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Graduate Program

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program serves the needs of mature students, helping them to advance in their careers. The program is designed to graduate scholar practitioners who will set the standard for best practices and contribute to the solution of critical business and management problems through research, teaching, and consulting. The program is designed to serve the needs of both fully employed and full-time students with a background as experienced business professionals who want to translate their industry expertise into leadership positions as consultants or as executives within their organizations. The program creates an opportunity for the student to demonstrate application of the knowledge and skills gained in the course work portion of the program and to demonstrate the critical thinking and analytical skills required to successfully complete the Doctoral Project.

Admissions Requirements

Major: CIP Code 52.0201

Related Jobs: Business Administration and Management, General

Job Outlook and Salary: Business

Overview
Requirements

Program Learning Objectives (PLO)

Primary objectives of this program include equipping students with the knowledge and ability to:

  1. Produce scholarly written communication. (SLO1)
  2. Deliver advanced oral presentations. (SLO2)
  3. Demonstrate expert-level critical thinking to address complex business challenges through research. (SLO3)
  4. Evaluate ethical theories in complex business issues from a Christian worldview. (SLO4)
  5. Critically evaluate, synthesize, and contribute to business knowledge through rigorous research. (SLO5)

Mode of Instruction

Instruction can be completed through classroom-hybrid and/or online instructional methodologies.

Completion Time

 

ProgramFull Time
Standard (Yrs)		Part Time Standard (Yrs)Full Time 150% (Yrs)Part time 150% (Yrs)
DBA4466

Curriculum

DBA Program RequirementsSem. Hrs.
Foundation Component
3 Courses
9 Semester Hours
(Non-MBA holders must take the following or transfer in equivalents)		ECN 500 Managerial Economics3
FIN 500 Financial Management3
MKT 500 Marketing Management3
Core Component
4 Courses
12 Semester Hours		BUS 860 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility3
ECN 800 Economic Theory and Policy3
MGT 800 Leadership in Organizations3
MGT 860 Managerial Decision Making3
Internship Component
2 Semester Hours		The Internship Component requirement can be fulfilled by completing an internship, internship reflection course, or by seeking Prior Experiential Learning credit (PEL).
Internship I1
Internship II1
Elective Component
13 Semester Hours		Elective I3
Elective II
3
Elective III3
Elective IV3
Elective V3
Research Component
3 Courses
9 Semester Hours		RSC 810 Literature Review3
RSC 900 Doctoral Research Methods 3
Choose 1 (other can be elective)
RSC 905 Quantitative Analysis3
RSC 910 Qualitative Analysis3
Comprehensive Examination Component
2 Courses
9 Semester Hours		DOC 901 Comprehensive Examination4.5
DOC 902 Comprehensive Examination4.5
Project Component
4 Courses
15 Semester Hours		DOC 910 Prospectus4.5
DOC 911 Proposal4.5
DOC 912 Project4.5
DOC 913 Project Defense1.5
TOTAL DBA 60

*69 units with prerequisites. For the course descriptions, click here.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Complete 60 semester units of prescribed curriculum.
  2. Complete a minimum of TWO internships.
  3. Complete Comprehensive Examinations and Doctoral Project.
  4. Complete all required coursework with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  5. Apply for graduation and meet all academic and financial requirements.
  6. F-1 students must maintain lawful status.
Overview
Requirements

Primary Learning Objectives (PLO)

Primary objectives of this program include equipping students with the knowledge and ability to:

  1. Employ advanced written communication skills to share complex information, organizational vision, and actionable guidelines to various audiences. (ILO1)
  2. Deliver advanced oral presentations that use effective content, organization, and delivery, accompanied by appropriate technology. (ILO2)
  3. Demonstrate the skills, competence, and critical thinking required to design, execute, and evaluate creative and meaningful research in a field of specialization. (ILO3)
  4. Generate, evaluate, and assess the Christian ethical obligations and responsibilities of business for the purpose of responsible management. (ILO5)
  5. Demonstrate effective information literacy skills including formulation of research problems; integration of previous publications into an appropriate literature review; design of a research study; data analysis; ability to summarize and present the results. (ILO6)

Mode of Instruction

Instruction can be completed through classroom-hybrid and/or online instructional methodologies.

Completion Time

 

Doctor of Business Administration
Full Time Standard (Yrs)
4
Part Time Standard (Yrs)
4
Full Time 150% (Yrs)
6
Part time 150% (Yrs)
6

