Admission
Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information and requirements.
For consideration and admission to the Doctor of Business program, applicants should submit:
- A graduate application for admission accompanied by a non-refundable $35 application fee.
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended. The transcripts must be from an accredited college, university, or other degree-granting institution, verifying completion of a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Send official transcript(s) directly from the identified college or university to the Wilmington University Graduate Admissions Office or have official transcripts sent electronically from the institution to gradadmissions@wilmu.edu.
- A current resume.
- Three completed Applicant Recommendation Forms. At least one letter should be from an employer who is able to discuss your professional skills. If possible, at least one letter should be from a professor who is able to comment on your academic performance and ability to pursue doctoral studies.
- A writing sample that describes and explains the applicant’s personal and professional goals, with a self-appraisal of readiness to undertake the rigor of doctoral-level studies.
For consideration and admission to the Doctor of Business Administration program, applicants must present evidence of the following:
- A master’s degree in business or a related field from a regionally accredited institution, or an appropriately certified foreign institution.
- A grade point average of at least 3.3 (on a scale of 4.0) in work leading to a master’s degree.
- A minimum TOEFL® score of 173 on the computer-based version for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution where English is the language of instruction.
- Significant work experience: applicants need to have experience in a management or leadership position, or as an educator in a classroom setting and have the support of their organization.
- Students will be asked to verify that they have a level of technology literacy adequate to successfully pursue the DBA.
The items listed above are minimum requirements for applying. Please note that meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.
Program Purpose
The Doctor of Business Administration degree program (DBA) is designed to facilitate the continuing development of professionals as senior managers or innovative leaders who wish to build upon master’s-level core skills and knowledge. The DBA enables students to develop a higher level of competence in conducting applied research and in the comprehension of theoretical and applied literature in a chosen business discipline. The DBA helps students to develop critical knowledge and skills that will enhance their success in service to their profession and community; in future professional development; and in attaining credentials and skills that are essential to business consulting, management, and academia.
Program Competencies
Students will achieve an advanced level of skills and knowledge in key business functions. Upon graduation the student will be able to:
- Oral Communication
Demonstrate advanced oral business communication skills by selecting appropriate communication tools and utilizing them in a highly effective, professional manner.
- Written Communication
Demonstrate a high skill level in academic writing by properly utilizing information literacy and research methods, critically analyzing results, and expressing findings using clear, concise tools and writing styles and proper academic writing formats.
- Disciplined Inquiry
- Exercise critical thinking strategies, including scientific reasoning for business problem definition, problem analysis, and evaluation of solutions and be able to appropriately apply them at high levels in organizational settings.
- Select appropriate research methods and be able to properly apply them to the economic, behavioral, and social science theories that provide the foundation for strategic research in business administration.
- Information Literacy
Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, and use information and information technologies to enhance the effective utilization and practice of business research.
- Ethics
Properly evaluate and apply high ethical and legal principles to guide professional behaviors and decision-making in business organizations.
- Professional
- Evaluate the theories and tools that are essential to implement change in the business environment and be able to apply them effectively at strategic levels.
- Formulate an understanding of the issues facing business leaders in a contemporary global environment and develop strategies to effectively address those issues.
Program Design
The DBA degree requires the completion of 54 semester credit hours distributed as follows: common core course requirements, 21 credit hours; program core course requirements, 24 credit hours; and dissertation or research project requirements, 9 credit hours. The program course work is designed to be completed within a 2½ year time frame. The dissertation or culminating research project will require additional time to complete, typically a year. The program is organized and scheduled to accommodate the needs of people who maintain full-time employment while pursuing the degree. The program design permits students to complete the requirements for the DBA at their own pace. Students are required to have achieved a “B-” or higher in all doctoral classes.
Format
The DBA Program is offered in two formats: The Hybrid Weeknight and Online. Cohort placement and specific start dates are dependent on preferred format. Students who start the program are expected to stay in the format that they were accepted into. Any exceptions may be discussed with the Director.
Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy
At or near the completion of the student’s course work, but before embarking on the DBA dissertation or research project, the student is required to achieve a passing grade on a formal Comprehensive Examination. In addition, the student is required to form a dissertation committee and gain approval for a concept paper describing the purpose and approach envisioned for dissertation research. After completing these requirements, the student will advance to doctoral candidacy.
Dissertation or Research Project
The DBA dissertation (traditional five chapter or Critical Evaluation Recommendation paper) or culminating research project requires a minimum of 9 semester credit hours for completion. A dissertation or research project proposal must be completed, reviewed, and approved by the student’s dissertation committee prior to the beginning of data collection in the area of the research topic. Once the dissertation or research project is complete, the student will present the results before the dissertation committee and colleagues.
Qualifications for Degree
To qualify for the DBA degree, a student must satisfactorily complete 54 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including four research foundation courses, 11 program-specific courses, and a dissertation or research project. The student must: (1) maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0; (2) achieve a grade of at least “B-” or better in all courses; (3) achieve satisfactory performance on the Comprehensive Examination; (4) obtain approval of the student’s research proposal; and (5) successfully complete and defend the dissertation or research project. These requirements must be completed within seven years of matriculation into the program.
Course Requirements
Common Core Courses (21 credits)
Program Core Courses (24 credits)
| DBA 7310 | Executive Decision-Making | 3 |
| DBA 7400 | Advanced Seminar in Managerial Finance and Accounting | 3 |
| DBA 7510 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| DBA 7600 | Ethics in Business and Management | 3 |
| DBA 7800 | Global Management Models | 3 |
| DBA 8000 | Seminar on Research in Management | 3 |
Two of the following four courses:
| DBA 7200 | Advanced Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| DBA 7700 | Advanced Marketing Management | 3 |
| EDD 7303 | Policy and Planning in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDD 7304 | Planning, Budgeting & the Higher Education Finance Process | 3 |
Dissertation or Project Requirement (9 credits)
DBA Research Continuation (if needed: 0 credits)