Course Descriptions and Curriculum

Phase I: Foundation Online Courses

DBA 700 Virtual Orientation (1 credit)
In this self-paced online tutorial, students will be introduced to the DBA program framework, program mentoring and student services, requirements of applied research, available technology and Felician University library services. The course is separated into a series of modules, and students will progress through the course by successfully completing embedded quizzes on each topic. At the completion of the course, students will be familiar with the DBA program requirements and will be able to develop a timeline and learning plan for completion of the doctoral program.

DBA 720 Advanced Academic Study and Writing (3 credits)
This self-paced, online course is designed to develop your ability to think and write at the doctoral level. You will be required to read, interpret, and critique academic journal articles. A faculty mentor will assess your writing and reasoning skills and will work with you so you are prepared to navigate the remaining coursework in the DBA program. Emphasis is also placed APA formatting – you will successfully complete an APA assessment in the course.

DBA 730 Introduction to Research Methods (3 credits)
This self-paced, online course provides an overview of the family of methods used to conduct high quality business research. Your understanding of the various research approaches and techniques will be assessed by embedded online quizzes. At the completion of the course, you will demonstrate the ability to frame a research question, recommend an appropriate research design, and plan a comprehensive research project.

DBA 740 Statistical and Quantitative Analysis (3 credits)
This course is hybrid and entails a required four-day residency. The course provides an overview of the tools of statistical analysis, but covers statistics from an analysis-of-data rather than purely theoretical point
of view. Prior to the residency component of the course, you will choose a research question, generate a hypothesis, and select appropriate statistical techniques to test that hypothesis. You will also become familiar with the use of SPSS in this course. (Note: the research question used in this course does not need to be the one used by the student for his or her dissertation research.)

Phase II: Core Knowledge Projects

DBA 810 Historical Perspectives in Management (3 credits)
In this project-based course, you will receive a bibliography of seminal works in management theory. You will select a management theme or problem, select at least 10 classic pieces of management scholarship
from the bibliography related to the theme, and prepare a comprehensive review of literature demonstrating the ability to place the current theme or problem in historical perspective.

DBA 815 Contemporary Management Theory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 810

Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 810, you will find at least 15 current journal articles (from a list of approved journals) and prepare an annotated bibliography. In this annotated bibliography, you
will demonstrate your ability to interpret scholarly literature, critique research design and methodology, and apply research conclusions to your selected theme.

DBA 819 Applied Management Theory (4 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 810 and DBA 815
Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 810, you will demonstrate your ability to apply management theory to a real-world situation. Choose a situation from either a company in the news or in your own
firm, prepare an action research report that clearly defines the company’s problem, and make recommendations for its solution grounded in management theory and literature.

DBA 820 Historical Perspectives in Marketing (3 credits)
In this project-based course, you will receive a bibliography of seminal works in marketing theory. Select a marketing theme or problem, select at least 10 classic pieces of marketing scholarship from the bibliography related to the theme, and prepare a comprehensive review of literature demonstrating the ability to place the current theme or problem in historical perspective.

DBA 825 Contemporary Marketing Theory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 820
Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 820, find at least 15 current journal articles (from a list of approved journals) and prepare an annotated bibliography. In this annotated bibliography, demonstrate your ability to interpret scholarly literature, critique research design and methodology, and apply research conclusions to your selected theme.

DBA 829 Applied Marketing Theory (4 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 820 and DBA 825
Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 820, demonstrate your ability to apply marketing theory to a real-world situation. Choose a situation from either a company in the news or your own firm, prepare an action research report that clearly defines the company’s problem and makes recommendations for its solution grounded in marketing theory and literature.

DBA 830 Historical Perspectives of Decision Theory (3 credits)
In this project-based course, you will receive a bibliography of seminal works in quantitative decision theory. Select a quantitative theme or problem, select at least 10 classic pieces of quantitative decision
theory scholarship from the bibliography related to the theme, and prepare a comprehensive review of literature demonstrating the ability to place the current theme or problem in historical perspective.

DBA 835 Contemporary Decision Theory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 830
Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 830, find at least 15 current journal articles (from a list of approved journals) and prepare an annotated bibliography. In this annotated bibliography, demonstrate your ability to interpret scholarly literature, critique research design and methodology, and apply research conclusions to your selected theme.

