Doctor of Business Administration: Strategic Management
A Doctor of Business Administration is the highest professional degree level in the study of Business Administration and enables you to compete for senior-level positions by enhancing your knowledge of business trends, research and theories.
You schedule shouldn’t be the reason, you’re unable to advance your career with a DBA degree. Which is why CMU offers affordable and flexible online DBA degree programs, ideal for working professionals, parents and other individuals seeking to obtain a DBA degree while balancing work and home. Our online DBA degree program enables you to further develop the skills, knowledge and theories obtained in your acquired degrees, the workplace and life to confidently pursue professional opportunities.
This concentration prepares individuals who seek top leadership positions in business or who seek to be valued consultants to businesses and other organizations. Prospective top leaders and consultants must prepare themselves to see and evaluate the “big picture” and think and act “strategically.” Leaders develop analytical and strategic thinking skills early in their careers. Consultants engage in problems solving with their client firms, always with an understanding of the strategic implications of what they are doing, and ultimately help firms develop and implement strategies.
MGT 7610: Seminar in Strategy and Competitive Advantage (3 credit hours)
This course concentrates on strategy issues at the business unit level. Its focus is on the question of how firms can create and sustain a competitive advantage. A central part of the course deals with new concepts that have been developed around the notions of complementarities and fit. Other topics covered in the course include the creation of competitive advantage through commitment, competitor analysis, real options, modularity, and increasing returns.
MGT 7620: Technology and Innovation Strategy (3 credit hours)
This course emphasizes how the future manager or entrepreneur can use strategic management of innovation and technology to enhance firm performance.The course is designed to meet the needs of future managers, entrepreneurs, bankers, or consultants who must understand the interactive role of technology and organization to derive competitive advantage.
MGT 7630: International Strategy Formulation and Execution (3 credit hours)
This strategy course addresses how to assess the performance of a business, what determines performance, how to conduct a strategic audit and how to develop a specific course of action to deal with strategic issues. The opportunity to enhance value by aligning strategy and organizational infrastructure is analyzed. The ability to implement change to enhance competitiveness is examined.Participants develop general management abilities by integrating prior knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses and ‘pulling it all together’ in the process of strategy formulation and strategic choice.
MGT 7640: Strategic Decision Making (MCDM, DSS, ES) (3 credit hours)
This course will examine how decisions are made in strategic settings, that is, scenarios where the wellbeing of a person depends not only on his/her own actions but also on those of others he/she is interacting with. In deciding on his/her actions, a person has to either predict the actions of others or he/she has to take account of actions they have already taken.The theory of strategic behavior (‘game theory’) to be developed in this course has truly enormous scope for applicability. It can be applied to scenarios in history, economics, psychology, business, sociology, anthropology, military conflict, and biology.This course will provide a framework to think systematically about questions in these diverse areas. The goal is to enable students to make sense of the many events, institutions, social norms, government actions, and patterns of individual behavior that we observe in past and present societies.
MGT 7650: Organization Theory: A Strategic Approach (3 credit hours)
This course provides a strategic, applied approach to organization theory that emphasizes decision-making.The course presents a balance of theory, research, and practice and focuses on how students can use their knowledge of organization theory to be better managers and organization members.
MGT 7660: Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations (3 credit hours)
This is course to introduce students to strategic management issues in the nonprofit sector. The course will cover key issues in founding, leading, managing, and governing nonprofit organizations and new nonprofit ventures, including organizational mission, strategic analysis and planning, board governance, multiple constituencies, partnerships and collaborations, human resources, financial management, fundraising and resource development, and performance measurement and impact.
BUS 7001-MGT: Business Administration Career Practical Training (3 credit hours) Repeatable in BUS 7002 or BUS 7003 (1 credit hour)
This course is an elective externship course. This course of 3 semester units requires 135 hours of externship in the eight-week session.
This course may be repeated, however, only the first 3 semester credits count toward the required units required for graduation. The course is designed to give the student practical On-The-Job experience in the directed area of Business Administration. The course presents an opportunity for student to apply and practice their knowledge and skills they have learned in their degree program and further develop their passion for their chosen industry in a real-world setting.
Courses
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree requires 61 graduate semester credits beyond the Master’s degree. The dissertation preparation courses account for 13 of the total required credits. A comprehensive exam is required prior to approval of the dissertation proposal. The 10 core courses account for 30 total required semester credits.
| Course No. | Title | Credit Hours |
| BUS 7020 | Seminar in Organizational Theory and Corporate Governance The purpose of this high-level course offered as a seminar is to take an in-depth look at selected theoretical approaches that explain modern and complex organizational phenomena. Among most pertinent theories, the course concentrates primarily on macro organizational theories, which takes an organization’s analytical view. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7040 | Seminar in Advanced Corporate Finance The objective of the course is to gain an appreciation of the theoretical controversies surrounding corporate finance policies, leading to formulation of financing strategies.
