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Doctorate of Business Administration

Business Administration (DBA)

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  • Curriculum
Total Hours Needed to Graduate:
60 Hours
Doctoral Core Requirements
27 Hours
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS
BUS 8000
The Scholar Practitioner
3

Provides an orientation to the DBA program by reviewing the curriculum, the dissertation, and the expectations for doctoral study. Explores the nature of scholarly inquiry and scientific method, the connections between theory and practice, and the importance of these considerations in conducting research for practical application. Identifies information resources available to a doctoral student at Baker College and develops proficiency at using them. Uses readings, assessment tools, experiential exercises, and reflection on past and current experiences so that students can develop a deeper understanding of the extent of their knowledge of business and management, learning styles and skills, and professional strengths and weaknesses. Explores reasons to seek a doctorate and supports the development of an Autobiographical Learning Plan, which includes a Program of Study highlighting professional and academic goals for the program.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8010
Doctoral Writing and Literature Review
3

Provides practical guidance on how to critically read scholarly articles, how to formulate researchable questions, and how to develop and maintain a reading asset library of annotations to be used throughout the program. Introduces scholarly writing and the standards used to assess it. Identifies the need for information, how to find it, evaluate its accuracy, significance, and relevance to research. Prepares students for the first year curriculum and the Comprehensive Essay by writing a scholarly literature review on a possible topic of interest for their dissertation.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8000

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8100
Leading 21st Century Organizations
3

Explores today’s complex, world-wide environment that necessitates teamwork and collaboration to sustain a competitive advantage. Students will examine practices required to lead organizations with highly diverse workforces distributed across international, cultural, and regional boundaries. Students will systematically investigate the latest ideas emerging from both the world of practice and leadership research to identify best practices in the ever changing and dynamic workplace of the 21st Century.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8110
Managing in a World-Wide Context
3

Addresses how regardless of whether you work in a large or small company, a governmental agency, a nonprofit or community-based organization, or run your own small business, you must function in a new and highly interconnected world-wide context. This course explores this new environment from multiple perspectives. Students will examine cultural, environmental, ethical, political, and legal differences across different regions of the world. Attention is focused on how to manage and lead across boundaries to meet the challenges of this new context. Theories of international management, international human resource management, and international finance and accounting are considered as is the role of information technology in creating greater access to the world-wide economy.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8120
Knowledge Management and Information Systems
3

Addresses the importance of getting the right knowledge to the right individuals at the right time to make the best possible decisions – and drive to action. The unique strength of this course is the effective combination of the field of Knowledge Management (KM) with Information Systems (IS) to help meet these challenges. Students will learn how knowledge is created, collected, organized, stored, retrieved, disseminated, and applied across organizations; and how technology is used to support evidence-based decisions. This course builds on the theories of Knowledge Management, Information Systems, and Information Technology along with supporting theories: Information Theory, Communications Theory, Leadership Theory, Human Behavior Theory, and Organizational Change Theory. The course includes the development of a Final Paper where these concepts are applied to address the needs of an actual organization.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8130
Quality Improvement and Organizational Change
3

Explores the concepts of quality improvement and organizational change to achieve sustained organizational excellence. These concepts are not new. What is important is how to effectively integrate these concepts to meet the needs of all types of organizations: Private, non-profit, and government. Students will study the history of these concepts and examine major quality/change initiatives including: Total quality, ISO 9000, Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence, leadership, benchmarking, Six Sigma, statistical thinking, and other leading initiatives. The course includes the development of a Final Paper where these concepts are applied to address the needs of an actual organization. Click here for access to the Student Learning Outcomes for this course.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8140
Corporate and Personal Ethics
3

Reviews how socially responsible and innovative corporate governance is required to meet the challenges of global warming, the stewardship of scarce resources, and the distribution of income among various stakeholders. Students will examine how ethical principles can be integrated into corporate strategies. The responsibility to a wide array of stakeholders is examined as well as factors that should be considered in guiding a company’s philanthropic, community development and sustainable business practices. Students will also focus on individual ethics and how managers and leaders can build congruency between their values and actions. Finally, students will examine best practices in corporate social innovation by such firms as Ben and Jerry’s, KLD, Plug Power, PwC, UN Global Compact, and Schlumberger SEED.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8400
Introduction to Research Methods and Designs
3

Introduces students to an array of quantitative and qualitative research methods and designs and their appropriate application in empirical research. Topics related to quantitative research include measurement, sampling, hypothesis testing, variables, validity, reliability, and causation. Different quantitative research designs will be covered including experimental and quasi-experimental, survey, field, designs utilizing existing data, and evaluation research. Topics related to qualitative research will also be covered including interviewing, coding, nonrandom sampling, quality of evidence (credibility and dependability). Qualitative designs covered include case study, phenomenological, and grounded theory. The course will serve as a refresher on basic statistical concepts, including descriptive and inferential statistics, and the appropriate use of parametric and nonparametric procedures. Ethics involved in research are covered including the protection of human subjects as required by the Baker College Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8920

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8410
Defining the Dissertation Research Problem and Research Question
3

Defines the purpose of dissertation studies; produces a clear statement of the research problem based on a detailed review of the literature, and produces research questions to be answered or hypotheses to be tested. Students will include these in a dissertation prospectus, which can be used to select members for their dissertation committee.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8400

