Business Administration DBA

Major: Business Administration
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 60.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 52.1301
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
11-1021

About the Program

The Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is a part-time doctoral program designed to equip executives and senior managers with the scientific methods to address complex industry and organizational challenges. The program integrates and leverages Drexel’s more than 120-year history of experiential learning to provide a broad theoretical perspective of current business issues as well as a strong foundation in applied research and analysis to enrich critical knowledge, skills and abilities. Through an integrative framework of empirical exploration and evidence-based decision-making, executives learn the “science of business” and develop successful, data-driven strategies and solutions that can be applied to their respective organizations.

The DBA’s cohorted format enables candidates to complete the program in 2.5 years (10 consecutive quarters) using a lockstep executive residency and online model. DBA candidates complete a minimum of 60.0 credits beyond the master’s degree. As part of the accelerated nature of the program and focus on complex business challenges, the program employs a mentored dissertation model. It is expected that applicants will have a minimum of 10 years of industry and/or leadership experience.

Program Highlights

  • 2.5-year, part-time, cohorted executive program
  • Executive residency format with online components
  • 16 courses, 60 credits post-master’s
  • Mentored dissertation model
  • Integrated, cross-disciplinary coursework
  • Drexel DBA faculty collaboration from accounting, biomedical engineering, decision science and MIS, design, economics, finance, management, marketing and psychology

DBA Learning Outcomes

Upon degree completion, graduates of the DBA program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of both theoretical and applied business research methodology. 
  • Integrate knowledge from business and non-business disciplines to generate novel ideas, strategies and practical approaches to address business issues faced by senior leadership in organizations.
  • Demonstrate mastery of scientific inquiry methods that examine empirical support for theoretical frameworks as applied to business problems.
  • Demonstrate an ability to address complex industry challenges using frameworks of empirical examination that build prescriptive conclusions and real-world knowledge.

Please contact Mark Dierkes, Director of Executive Program Recruitment, at med24@drexel.edu or at 215-571-3272 directly with any questions concerning required entrance exams (such as the GMAT), evaluation of undergraduate or graduate records (grades, scores, total years and subjects studied, etc.), and any other issues regarding application to the College.

Admission Requirements

The DBA provides a broad theoretical and practical perspective on current business issues as well as a strong foundation in applied research and analysis. The LeBow College of Business seeks applicants with a minimum of 10 years of senior industry and/or leadership experience, exceptional ability and the motivation needed to successfully complete the DBA. Admission into this part-time cohorted program requires a Master’s degree and is highly selective. 

In reviewing an applicant's credentials, the DBA admissions committee will consider:

  • Completed Application Form 
  • Prior Academic Accomplishments:  All course work taken prior to application will be reviewed. Applicants should have attained a minimum grade point average of 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) for all graduate course work completed.
  • Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Examination (GRE):  DBA applicants are NOT required to submit scores from either the GMAT or GRE. However, individuals who have taken these exams prior may forward their scores in support of their application.
  • Personal Statement: Explain how the applicant's educational and personal experiences have influenced the decision to pursue a DBA, professional objectives in attaining a DBA, and the applicant’s strategy (time, effort, and organizational and family support) to excel in the program.
  • Essay(s): Please reference the program webpage for specific essay(s) requirement for the application.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted in support of the application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek recommendations from professionals who can assess the applicant's likelihood of success in an executive doctoral program.
  • Current Resume or CV:  Include relevant industry positions, achievements or research.
  • Interview: Upon request of the DBA admission committee, selected candidates will be requested to participate in an admissions interview.

Admission Procedures
The DBA Program admits students each fall. To be considered for scholarship and admission, the completed application must be received by the LeBow College of Business Office of Graduate Admissions no later than April 30th. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all transcripts, essays/personal statements and letters of recommendation, as well as the application form and fee, are received by Drexel University by this deadline.