Topics: competing capital structure theories including financial distress and agency costs, dividend policy and taxation, IPOs in both debt and equity markets, motives for convertibles and warrants, valuing real options, rationales for corporate diversification including internal capital markets and agency theory. ** Possible Prerequisite FIN 6160 if student does not have Master’s degree with foundation coursework. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7050 | Modern Business-Driven Technologies and E-commerce The course starts with introducing modern e-commerce and provides a comprehensive introduction of e-business and e-commerce management theory and practice. Students will get familiar with the technology infrastructure for e-commerce. The second part of the course covers essential concepts and topics in fundamental core units while providing additional business coverage and technology plug-ins. The course’s unique design allows students to cover critical concepts and topics in the basic core units while providing them with the ability to customize a course and explore certain topics in greater detail with the business and technology plug-ins. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7060 | International Sustainability and Social Responsibility This course will provide an understanding of the systems and practice of governance in corporations. The issues of executive remuneration, monitoring mechanisms, and the effects of government regulations are explored and current reforms of corporate governance are analyzed.
Further issues addressed will include board profiles, roles and performance, CEO-board relationships, reasons for and governance lessons from corporate failures, and approaches to assessing governance effectiveness. ** Possible Prerequisite MGT 6170 if student does not have Master’s degree with foundation coursework. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7070 | Globalization and Global Business Strategy This course considers the objectives and strategies of international business in the context of global competition. It equips managers with a comprehensive framework to formulate strategies in the global marketplace.
The course covers competitive advantage, competitive strategies, alternative modes of market entry, including import and export through intermediaries, contracting with suppliers and distributors, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Case studies are used throughout to illustrate the basic principles of multinational business management and strategy. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7080 | Applied Statistics (Grade of 80% or higher required to pass) This course provides an overview of mathematical statistics with particular emphasis on regression analysis and statistical modeling.
The basis focus is to introduce students to the use of regression analysis and other techniques as tools for conducting empirical research. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7090 | Organizational Change Management and Business Ethics This course focuses on processes of organizational change. The goals are to provide frameworks and tools for effectively introducing and sustaining organizational change.
Topics include initiation, implementation, and institutionalization of change in various organizational contexts. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7100 | Seminar in Advanced Marketing This course covers the full range of the principles, theories, and practice of the management of the marketing function.
The course focuses on formulating and implementing marketing management strategies and policies, a task undertaken in most companies at the strategic business unit level. **Possible Prerequisite MKT 6120 if student does not have Master’s degree with foundation coursework. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7110 | Strategic Human Resource Management This course examines how HR adds value to the organization’s business strategy. It addresses four human resource agendas: employee champion, administrative expert, change agent, and strategic partner. It reviews the changing nature of HR and builds on the best of contemporary HR practices.
Applicable theories and methods of strategic, operational, and tactical planning and their relationship to HR management are covered, as well as the multiple roles HR plays in assisting organizations to gain and sustain competitive advantages in a fast-paced environment. Emphasis is placed on strategic alignment, return on investment, and becoming an employer of choice. The course yields a portfolio of key HR practices designed to support an organization’s strategic focus. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 7130 | Seminar in Advanced Strategic Management (Grade of 80% or higher required to pass) An advanced course that provides an overview of the economic, cultural, psychological, sociological, technological, and political aspects of the global environments confronting environment serving organizations; the concept of environmental turbulence; the nature of strategic and operational work; formulation of mission, goals, objectives, strategy; environment serving organization strategic aggressiveness and capability at different turbulence levels; and strategic diagnosis. (3 credit hours) |
3 |
All DBA students who do not have an MBA or a Master’s degree in a business-related field may have to take some or all of these four foundation courses in Accounting, Operations Management, Finance, and Marketing if the University determines a student does not possess enough foundational knowledge in these areas to be successful in their DBA program at CMU. The following is a list of the 3 semester unit foundation courses that may be required:
| Course No. | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 6140 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| MGT 6170 | Operations Management | 3 |