DBA 839 Applied Decision Theory (4 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 830 and DBA 835
Using the same theme or problem selected in DBA 830, demonstrate your ability to apply quantitative decision theory to a real-world situation. Choose a situation from either a company in the news or their own firms, prepare an action research report that clearly defines the company’s problem, and make recommendations for its solution grounded in decision theory and literature.

Phase III: Concentration Mastery Demonstration

DBA 750 Online Communication of Business Knowledge (3 credits)
This is a cohort-based asynchronous online course that prepares you to create and facilitate a university-level online course. Principles of course design, pedagogy, and student assessment are covered. By course
completion you will either design a new online course or recreate an already existing online course according to current best practices.

DBA 850 Teaching Assistantship (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 750

In this asynchronous online or hybrid course, you will learn to appropriately assess student learning, facilitate online discussions, and update learning materials.

DBA 860 Online Teaching Practicum (3 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 750 and DBA 850

In this practicum, you will, under the supervision of a faculty mentor, serve as lead facilitator in a fully online or hybrid university-level course. Performance will be assessed by rubric and will be ongoing over the span of the 8- or 9-week course.

DBA 760 Independent Study in Business (6 credits)
Prerequisite: approval of program director or dean

In this competency-based course, you select an area in which you wish to develop enough expertise to pass a recognized certification or licensure exam. You will work with a faculty mentor to assemble resources to
prepare for this exam. At the conclusion of the course, you will have a confirmed test date.

DBA 870 Field Demonstration in Business (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 760
You will provide evidence of a new certification or license earned in DBA 760, and write a reflection paper explaining how this new credential will help you reach academic and career goals. The paper is scored by
rubric.

Phase IV: Dissertation

DBA 900 Dissertation I (3 credits)
Self-paced, online
With online guidance you begin to prepare your dissertation. Define a topic, develop a prospectus and submit it for approval; form a dissertation committee; and develop a proposal. You will submit the introduction,
draft of the review of literature, and preliminary reference list upon completion of the course.

DBA 910 Dissertation 2 (3 credits)
Prerequisite: DBA 900
Self-paced, online
You will receive guidance as you complete the review of literature, the selection of research design and methodology, and revision/refinement of the submitted proposal. Submit the final review of literature, gain IRB
approval for the project, and successfully defend the proposal by the completion of the course.

DBA 920 Dissertation 3 (3 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 900 and DBA 910
Self-paced, online
With online guidance you will be conducting the dissertation study, analyzing and interpreting data, and drawing conclusions based on results. Submit the first draft of the completed dissertation by the completion of the course.

DBA 930 Dissertation 4 (3 credits)
Prerequisites: DBA 900, DBA 910, DBA 920
Self-paced, online
Receive the online guidance you need for the completion of your dissertation. Finalize the discussion, conclusions, implications and recommendations, and successfully defend the dissertation. A residency is required for the formal defense.

Complete List of Courses
Phase I: Foundation Courses
DBA 700 Virtual Orientation 1 credit
DBA 720 Advanced Academic Study and Writing 3 credits
DBA 730 Introduction to Research Methods 3 credits
DBA 740 Statistical and Quantitative Analysis 3 credits
Total 10 credits

 

Phase II: Core Knowledge Projects
DBA 810 Historical Perspectives in Management 3 credits
DBA 815 Contemporary Management Theory 3 credits
DBA 819 Applied Management Theory 3 credits
DBA 820 Historical Perspectives in Marketing 3 credits
DBA 825 Contemporary Marketing Theory 3 credits
DBA 829 Applied Marketing Theory 3 credits
DBA 830 Historical Perspectives of Decision Theory 3 credits
DBA 835 Contemporary Decision Theory 3 credits
DBA 839 Applied Decision Theory 3 credits
Total 30 credits

 

Phase III: Demonstrated Competency

Option 1:

DBA 750 Online Communication of Business Knowledge
DBA 850 Teaching Assistantship
DBA 860 Online Teaching Practicum
Total 9 credits
Phase III: Demonstrated Competency

Option 2:

DBA 760 Independent Study in Business 6 credits
DBA 870 Field Demonstration in Business 3 credits
Total 9 credits

 

Phase IV: Dissertation
DBA 900 Dissertation 3 credits
DBA 910 Dissertation 3 credits
DBA 930 Dissertation 3 credits
DBA 940 Dissertation 3 credits
Total 12 credits