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.
Academic Information
Transfer of Credit
Graduate work beyond the student's initial master’s degree, satisfactorily completed at a Concordia University System institution, may be accepted toward meeting the requirements of the doctoral program to the extent that they satisfy specific course and/or experience requirements or electives for specific doctoral specializations upon approval of the student's GPS advisor, division chair and dean of the college.
Graduate work beyond the student's initial master's degree, satisfactorily completed at other regionally accredited institution(s), may be accepted toward meeting the requirements of the doctoral program upon approval of the student’s GPS advisor, division chair and dean of the college.
Graduate courses transferred must have a grade of B or higher and must have been earned no more than 8 years prior to registration for the first course counted toward to the doctoral program. Transfer credit with a grade of P (Pass) will not be accepted. Combined transfer credit and previously-applied CUC credit may not exceed 50% of the credit required for the degree/program.
Successfully Completed Credit Hours
Graduate courses with a passing grade (e.g. A, B, C, or P) are considered to be successfully completed. Courses with a grade of D+, D, D-, F, W, I, NG, NP or U are not considered to be successfully completed.
Time Limits
Completion of the doctorate is expected within eight years from the registration for the first course counted toward the DBA at Concordia University Chicago. A petition for time extension may be addressed by the student through the GPS advisor and subject to dean consideration and approval.
Applicants for the doctoral program who desire more information regarding specific course requirements, comprehensive examinations, dissertation, etc., should consult the Doctoral Program Handbook.
Dissertation
Students must complete original dissertation research as approved by the dissertation committee. Please consult the Collegial Cloud in Blackboard for specific procedures related to the dissertation.
Upon completion of the six required hours of dissertation coursework, candidates must maintain continuous enrollment with DBA-8020 and DBA-8021 Dissertation Continued Studies until program completion.
The following steps are required toward the conferral of the degree after the end of the term:
- Complete any revisions requested by the dissertation committee.
- Submit the dissertation for professional copy editing. More information on Concordia-approved copy editors is available upon request.
- Upload the dissertation to ProQuest for publishing.
Program Procedures for Doctoral Students
- Communication: All email communication from doctoral students with Concordia University Chicago faculty, program advisors, division chairs, division staff, dissertation committee members and other University business must be sent from the student’s Concordia University Chicago email address.
- Program Advisor: Doctoral advising is comprehensive and engages students in thinking about and planning for all elements of the program. Students will work directly with their advisor in consultation with the Division of Research and Doctoral Programs for all procedural issues related to the doctoral program. Specific issues related to academic program requirements, transfer credits, and changes in the approved program plan must be directed to the appropriate Concordia University Chicago College of Business administrator.
- Satisfactory Progress: All students will be monitored for satisfactory academic progress at the following points: dissertation proposal defense and dissertation defense. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress if the grade-point average is 3.0 or higher, all deficiencies have been removed and appropriate progress is being made toward meeting the standards. Students not making satisfactory progress will be placed on academic probation. Click here for more information.
- Continuous Enrollment: Doctoral students must be registered at all times to maintain continuous enrollment in the doctoral program. Students who have completed all required coursework must be enrolled in DBA-8020 and DBA-8021 Dissertation Continued Studies until program completion. Any time a student needs to take a temporary hiatus from coursework of the dissertation, he or she must initiate a Leave of Absence request. Leave of Absence status indicates that no coursework is being taken. Doctoral Leave of Absence eligibility, guidelines, time limits and requirements are available from the student’s program advisor and in the catalog. A Leave of Absence must be approved by the advisor and Assistant Dean of Academic Research (pre-dissertation), and also approved by the student's dissertation chair if the student is in dissertation.
- Dissertation: Students must complete original dissertation research as approved by the dissertation committee. After the completion of the required six semester hours of DBA-8000 Dissertation Session 1 and DBA-8010 Dissertation Session 2, candidates enroll in DBA-8020 and DBA-8021 Dissertation Continued Studies to maintain continuous enrollment in the program. Please consult the Collegial Cloud in Blackboard for specific procedures related to the dissertation.
- Graduation: An “Intent to Graduate/Complete” form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline for the term of the anticipated conferral of the degree. Requirements toward the conferral of the degree include the completion of dissertation revisions requested by the committee, a dissertation professionally copy edited, and the dissertation uploaded to ProQuest five (5) weeks after the defense.
Failure to maintain continuous enrollment may result in withdrawal from the university and requires a petition to request readmission. In addition to not having access to support from members of the dissertation committee for the duration of the absence from continuous enrollment, there is also a risk upon reentry of:
- Expiration of previously-earned transfer or CUC credit
- Change in composition of dissertation chair and/or committee
- Change in academic requirements under a new catalog
- Change in availability of courses under a new cohort template
- Tuition rate increase
- Not being approved for reentry due to expiring time limit for program completion.
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-7401 | Mentor Course Room 1 | 3 |
| DBA-7402 | Mentor Course Room 2 | 3 |
| DBA-7403 | Mentor Course Room 3 | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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-7605 | Quantitative Data Analysis for Applied Business Research | 3 |
| DBA-7700 | Qualitative Data Analysis for Applied Business Research | 3 |
| DBA-7901 | Doctoral Research Design for Business | 4 |
| 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 Healthcare Management
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DBAH-7701 | Innovative Best Practices in Healthcare Management | 3 |
| DBAH-7702 | Healthcare Analytics and Financial Applications for Healthcare Management | 3 |
| DBAH-7703 | Governance of Healthcare 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. Please use the Mentor Course Room Sequence tab for sequencing information.
- 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.
DBA Accompanying Mentor Course Room, Mentor Course Room, and Dissertation sequence of courses
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| DBA-7404 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 1 | 1 |
| DBA-7405 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 2 | 1 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DBA-7401 | Mentor Course Room 1 | 3 |
| DBA-7406 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 3 | 1 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| DBA-7407 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 4 | 1 |
| DBA-7402 | Mentor Course Room 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| DBA-7408 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 5 | 1 |
| DBA-7403 | Mentor Course Room 3 | 3 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DBA-7409 | Accompanying Mentor Course Room 6 | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| DBA-8000 | Dissertation Session 1 | 3 |
| DBA-8010 | Dissertation Session 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| DBA-8020 | Dissertation Continued Studies (repeat DBA-8020 and DBA-8021 as needed) | 0 |
| DBA-8021 | Dissertation Continued Studies | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
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 grades of C- or higher,
- 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.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
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.