Curriculum

D.B.A. Program Requirements
Foundation Component
3 Courses
9 Semester Hours
(Non-MBA holders must take the following or transfer in equivalents)
ECN 500 Managerial Economics3
FIN 500 Financial Management3
MKT 500 Marketing Management3
Core Component
4 Courses
12 Semester Hours
BUS 860 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility3
ECN 800 Economic Theory and Policy3
MGT 800 Leadership in Organizations3
MGT 860 Managerial Decision Making3
Internship Component
2 Semester Hours
The Internship Component requirement can be fulfilled by completing an internship, internship reflection course, or by seeking Prior Experiential Learning credit (PEL).
Internship I1
Internship II1
Elective Component
13 Semester Hours
Elective I3
Elective II3
Elective III3
Elective IV3
Elective V3
Research Component
3 Courses
9 Semester Hours
RSC 810 Literature Review3
RSC 900 Doctoral Research Methods3
Choose 1 (other can be elective)
RSC 905 Quantitative Analysis3
RSC 910 Qualitative Analysis3
Comprehensive Examination Component
2 Courses
9 Semester Hours
DOC 901 Comprehensive Examination4.5
DOC 902 Comprehensive Examination4.5
Project Component
4 Courses
15 Semester Hours
DOC 910 Prospectus4.5
DOC 911 Proposal4.5
DOC 912 Project4.5
DOC 913 Project Defense1.5
TOTAL D.B.A.60

*69 units with prerequisites. For the course descriptions, click here.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Complete 60 semester units of prescribed curriculum.
  2. Complete a minimum of TWO internships.
  3. Complete Comprehensive Examinations and Doctoral Project.
  4. Complete all required coursework with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  5. Apply for graduation and meet all academic and financial requirements.
  6. F-1 students must maintain lawful status.

Concentrations

Beauty Management

CIP Code 52.0101

A program that focuses on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and nonprofit public and private institutions and agencies. The programs may prepare individuals to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • HCA 540K Beauty and Health (3 units)
  • MGT 650K Consumer Management for Beauty Industry (3 units)
  • BUS 605K Entrepreneurship in Beauty Industry (3 units)

Business Analytics

CIP Code 30.7102

A program that prepares individuals to apply data science to solve business challenges. Includes instruction in machine learning, optimization methods, computer algorithms, probability and stochastic models, information economics, logistics, strategy, consumer behavior, marketing, and visual analytics.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • MIS 555 Business Analytics (3 units)
  • MIS 560 Database Management Systems (3 units)
  • MIS 570 Applied Decision Making (3 units)

Economics

CIP Code 45.0601

A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • ECN 510 International Economics (3 units)
  • ECN 520 Money, Banking, and Financial Systems (3 units)
  • ECN 800 Economic Theory and Policy (3 units)

Finance

CIP Code 52.0801

A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. Includes instruction in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management

Courses Required (9 units)

  • FIN 510 Advanced Financial Management (3 units)
  • FIN 530 International Financial Management (3 units)
  • FIN 540 Financial Markets and Institutions (3 units)
  • FIN 550 Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring, and Corporate Governance (3 units)

Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism

CIP Code 52.0901

A program that prepares individuals to serve as general managers and directors of hospitality operations on a system-wide basis, including both travel arrangements and promotion and the provision of traveler facilities. Includes instruction in principles of operations in the travel and tourism, hotel and lodging facilities, food services, and recreation facilities industries; hospitality marketing strategies; hospitality planning; management and coordination of franchise and unit operations; business management; accounting and financial management; hospitality transportation and logistics; and hospitality industry policies and regulations.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • HTT 500 Global Hospitality and Tourism (3 units)
  • HTT 505 Hotel Operations Management (3 units)
  • HTT 510 Restaurant and Culinary Management (3 units)

Human Resource Management

CIP Code 52.1001

A program that generally prepares individuals to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. Includes instruction in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labor relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources law and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • HRM 505 Compensation (3 units)
  • HRM 510 Staffing (3 units)
  • HRM 515 Training and Development (3 units)
  • HRM 520 Employment Law (3 units)

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

CIP Code 42.2804

A program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and group behavior in institutional settings, applications to related problems of organization and industry, and that may prepare individuals to apply such principles in industrial and organizational settings. Includes instruction in group behavior theory, organizational theory, reward/punishment structures, human-machine and human-computer interactions, motivation dynamics, human stress studies, environmental and organizational influences on behavior, alienation and satisfaction, and job testing and assessment. See also: 52.1003) Organizational Behavior Studies.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • PSY 500 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 units)
  • PSY 610 Social Psychology (3 units)
  • RSC 510 Social Science Research (3 units)

Logistics and Supply Chain Management

CIP Code 52.0203

A program that prepares individuals to manage and coordinate all logistical functions in an enterprise, ranging from acquisitions to receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources to operations units, to the handling and delivery of output. Includes instruction in acquisitions and purchasing, inventory control, storage and handling, just-in-time manufacturing, logistics planning, shipping and delivery management, transportation, quality control, resource estimation and allocation, and budgeting.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • MGT 605 Materials Management (3 units)
  • MGT 620 Operations Management and Supply Chain (3 units)
  • MGT 630 Quality Management in the Supply Chain (3 units)

Luxury Brand Management

CIP Code 52.1902

A program that prepares individuals to promote product lines/brands, and organize promotional campaigns, at the wholesale level to attract retailer interest, wholesale purchasing, and supply contracts. Includes instruction in wholesaling, wholesale advertising, selling, and customer relations.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • MKT 560 Marketing and Consumer Behavior (3 units)
  • MKT 580 Luxury Brand Management (3 units)
  • MKT 590 Social Media and Digital Marketing (3 units)
  • MKT 595 Event Management (3 units)

