Business Administration, Doctor of Business Administration

Program Purpose

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program equips executives and decision-makers to enhance critical and strategic thinking, adaptive problem-solving, and decision quality under uncertainty. Students apply their learning to real organizational priorities, generating measurable improvements in strategy execution, operations, talent, customer outcomes, technology adoption, and risk and resilience. The DBA is an applied doctoral program for decision-makers—purpose-led judgment with measurable impact. DBA graduates lead with evidence and deliver with purpose.

Accreditation

The DBA program is an institutional member of and fully accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). 

Program Competencies

Students will develop advanced skills and knowledge in key business disciplines. Upon graduation, students will demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicate complex business research and insights effectively through oral, written, and digital formats, using evidence-based problem solving, emerging technologies, and culturally responsive strategies across professional, academic, and global contexts.
• Design and lead transformational initiatives that drive strategic change and organizational performance, applying leadership theory, self-reflection, cultural humility, and an adaptive growth mindset in diverse and global environments.
• Analyze and solve complex organizational problems using evidence-based reasoning, interdisciplinary theories, and critical thinking to deliver innovative, strategic, and responsible solutions.
• Design and execute rigorous research strategies using advanced information literacy, data analytics, and emerging technologies to generate original insights that advance business research and practice.
• Apply ethical, legal, and sustainability frameworks to real-world business decisions, demonstrating responsible leadership and sensitivity to organizational, societal, and global impacts.
• Evaluate and apply change and strategy frameworks to address contemporary global business challenges, demonstrating adaptability, strategic judgment, and evidence-based decision making.

Program Design

The DBA degree requires the completion of 48 semester credit hours. The program course work is designed to be completed within a 2 1/2 year time frame. The consultancy project or dissertation will require additional time to complete, typically 1-2 years. 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.

Format

Wilmington University is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals through high-quality programs, affordable tuition, and flexible formats designed for busy professionals. The DBA program offers two format options:

100% Online: Students complete all courses online through live virtual class meetings, discussions, presentations, peer interaction, and small-group learning activities.

Face-to-Face Classroom: Students take their courses in person, attending class in a physical classroom on campus.

To provide a seamless experience, students are expected to remain in their selected format throughout the program. Individual cohort adjustments may be considered when appropriate. Classes run in 7-week blocks, with a typical load of two courses per semester. Students who take two courses each semester in spring, summer, and fall can complete six courses per year.

New Student Orientation Requirement

Each student will participate in a new student orientation that is held approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the start of your first semester. Attendance is required to be eligible to start the program. Prior to the orientation meeting, students are required to watch a series of videos that orient them to details related to Canvas (the online learning platform), library resources and doctoral writing requirements. The videos can be found on the DBA Organization Site in Canvas. The DBA program’s administrative assistant will provide access to this site when students are fully accepted and have enrolled in their first courses.

Residency Requirement

Residency is an important event for DBA students. It is held one time per cohort. This is a two-day series of workshops, activities, and individual meetings. Residency occurs at the end of Year 2 as students are beginning their consultancy project or dissertation work. Attendance is required.  The goal for Residency is to refine your dissertation research topic area. Following Residency, students are assigned their Dissertation Committee.

Advancing to Doctoral Candidacy

At the conclusion of DBA 8000, the student’s dissertation committee must approve the student’s research proposal for their consultancy project or dissertation. Upon completion of this requirement, in addition to the completion of all required courses prior to the 9000 series course, the student will then advance to doctoral candidacy.

Consultancy Project or Dissertation

The DBA dissertation (consultancy project or traditional five chapter) requires a minimum of 3 semester credit hours for completion. The research proposal must be completed, reviewed, and approved by the student’s dissertation committee before data collection in the area of the research topic. Once the consultancy project or dissertation 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 48 credit hours, including 5 research foundation courses, 10 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) obtain approval of the student’s research proposal; and (4) successfully complete and defend the consultancy project or dissertation. These requirements must be completed within seven years of matriculation into the program.

Course Requirements

Course sequencing

LDR 7000 Leading with Purpose

LDR 7100 Innovation & Change

DBA 7505 Strategic Problem Framing

DBA 7400 Executive Finance

DBA 7510 Business Intelligence

DBA 7310 Executive Decision-Making

DBA 7100 Organizational Strategy

DBA 7800 Global & Ethical Management Models

DBA 7200 Advanced Organizational Behavior

DBA 7950 AI in Leadership

RES 7106 Disciplined Inquiry I

RES 7107 Disciplined Inquiry II

RES 7111 Research Design

RES 7112 Research Analysis

DBA 8000 Seminar on Research in Management

DBA 9000 DBA Research

DBA 9004 DBA Research

This information applies to new students who enter this degree program during the 2026-2027 Academic Year. All enrolled students should log in to MyWilmU Degree Works to view their personalized course and program completion requirements. You may also refer to the academic catalog for the general curriculum for this program from previous academic years.