Please contact Mark Dierkes, Director of Executive Program Recruitment, at med24@drexel.edu or at 215-571-3272 directly with any questions concerning required entrance exams (such as the GMAT), evaluation of undergraduate or graduate records (grades, scores, total years and subjects studied, etc.), and any other issues regarding application to the College.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses
BUSN 910Applied Organizational & Consumer Behavior4.0
BUSN 911Opportunities in a Data Driven Economy4.0
BUSN 912Corporate Growth and Risk Strategies4.0
BUSN 913Driving Innovation and Design4.0
BUSN 914Navigating the Changing Business Environment4.0
BUSN 921Applied Behavioral Research4.0
BUSN 923Qualitative Inquiry Methods4.0
BUSN 924Analyzing Quantitative Data4.0
BUSN 925Survey Research4.0
BUSN 941Dissertation Research, Applied Methodology Workshop4.0
BUSN 942Dissertation Research, Data Collection Strategy4.0
BUSN 943Dissertation Research, Literature Review and Proposal Defense4.0
BUSN 944Dissertation Research, Data Collection Process5.0
BUSN 945Dissertation Research, Data Analysis5.0
BUSN 946Dissertation Research, Discussion and Contribution Chapter1.0
BUSN 947Dissertation Research, Final Defense1.0-9.0
Optional Global Immersion Experience (Choose one of the following): *0.0-3.0
Business, Government, and Global Macroeconomics
International Financial Management
International Business Seminar and Residency
Total Credits60.0-71.0
*

Students participating in the Optional Global Immersion Experience will need a minimum of 63.0 credits to graduate.

Students not participating in the Optional Global Immersion Experience will need a minimum of 60.0 credits to graduate.

Dissertation 

DBA candidates are required to complete and submit doctoral dissertation for committee approval. The dissertation is an integral part of the DBA program and serves as a demonstration of academic excellence in applying the science of business with all its expected rigor to an important problem of interest to the industry, as well as providing insight based on theory and supported by appropriate methodological and statistical rigor.

The dissertation process is comprised of a series of lockstep courses, culminating in two major milestones: defense of the proposal and defense of the completed research. The dissertation will need to show relevance, be tied to appropriate scientific literature, and have appropriate methodology and analysis to support the conclusions. Each student will be assigned a dissertation chair, who will guide the student through the process starting in year one, and committee who will evaluate the proposal and the completed research. Both proposal defense and completed research defense must attain a passing grade for the degree to be conferred. There are no qualifying or candidacy exams.

Sample Plan of Study

Non-Global Immersion Option 

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BUSN 9104.0BUSN 9114.0BUSN 9124.0BUSN 9134.0
BUSN 9254.0BUSN 9214.0BUSN 9244.0BUSN 9234.0
 8 8 8 8
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BUSN 9144.0BUSN 9424.0BUSN 9445.0BUSN 9455.0
BUSN 9414.0BUSN 9434.0  
 8 8 5 5
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCredits  
BUSN 946*1.0BUSN 947*1.0-9.0  
 1 1-9  
Total Credits 60-68
*

3rd year terms are less than the 4.5-credit minimum required (considered half-time status) of graduate programs to be considered financial aid eligible. As a result, aid will not be disbursed to students this term.

Global Immersion Option

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BUSN 9104.0BUSN 9114.0BUSN 9124.0BUSN 9134.0
BUSN 9254.0BUSN 9214.0BUSN 9234.0BUSN 9244.0
 8 8 8 8
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BUSN 9144.0BUSN 9424.0BUSN 9445.0BUSN 9455.0
BUSN 9414.0BUSN 9434.0Global Immersion Option (Choose one of the following):3.0 
   
   
   
 8 8 8 5
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCredits  
BUSN 946*1.0BUSN 947*1.0-9.0  
 1 1-9  
Total Credits 63-71
*

3rd year terms are less than the 4.5-credit minimum required (considered half-time status) of graduate programs to be considered financial aid eligible. As a result, aid will not be disbursed to students this term.