| FIN 6160 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MKT 6120 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Course No. | Title | Credit Hours |
| BUS 8200A | DBA Competency Examination: Research Methods The BUS 8200A Research Methods Examination has a $200 fee. All DBA Students will take three DBA Competency Examinations during their program and this is one of the three exams (the total for all three exams is $800). Prerequisites: BUS 8210 for the BUS 8200A exam. BUS 7080 Applied Statistics for the BUS 8200B exam. BUS 7130 Seminar in Advanced Strategic Management for the BUS 8200C exam. Prerequisite courses require a grade of 80% or higher to pass. (0 credit hours). |
0 |
| BUS 8200B | DBA Competency Examination: Applied Statistics The BUS 8200B Applied Statistics Examination has a $300 fee. All DBA Students will take three DBA Competency Examinations during their program and this is one of the three exams (the total for all three exams is $800). Prerequisites: BUS 8210 for the BUS 8200A exam. BUS 7080 Applied Statistics for the BUS 8200B exam. BUS 7130 Seminar in Advanced Strategic Management for the BUS 8200C exam. Prerequisite courses require a grade of 80% or higher to pass. (0 credit hours) |
0 |
| BUS 8200C | DBA Competency Examination: Strategic Management The BUS 8200C Strategic Management Examination has a $300 fee. All DBA Students will take three DBA Competency Examinations during their program and this is one of the three exams (the total for all three exams is $800). Prerequisites: BUS 8210 for the BUS 8200A exam. BUS 7080 Applied Statistics for the BUS 8200B exam. BUS 7130 Seminar in Advanced Strategic Management for the BUS 8200C exam. Prerequisite courses require a grade of 80% or higher to pass. (0 credit hours) |
0 |
| BUS 8210 | Business Research Methods (Initial Research Prospectus, Research Canvas) (Grade of 80% or higher required to pass) This course is designed to synthesize the knowledge and skills developed in previous research courses and apply them to the doctoral dissertation process. Students will be exposed to survey instrument design, questionnaire design, sampling methods, data collection and research design, basic inference analysis, research ethics, exploratory research, qualitative analysis, measurement and scaling of data attributes as well as business applications and interpretation of statistical techniques. |
4 |
| BUS 8220 | Dissertation Process This course is designed for students who are beginning their dissertation projects. You will study the principles of scientific method and techniques of research design common to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including sampling methods and data collection techniques. You will learn how to critically read research papers and articles. The aim of the course is to give students the tools to conceptualize their theses in terms of research questions and design, methodology, data collection and qualitative analysis. You will be introduced to the techniques of writing necessary to produce expository and analytical papers in a style that meets the standards of publishable work. Literature research methods will acquaint you with both traditional library research and the recent developments in electronic search and retrieval methods. ** Prerequisite: All of the core and emphasis courses. (4 credit hours) |
4 |
| BUS 8221 A-B | Dissertation Process Extension - if necessary * Repeatable This course is designed for students who are working on their Dissertation Process. It is an extension, if necessary * Repeatable* (1 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 8230 | Dissertation Completion This course will focus on an in-depth examination of methodologies and approaches that are used in business research. The objective of the course is to prepare student for scholarly research in the business field.
Students will learn the methodological and theoretical concepts that prepare them for successful completion of their dissertation and enables them to submit their research for publication to top business research journals. Data collection, analysis, interpretation, assessment, and evaluation are conducted in accordance with the plan described in the proposal. The summary and conclusions flow naturally from this point. **Prerequisite: BUS 8210 and BUS 8220. (4 credit hours) Repeatable in BUS 8231 (1 credit hour) |
4 |
| BUS 8231 A-B | Dissertation Completion Extension - if necessary * Repeatable This course is designed for students who are working on their Dissertation Completion. It is an extension, if necessary * Repeatable* (1 credit hours) |
3 |
| BUS 8240 | Dissertation Defense and Degree Completion This course is designed for students who are working on their Dissertation Defense and Degree Completion. (1 credit hours) |
1 |
Education Costs
- Tuition per Unit: $707
- Tuition per 3 Unit Course: $2,121
- Total Program Tuition: $43,127
At the end of the DBA program, the student should be able to:
DBA PLO #1: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical understandings of the different disciplines and concepts covered in the business administration program.
DBA PLO #2: Critically analyze the scholarly literature and empirical evidence of the theories in each area of concentration or specialization.
DBA PLO #3: Communicate knowledge both orally and in writing using academic language.
DBA PLO #4: Demonstrate the content of applicable knowledge of business disciplines in research methodology.
DBA PLO #5: Perform academic research projects and write papers on different topics within the concentration area.
DBA PLO #6: Analyze and evaluate the underlying multiple data collections techniques used in business.
DBA PLO #7: Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic planning in real business settings.