Doctor of Business Administration

https://www.saintpeters.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctorate-business-administration/

Gulhan Bizel, Ph.D., Director, Data Science Institute

The Doctor of Business Administration, a 60- credit degree program, is designed for professionals and scholars aiming to lead organizations, teach in academia, or drive innovation. With an emphasis on ethical leadership, digital transformation and practical research, this program blends academic rigor with hands-on learning. Graduates are equipped to lead executive-level decision making, apply analytics and AI responsibly, and teach and research at the collegiate level.

Program Availability 

The DBA program is offered on an 11-week trimester schedule for both full-time and part-time study. Courses are available during Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer trimesters. The program can be completed fully online modality as well.

Degree Requirements 

The degree requires 60 semester hour credits. This includes 24 credits of core curriculum, 24 hours in a concentration (Organizational Leadership, AI and Ethics, or Business Analytics), and 12 credits of dissertation research and completion.

Advisement

Saint Peter's University assigns an academic advisor to every candidate.

Time Limitation

Students are expected to enroll continuously until their programs are completed.  Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress by maintaining the required grade point average and accumulating sufficient credits within the stipulated time frame of five years. By federal regulation, F-1 international students must enroll as full-time students, so their time to completion will be considerably shorter.

Curriculum - Doctor of Business Administration

Core Courses (24 Credits)

These foundational courses equip students with critical knowledge and skills across key business domains:

·       GB-511: Management & Human Behavior (3 credits)

·       GB-622: Management Economics (3 credits)

·       AC-501: Managerial Accounting (3 credits)

·       DS-510: Introduction to Data Science (3 credits) 

·       DS-660: Business Analytics (3 credits)

·       DS-650: Data Law, Ethics, & Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)

·       GB-530: Corporate Finance (3 credits)

·       EC-502: Advanced Microeconomics (3 credits)

Concentrations:

1. Organizational Leadership: This concentration focuses on strategic decision-making, project management, and leadership skills:

·       GB-533: Enterprise Design Thinking (3 credits)

·       AC-520: Financial Accounting & Reporting (3 credits)

·       AC-541: Internal Controls / Sarbanes-Oxley (3 credits)

·       AC-543: Forensic Accounting / Internal Auditing (3 credits)

·       GB-567: Introduction to Project Management (3 credits)

·       GB-800*: Executive Leadership Seminar (3 credits) 

·       GB-801*: Entrepreneurship & Innovation (3 credits) 

2. AI and Ethics: Exploring advanced AI technologies and ethical implications:

·       DS-631: Deep Learning (3 credits)

·       DS-665: Advanced Machine Learning (3 credits)

·       DS-801: Advanced Data Structures & Algorithms (3 credits)

·       DS-802: Natural Language Processing (3 credits)

·       DS-803: Optimization & Computational Linear Algebra (3 credits)

·       DS-807: AI Ethics & Large Language Models (3 credits)

·       DS-808: Advanced Research Seminar in AI Ethics (3 credits)

3. Business Analytics: Focusing on analytical tools and their applications in business decision-making:

·       GB-605: AI Applications in Business (3 credits)

·       DS-620: Data Visualization (3 credits)

·       DS-621: Business Analytics with Power BI (3 credits)

·       DS-687: Artificial Intelligence with IBM (3 credits)

·       DS-703: Practicum in Statistics (3 credits)

·       DS-800: Forecasting Methods for Business Decisions (3 credits)

·       DS-809*: Machine Learning for Business Decision Making (3 credits)

Dissertation Qualifier (3 Credits)

·       DS-860: Comprehensive Examination – (1 Credit)

·       DS-870: DBA Dissertation Proposal - (2 Credit)

Dissertation Research (12 Credits)

Students will engage in advanced research, guided by faculty mentors, to develop and defend an original dissertation:

·       DS-871: Dissertation Seminar I (3 credits)

·       DS-872: Dissertation Seminar II (3 credits)

·       DS-873: Dissertation Seminar III (3 credits)

·       DS-874: Dissertation Seminar IV (3 credits)

Transfer Credits Policy

Students and alumni of Saint Peter’s University who have completed the MBA or any similar master programs may be eligible to transfer up to 18 graduate credits toward the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. This accelerated pathway recognizes prior coursework and allows for a more efficient completion of the DBA. If you earned your MBA from another accredited institution, you may be eligible to transfer up to 12 graduate credits toward the DBA program, pending review and approval of the program director.

Prior Learning Credit

Matriculated students in the GSB graduate programs who meet specific eligibility requirements (GPA of 3.0 and at least 6 completed credits at Saint Peter’s University) can apply for credit for prior learning gained through work experience, certifications, and special accomplishments. A maximum of 6 credits can be earned through prior learning credit, and these credits cannot be combined with transfer credits. Learn more and apply for prior learning credit here.