Course Descriptions

BUSN 910     Applied Organizational and Consumer Behavior  4.0 Credits

The course provides an interdisciplinary and integrative understanding of various theoretical perspective on how to organize effectively. Theories, research and practice from the areas of strategic management, organizational behavior, human resource, management, MIS and marketing will be explored for ways to leverage both internal and external data to compete in the 21st century economy and build business strategy and translate that into organizational knowledge strategy.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit

BUSN 911     Opportunities of Data Driven Economy 4.0 Credits

This course explores the growing role of data in Business. It examines the critical skills and capabilities an organization needs for success, including leadership, culture, methods and tools for becoming data driven, while also balancing human judgment. Lectures, readings, cases, and guest speakers consider the impact and challenges of gathering, storing, analyzing and providing access to data to facilitate effective decision making.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 910 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 912     Corporate Growth and Risk Strategies 4.0 Credits

This course will discuss competitive advantage aspects as they relate to organizational growth and risk management including in contexts related to intercompany relationships. Theories, research and practice from the areas of strategic management, organizational behavior, human resource, management, MIS and marketing will be explored to learn theories frameworks on corporate development and growth and risk management studies associated with such development and growth.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 910 [Min Grade: B] and BUSN 911 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 913     Driving Innovation and Design 4.0 Credits

This course explores the latest thinking on competitive strategies for innovation, innovation culture, product design & design thinking, creative insights and stimulating creativity behavior and such measurements using an interdisciplinary approach.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 912 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 914     Navigating the Changing Business 4.0 Credits

This course provides the foundation to apply current economic, consumer behavior and HR capital trends guided by scholarly based findings and analysis to apply to business issues in the new digital and global economy.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 913 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 921     Applied Behavioral Research4.0 Credits

This course introduces behavioral research thinking. The course will provide an overview of applied behavioral research methodologies, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey research techniques. Students will learn the advantages of each methodology and when to apply it. Students will also be introduced to measurement theory, validity, reliability, and how to conduct research ethically. There will be detailed discussions on the data and how it was collected as well as hands-on demonstrations of the statistical methodologies that were applied. Students will learn what the statistical assumptions are, what the parameters mean, and how to practically interpret the results.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit

BUSN 923     Qualitative Inquiry Methods 4.0 Credits

This course introduces students to approaches in social science and humanistic research known as qualitative inquiry. These approaches include ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology, case study, and narrative research, and employ methods of interviewing, discourse/content analysis, and participation observation. Students will explicate studies that employ these approaches; discuss assumptions of qualitative inquiry; discuss standards of sampling, ethics, and validity, and design a qualitative research proposal.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 921 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 924     Analyzing Quantitative Data 4.0 Credits

In this course, students will learn to test hypotheses and assess theory in business and behavioral contexts as those relate to analyzing survey data, archival data, and experimental data. Through hands-on exercises that revisit and reconstruct published research, students will learn commonly used statistical methods that test hypotheses and learn how to interpret results, as well as look for problems as revealed through the statistical testing that might lend support to alternative models. Methods discussed include linear regression, dimension reduction, analysis of variance and GLM, and logistic regression models.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 922 [Min Grade: B] or BUSN 925 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 925     Survey Research 4.0 Credits

This course will introduce students to the art and craft of survey research. Students will become familiar with the theoretical underpinnings of survey research and at the same time get  hands-on experience designing, deploying, and analyzing surveys. The course will cover all aspects of conducting survey research: selecting a sample, formulating individual questions, measurement scales, designing a questionnaire, and analyzing the collected data.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 921 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 941     Dissertation Research, Applied Methodology Workshop 4.0 Credits

This applied methodology workshop focuses candidates on development of well-defined research questions, appropriate methodology approaches, outline of the Hypotheses, and elucidation about the Importance of the research topics.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit

BUSN 942     Dissertation Research, Data Collection Strategy 4.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on the development of well-defined data collection strategy. This may include, but is not limited to, analyzing archival data, designing the survey to be used, or determining how to use existing organizational changes in a quasi-experimental design to assess phenomena. This will include IRB permission as necessary.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 941 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 943     Dissertation Research, Literature Review and Proposal Defense 4.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on the development of the literature review section that will be included in the dissertation. The literature review should present the theoretical background of the dissertation and support the propositions and hypotheses.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 942 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 944     Dissertation Research, Data Collection Process 5.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on the development of the data collection process for the dissertation. The data can be collected through surveys, quasi-experimental designs, panel data, or any other source approved by the dissertation chair and committee.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 943 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 945     Dissertation Research, Data Analysis 5.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on completing the data analysis for the dissertation. It is expected that the student will consult with the Dissertation Chair and professors on the appropriate analyses methods that should be applied.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 944 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 946     Dissertation Research, Discussion and Contribution Chapter 1.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on completing the Discussion and Contribution chapter of the dissertation.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: BUSN 945 [Min Grade: B]

BUSN 947     Dissertation Research, Final Defense 1.0 Credits

This applied dissertation research course focuses candidates on completing the Dissertation and after consultation and approval by the Dissertation Chair to submit it for Final Defense before the Committee.

College/Department: LeBow College of Business
Repeat Status: Repeatable for credit

Facilities

The 12-story, 177,500-square-foot home for LeBow College of Business is located at the heart of the Drexel University campus, at the intersection of Woodland Walk and Market Street, where it forms a gateway to Drexel and a backdrop to the historic statue of A. J. Drexel (Moses Ezekiel, 1904). The diagonal massing of the lower floors follows Woodland Walk and combines with the new Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (Diamond & Schmitt, 2011) to energize the University’s central quadrangle. The building’s tower will mark the LeBow College and Drexel campus from all directions while the open, glassy Market Street façade will showcase the College’s student activities to passersby.

The building’s organization unites the school’s various constituencies around a five-story-high atrium ringed by classrooms, student lounges, events spaces, and offices. The atrium is immediately accessible from main entrances at the three corners of the building. An open stair within the atrium leads to a 300-seat auditorium and 100-seat lecture hall one floor below and to a divisible multipurpose room and additional classrooms above. The building’s upper floors contain faculty offices interspersed with seminar rooms and group study rooms. The top floor houses the Dean’s suite and a boardroom and conference suite that opens to east- and west-facing terraces.

The building’s warm masonry and glass exterior reflects the emerging vocabulary of the next generation of Drexel buildings. Sophisticated solar shading devices allow maximum transparency between the inside and outside while supporting the building’s high environmental aspirations.

Key Building Features

  • Five-story atrium
  • Finance trading lab with Bloomberg Terminal Room
  • 300-seat auditorium
  • 160-seat event space
  • 100-seat lecture hall
  • 45-seat seminar rooms
  • 44-seat computer classrooms
  • 60-seat classrooms
  • Executive MBA classroom
  • 24-seat classrooms
  • Special areas for experiential learning simulations and business consulting
  • Videoconferencing capabilities
  • Integrated teaching technology in all classrooms
  • Recording studio to support LeBow College’s online programs
  • Extensive areas for students to gather socially and for collaborative study, including student collaboration rooms, two quiet study areas, and 3,500 square feet of student social space
  • EMBA Alumni Lounge for the exclusive use of EMBA alumni
  • Behavioral Studies Lab
  • Starbucks
  • Green Globe certifiable, meeting worldwide sustainability standards

Gerri C. LeBow Hall brings together faculty, students, and staff in a state-of-the-art building on the University City campus. Please visit the LeBow College of Business webpage, the Behavioral Lab webpage, and the Finance Trading Lab webpage to learn more about Gerri C. LeBow Hall.