Marketing

CIP Code 52.1401

A program that generally prepares individuals to undertake and manage the process of developing consumer audiences and moving products from producers to consumers. Includes instruction in buyer behavior and dynamics, principle of marketing research, demand analysis, cost-volume and profit relationships, pricing theory, marketing campaign and strategic planning, market segments, advertising methods, sales operations and management, consumer relations, retailing, and applications to specific products and markets.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • MKT 510 Marketing Channels Strategy (3 units)
  • MKT 520 Strategic Brand Management (3 units)
  • MKT 530 Strategic Retail Management (3 units)
  • MKT 550 Global Marketing Management (3 units)
  • MKT 550k Global Marketing Management (3 units)
  • MKT 560 Marketing and Consumer Behavior (3 units)
  • MKT 580 Luxury Brand Management (3 units)
  • MKT 590 Social Media and Digital Marketing (3 units)
  • MKT 595 Event Management (3 units)
  • MKT 805 Marketing Research and Competitive Strategy (3 units)

Management Information Systems

CIP Code 11.0101

A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.

Courses Required (9 units)

  • MIS 550 Enterprise Resource Planning for Managers (3 units)
  • MIS 560 Database Management Systems (3 units)
  • MIS 580 IT Project Management (3 units)

Management Science

CIP Code 52.1301

A general program that focuses on the application of statistical modeling, data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting and operations research techniques to the analysis of problems of business organization and performance. Includes instruction in optimization theory and mathematical techniques, data mining, data warehousing, stochastic and dynamic modeling, operations analysis, and the design and testing of prototype systems and evaluation models.

Courses Required (3 units)

  • MGS 600 Management Science (3 units)
  • MGS 610 Strategic Analytics (3 units)
  • MGS 630 Project Management (3 units)
  • MGS 640 System Engineering Management (3 units)
  • MGS 660 Strategic Brand Management (3 units)

Quality and Cost Effective

Graduate

Level

Hybrid/Online

Instruction Methods

4 Years

Program Length
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Student Testimonials

  • Completing my DBA at IAU from March 2021 to March 2025 has been a journey marked by perseverance. Transferring credit hours from Malaysia’s university during the COVID-19 period posed academic and administrative challenges. At the same time, I navigated a career shift in 2021, welcomed a premature baby in 2022 and cared for hospitalized parents in 2023. Despite these personal trials, I remained focused and graduated with a CGPA of 3.49/4.00 This achievement reflects not just academic effort but a deep commitment to growth through adversity and I am deeply grateful to IAU for supporting this journey.

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    Fam Deng Fong
    DBA 2025 Student

  • I am truly honored and proud to be a graduate of this outstanding university. My academic journey here has been an unforgettable experience that shaped not only my professional skills but also my character and vision for the future.

    The university provided me with a supportive environment, excellent professors, and opportunities to grow and challenge myself.

    I will always carry the values and knowledge I gained here.

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    Mohammad Bassam Deeb Alabed
    DBA 2025 Student

  • The strategic frameworks from the business strategy course, communication skills from public speaking, ERP knowledge from managing enterprise resource planning, and ethical insights from business ethics were invaluable. The professors and supportive IAU staff were the key to my learning and career development.

    Ilef Mezhoudi
    DBA 2024 Student

  • I am so happy and thankful for the opportunity which God has provided me to study at IAU with highly educated and experienced faculty through distance education. The IAU faculty was so cooperative in providing the assignments and also helped me to achieve the course till the end. Thank you IAU for providing me such a platform to learn with theoretical and practical knowledge of Business Administration.

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    Abey Thomas Parakkulathu
    DBA 2012 Student

  • The structure of the lectures at IAU allows for shared experiences within the classroom, which was very useful, as many students come to IAU from all over the world. The teaching methods of the lectures are very appropriate and easy to understand, which fits working adults and distance learning students.

     

    Corporate Strategic Planning and Organizational Behavior are among the classes that were most beneficial for me. In the classroom, we discussed case studies to help relate the knowledge we’d gained to its real-world applications.

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    Marimuthu Nadason
    DBA 2011 Student

  • I am deeply indebted to the staff at IAU. Both the academic and non-academic staff at IAU were excellent and very prompt in responding to my needs. This is one of the reasons that I, being a candidate from many miles away in Sri Lanka, was able to complete the doctoral program on schedule.

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    Ranjan Madanayake
    DBA 2009 Student

  • First of all, the staff and faculty are very kind. I got excellent help from the staff and faculty. Economics was particularly helpful. The program is fantastic.

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    Mohammad Ali Alomari
    DBA 2008 Student

  • My participation with IAU university was by far one of the extreme experiences of my life. It is a nice place to study and learn from multi-national students. I strongly recommend the International American University to anyone who is interested in a countless opportunity, not only grow as a person, but also develop the knowledge in multiple programs they offer and have an enhanced job opportunity.

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    Mohsen Tavakoli
    DBA 2008 Student

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