Corequisite(s):
None

Doctoral Specialty Requirements
9 Hours
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS
BUS 8600
Doctoral Specialization Seminar I
3

Focuses on the first of two doctoral seminars taken in series and focused on your specialization. The primary focus of these two seminars is the successful completion of your Qualifying Paper, which is Chapter I and Chapter II of the dissertation proposal. In this initial doctoral seminar, you will complete Chapter I Introduction and Statement of Problem. Specifically, you will investigate a topic of your choice within your selected field of study. Chapter I includes a definition of the research problem, identification of the research questions, a description of the purpose of the study, and an explanation about its significance. A brief summary of the literature review as well as a description of the research methodology, identification of relevant terminology, and limitations will be included. The seminar will include the development of a bibliography of major theorists or theories in the field of study.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8410

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8700
Doctoral Specialization Seminar II
3

Focuses on the completion of Chapter II or Literature Review. Specifically, you will expound on your research problem by analyzing, comparing, and contrasting major theories relevant to your chosen topic. You will synthesize these concepts to develop a literature review, which provides a connection between the research problem and the research questions. Your Qualifying Paper is completed in this seminar.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8600

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8800
Doctoral Specialization Seminar III
3

Supports the student’s selection of an appropriate design and methodology based on his or her research problem and a comprehensive review of the research design literature. Provides guidance in coordination with the student’s dissertation chair for the development of Chapter 3 Methodology of the dissertation.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
BUS 8930

Professional Residency Requirements
2 Hours
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS
BUS 8200
Professional Residency
2

Requires students to attend at least one professional conference in the first or second year. The approved conferences will be identified and program faculty will also attend. The DBA program will host a seminar at these events. A list of approved conferences will be developed by the faculty each year. Students will be required to document attendance and write a short paper describing what was learned at the conference. Requires students to attend at least one professional conference in the first or second year. The approved conferences will be identified and program faculty will also attend. The DBA program will host a seminar at these events. A list of approved conferences will be developed by the faculty each year. Students will be required to document attendance and write a short paper describing what was learned at the conference.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010

Corequisite(s):
None

Comprehensive and Qualifying Requirements
6 Hours
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS
BUS 8920
Comprehensive Essay
3

Prepares students to complete the Comprehensive Essay at the end of the first year after the completion of BUS8010, BUS8100, BUS8110, BUS8120, BUS8130, and BUS8140. It provides evidence that the student has mastered foundational theories and concepts in the field of business administration, have an interdisciplinary understanding of the complex nature of business problems, and is able to synthesize and analyze scholarly research publications. The essay requires students to summarize the annotations collected in the Reading Asset Library. The annotations are submitted with the essay.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8010 or BUS 8100, BUS 8110, BUS 8120, BUS 8130, BUS 8140

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8930
Qualifying Paper
3

Allows students to prepare a scholarly paper suitable for publication, in order to qualify for the dissertation phase of the DBA program. Normally this occurs at the end of the second year after all your coursework in the program has been completed except for BUS814 Corporate and Personal Ethics and all that remains is the dissertation. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate mastery of scholarly writing, research methodology, and a depth of knowledge in a field covered by the program. It will provide evidence that the student is able to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, and be able to communicate management and business theories, research findings, and best practices through scholarly publication.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8700

Corequisite(s):
None

Dissertation Requirements
16 Hours
COURSE NUMBER/TITLE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS
BUS 8940
Dissertation Proposal I
2

Allows students to work toward the completion of their dissertation proposal with the support of their chair and committee. The final dissertation is composed of five chapters (Chapter I Introduction and Statement of the Problem; Chapter II Literature Review; Chapter III Methodology; Chapter IV Results; and Chapter V. Conclusions and Recommendations). The proposal is composed of the first three chapters and must be approved before data can be collected and analyzed. https://my.baker.edu/icsfileserver/docs/departments/academics/slos/BUS8940-SLOs.pdf

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8930

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8950
Dissertation Proposal II
2

Allows students to complete their dissertation proposal with the support of their chair and committee. The final dissertation is composed of five chapters (Chapter I Introduction and Statement of the Problem; Chapter II Literature Review; Chapter III Methodology; Chapter IV Results; and Chapter V. Conclusions and Recommendations). The proposal is composed of the first three chapters and must be approved before data can be collected and analyzed. The proposal oral must be successfully completed to pass the course.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8940

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8960
Dissertation I
2

Allows students to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8950

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8970
Dissertation II
2

Allows students to continue to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
BUS 8960

BUS 8980
Dissertation III
2

Allows students to continue to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice.

Prerequisite(s):
BUS 8970

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 8990
Dissertation IV
2

Allows students to continue to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
BUS 8980

BUS 9000
Dissertation V
2

Allows students to continue to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
None

BUS 9010
Dissertation VI
2

Allows students to successfully complete their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document, which addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession’s theory or practice. The dissertation must be successfully completed and submitted to UMI to pass the course.

Prerequisite(s):
None

Corequisite(s):
BUS 9000

In Their Words
BakerProud
“My Baker DBA has helped me to impact the next generation of entrepreneurs. I have had unique opportunities to teach social entrepreneurship on the campuses of Yale, Stanford and most recently, Oxford.”
Ralph Griffith
Baker College Alum
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