DBA Interdepartmental LeBow Faculty

Murugan Anandarajan, PhD (Drexel University) Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs, Department of Decision Sciences and MIS. Professor. Cybercrime, strategic management of information technology, unstructured data mining, individual internet usage behavior (specifically abuse and addiction), application of artificial intelligence techniques in forensic accounting and ophthalmology.
Trina larsen Andras, PhD (University of Texas at Austin) Head of the Department of Marketing; Academic Director, Center for Corporate Research Management. Professor. International marketing, marketing channels management, cross-cultural communication.
Bay Arinze, PhD (London School of Economics). Professor. Machine Learning. Forecasting using ML techniques. The Internet of Things. Data Analytics and Big Data. Data Visualization. Digital Transformations.
Hasan Ayaz, PhD (Drexel University) School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. Associate Professor. Neuroergonomics for Brain Health and Performance, Functional Neuroimaging, Biomedical Signal Processing, Biomedical Optics, Cognitive Neuroengineering, Brain Computer Interfaces, Neurotechnology, Clinical Neuroergonomics, Systems and Applied Neuroscience, Functional Near Infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI), Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI)
Lauren D'Innocenzo, PhD (University of Connecticut). Associate Professor. Team effectiveness, contextual influences, emergent team dynamics, shared leadership, multi-level modeling, and groups/teams.
Michaela Draganska, PhD (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University) Department of Marketing. Associate Professor. Advertising strategy, product assortment decisions, new product positioning, distribution channels. Marketing analytics and big data, marketing communications, marketing research, marketing strategy, technology and innovation.
David Gefen, PhD (Georgia State University) Provost Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Decision Sciences and MIS. Strategic IT management, IT development and implementation management research methodology, managing the adoption of large IT systems, eCommerce, online auctions, outsourcing; technology adoption.
Curtis M. Hall, PhD (University of Arizona). Associate Professor. Strategic cost management, human resources, incentive compensation, banking, nonprofits.
Teresa Harrison, PhD (University of Texas Austin) Academic Director of the Center for Nonprofit Governance. Professor. Economics of nonprofits, empirical industrial organization, applied microeconometrics.
Daniel Korschun, PhD (Boston University). Associate Professor. Brand and corporate reputation management, corporate social responsibility, internal marketing, marketing strategy, relationship marketing.
John Kounios, PhD (University of Michigan) Director, PhD Program in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences. Professor. Cognitive neuroscience, especially creativity, problem solving, and cognitive enhancement.
Jeongsik Lee, PhD (University of California Los Angeles). Associate Professor. Economics of Innovation; Social networks; Technology management
Mary Mawritz, PhD (University of Central Florida). Associate Professor. Abusive supervision; deviant behavior; leadership.
Rajiv Nag, PhD (Pennsylvania State University). Clinical Professor. Organizational Knowledge and Identity; Organizational learning and change; Strategic Leadership; Strategic Performativity
V. K. Narayanan, PhD (University of Pittsburgh). Delloitte Touche Jones Stubbs Professor. Cognition and Strategy; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Organization design
Gregory Nini, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Associate Professor. Capital structure; corporate finance; risk management; financial institution management
Mark Stehr, PhD (University of California at Berkeley) Director, School of Economics. Professor. Health policy, health economics; applied econometrics.
Rajneesh Suri, PhD (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Associate Dean for Research, Marketing Department. Professor. Pricing, promotions and branding.
George Tsetsekos, PhD (University of Tennessee) Dean Emeritus, LeBow College of Business; Francis Professor of Finance. Valuation and corporate restructuring, treasury and risk/hedging operations, investment banking, securitization, emerging capital markets, multinational finance, bank asset-liability management.
Daniel Tzabbar, PhD (University of Toronto). Professor. Accessing and managing knowledge; Alliances; Human capital; Organizational learning and change; Social Capital; Technology Entrepreneurship; Technology Innovation
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