Rigorous. Applied. Interdisciplinary.
Our LMU DBA curriculum promotes encouragement of learning by developing students who are adept to inquiry and research. Students will be encouraged to explore and study various business challenges and problems, considering not only their implications for their respective organizations, industries, and/or sectors, but also their personal and professional lives. Through their educational experience, DBA graduates can be of service to and promote justice through their research and work to enact change in organizations, communities, and society.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the LMU DBA Program will be able to:
- Develop state-of-the art knowledge and competence in business administration.
- Integrate interdisciplinary orientation to generate novel ideas, strategies, and practical approaches to address business issues.
- Formulate research questions and problems, integrate the extant literature, design research, analyze data, summarize and present results, and communicate research in written and oral presentation.
- Generate, evaluate, and assess ethical obligations of businesses (e.g., diversity, equity and inclusion; social justice; environmental and social sustainability; business as a force for good).
- Address complex industry challenges using conceptual frameworks coupled with research design and analysis to develop solutions.
- Design and deliver business topics for presentation at the university level.
Integrating Research and Practice
Our program is designed to be completed in 3 years on a part-time basis for a total of 60 units. In the first 2 years, you will complete courses and prepare for your dissertation, while focusing entirely on completing your dissertation in the third year. Throughout your experience, you will partner with the Dean's office to identify opportunities to participate in conferences and other academic gatherings related to your field of study.
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DBA Residential
The program begins with a week-long, in-person intensive that sets the stage for your DBA experience by emphasizing the innovative, global, ethical, and sustainable business practices as a force for good.
- Transformative Business Innovation for Global Sustainability
Fall Semester
Your first semester is the ideal combination of breadth and depth of the how and what of
business research in terms of conceptual and operational aspects (i.e., envisioning and applying
research through the execution of projects).- Becoming a Researcher
- Introduction to Research Methods
- Topics in Business I
Spring Semester
Your second semester follows up with an exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of business research, continuing exposure to a broad range of business research, and introducing data analysis.
- Generating Business Knowledge
- Data Driven Transformation I
- Topics in Business II
Summer Semester
Over the summer, students will reinforce innovative, global, and ethical business as a force for good themes. In parallel, the first colloquium focuses on developing independent research.
- Transformative Business Innovation and Sustainability
- Doctoral Colloquium I: Independent Research
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Fall Semester
This semester begins an exploration of the various interdisciplinary methodologies deployed in business research. You will also further advance your proficiency in data analysis and take concrete steps towards your academic career goals.
- Frameworks in Business I
- Data Driven Business Transformation II
- Doctoral Colloquium II: Professional Development
Spring Semester
Spring semester continues the coursework and professional development from fall and offers an elective. This course will change from year to year, and topics covered will be dependent on the research interest of students and/or any important area that the faculty deems appropriate for the cohort.
- Frameworks in Business II
- Elective Course
- Doctoral Colloquium III: Scholarship
Summer Semester
Your summer colloquium is focused on making progress towards your dissertation.
- Doctoral Colloquium IV: Dissertation
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Your dissertation is the culminating experience in the program. You will demonstrate your ability to design and execute an entire research project. While dissertations may integrate research conducted in previous classes, the emphasis will be on conceptualizing and executing a new research project.
Fall Semester
- Dissertation I
Spring Semester
- Dissertation II