Doctor of Business Administration

Edward S. Ageno School of Business

Program Description

The doctor of business administration (DBA) program is designed for professionals who want to further their career with the most advanced business- degree program GGU offers.

Our students are one of the program's greatest strengths. Typical doctoral students at GGU attend part time. Without exception, they come from successful careers in top positions in the private, nonprofit and government sectors. They bring their experiences and knowledge to the classroom and, in turn, demand incisive instruction and intelligent, well-developed classroom discussions.

The primary objective of the program is to produce graduates who can contribute to the advancement of their professions and to the expansion of knowledge and awareness of contemporary strategic issues and practices. Through the DBA program, students will achieve this objective through the development of

• A thorough knowledge of scientific and scholarly research methods and their application in the business setting for senior managers, consultants and university professors
• Advanced critical thinking and conceptual and analytical skills
• A grasp of both the seminal theories and the latest practices in business management including an intensive knowledge of theory and practice in one field of business
• The tools to perform original applied research that advances business knowledge
• An appreciation of cultural, ethical, and global issues and their impact on business theory and practices
• The skills necessary for effective decision making in complex environments through integrating theoretic insights with practical knowledge

Our curriculum has a three-tiered focus. You'll examine current theories, practices, and issues in business; train in research methods; and study the relationships between business and social and global issues. We believe the doctoral students must be adept in all these areas to be successful contributors to the expansion of knowledge and improvement of business practices. For your dissertation, you'll conduct research on a topic of current importance and personal interest. The dissertation should impact and help illuminate the strategic issues you face in your profession.

The program encourages you to accept the added responsibility of a shared commitment to the advancement of your profession and to upholding the highest ethical standards in the private or public sector.

Faculty

Faculty members who teach in our DBA program have doctoral degrees from leading universities in their fields and possess extensive practical experience. They bring a theoretical as well as a real-world view to their teaching and a commitment to dynamic, progressive education.

Format

Offered at the San Francisco campus, the DBA program offers a state of-the-art curriculum delivered by experienced, highly qualified professors. In keeping with our commitment to working-adult professionals, we have one of the few accredited doctoral programs in the Bay Area that allows you to complete doctoral studies on a part-time basis and accommodate your work schedule by attending evening and weekend classes.

Admission

GGU seeks doctoral candidates with strong intellects, proper educational preparation, breadth and depth of managerial or professional experience and the capacity for disciplined scholarly investigation. While most applicants have a master's degree in a business-related field, applicants with academic preparation in other fields are welcome to apply.

Doctoral candidates must be fluent in English and are expected to write at a level meeting the standards of scholarly publications. You are expected to understand contemporary practices in business and the economic, social and political context in which they are conducted.

The admission decision is made by a faculty committee and is based on your total accomplishment and skills. Specifically, admission to the program requires:

• Educational preparation: A master's degree from a regionally accredited US institution or comparable foreign institution will usually meet this requirement. A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 in the master's degree is required. We will consider candidates who only have a bachelor's degree with a 3.5 GPA.
• Successful completion of ECON 202 Economics for Managers (or equivalent) and MATH 240 Data Analysis for Managers (or equivalent).
• Experience: Applicants with responsible managerial or professional work experience will be given preference. A professional resume is required.
• GMAT or GRE examination: you are required to take the GMAT or GRE examination (within 10 years prior to application to the program) and have the test score results forwarded to the university.
• English language proficiency: If your native language is not English, you must supply evidence of English language proficiency, such as a score of 550 or higher on the TOEFL or other evidence
• Recommendations: Three written recommendations attesting to your ability to succeed in a doctoral program are required.
• Statement of purpose: A statement of purpose of approximately 1,000 words is required. This statement should address your goals and your reasons for seeking the doctoral degree.

The admission decision is based on the full range of your skills and accomplishments as shown in the application materials. Strength in one of the above areas can offset weakness in another area.

Application Procedure

The application for admission to doctoral studies should be submitted to the Office of Admissions, 536 Mission Street, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA 94105-2968. The application must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee. All documents become the property of the university and are not returned. The initial screening of complete files is performed by the director of the DBA program. An interview, in person or by telephone, may be asked of prospective students who pass the initial screening. The admission decision is made by the faculty committee, which oversees the academic policies and standards of the DBA program. Documents which must be submitted in support of the doctoral application include

• Official transcripts, forwarded directly by all colleges and universities previously attended
• Official test score results (see above for requirements)
• A professional resume
• A statement of purpose (approximately 1,000 words)
• Three letters of recommendation

You may apply at any time during the year and may begin the program in any trimester. You must ensure that all documents are received by the university not less than two months prior to the start of the trimester in which you want to begin the program.

Transfer Credit

Acceptance of transfer credits is dependent on the approval of the Admissions Office and the director of the DBA program. Transfer of credit is limited to 12 semester units of doctoral-level work, subject to the following restrictions:

• The transfer credits must be pertinent to the work of the DBA program.
• All transfer credit must be a B (3.00 in a 4.00 grading system) or better (B- is not acceptable) and must be completed in a doctoral program at a regionally accredited institution or comparable foreign institution.
• Graduate credit will not be allowed for correspondence or extension work.
• Any transfer units completed after admission to the DBA program must be approved by the director.

Requirements for the Doctor of Business Administration

To be awarded the degree, you must successfully complete a minimum of 60 semester units beyond the preparatory graduate courses listed above. Included are: 12 semester units of foundation courses, 28 semester units of business core courses, eight semester units of electives and a minimum of 12 units of dissertation research. Although research papers, reports and examinations may be required in doctoral seminars, the major assessment points in the DBA program are the qualifying examination, taken after the foundation curriculum is completed, and the dissertation research. You must receive a passing score on the qualifying examination and successfully complete all required courses before you are allowed to present a dissertation proposal and officially advance to candidacy. To fulfill the degree requirements, your dissertation must be completed and defended successfully within seven years of entry into the program.

FOUNDATION CURRICULUM - 12 units

· DBA 800 Doctoral Writing and Research Methods
· DBA 801 Quantitative Research and Analysis
· DBA 802 Qualitative Research and Analysis

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

After the foundation curriculum course work is completed, a qualifying examination is required. This integrative examination will test your mastery of the skills and disciplines of doctoral-level research methods and analysis.

BUSINESS CORE CURRICULUM - 28 units

· DBA 803 Economic Theory and Policy
· DBA 804 Management and Organizational Theory
· DBA 806 Operations and Technology Systems
· DBA 807 Business ,Government, and Society
· DBA 820 Corporate Finance
· DBA 821 Marketing Management
· DBA 822 Strategy and International Business

ELECTIVES - 8 units

You must choose two of the following DBA seminars from business areas closely related to your dissertation research topic, in consultation with the DBA director.

· DBA 830 Financial Theory and Application
· DBA 852 Information Technology Management
· DBA 853 Management of Innovation and Technology
· DBA 862 Project and Systems Management
· DBA 871 Buyer Behavior
· DBA 891A-ZZ Special Topics in Business Administration
· DBA 895 Directed Study
· DBA 897 Independent Study

DISSERTATION RESEARCH - Minimum of 12 units

You may register for DBA 899 Dissertation Research only after having first completed all required doctoral seminars and having passed the qualifying examination. Successful completion of the dissertation is the final step in your program.

· DBA 899 Dissertation Research

For further information contact the Department of Business Administration at e-mail: biz@ggu.edu; phone: 415-442-6500; fax: 415-442-6579; website: www.ggu.edu or Edward S. Ageno School of Business, Golden Gate University, 536 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 95105-2968.