  Staff Accountant (13-2011).

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