DBA Syllabus

Program Admission Requirements

Prospective candidates who already have an MBA degree from a recognized university, and wish to be evaluated for admission to the DBA Program must: (1) in addition to their MBA, hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline from an accredited university; (2) submit a carefully written 3-4 page Essay titled, 'My objectives in undertaking Doctoral Research'; and (3) submit a comprehensive resume or Curriculum Vitae, detailing both academic and professional experience.

The Doctor of Business Administration program consists of 60 credit hours, for which holders of MBA degrees will receive 33 credit hours for their Recognized Prior Learning (RPL). Such students will need to successfully complete the 27-credit-hour research component to be awarded the DBA.

English Proficiency: TOEFL — 530 / IBT 71; IELTS — 6.5; PTE — 50; CEFR — B2; ACT Compass — Level 3.

Program Objective

The program objective of the Doctor of Business Administration degree program is to provide business professionals an opportunity for career related research at a doctoral level. Action research is undertaken to provide an industry-responsive program for senior managers. Students research a specific area of study and write a research thesis.

Note that no program at Calwest is designed to lead to positions in a profession, occupation, trade, or career field requiring licensure in the State of California.

Program Description

Students must complete the research courses listed below via Tubeclasses, which includes a comprehensive Research Project to complete their DBA degree. For the Research Project, an individual supervisor will be appointed to each student by Calwest University. The course consists of 60 credit hours.

Those without an accredited MBA will need to undertake eleven core business courses and three research courses. As such, it is advised to undertake the MBA for CMAs at Calwest University first.

The three research courses are:

• DBA813 Research Proposal
• DBA814 Research Thesis
• DBA801 Research Methods

Time Requirements

A DBA degree will be awarded upon the successful completion of 60 Credit points. This is expected to take 3 years (full time) and 6 years (part time) after start date. Accelerated learning and early completion is possible with permission. In all cases, it is expected that students should finish their doctoral program in 7 years.

Final Assessment

The final assessment is the successful completion and defence of a Research Thesis. You submit the Research Thesis to your supervisor for submission to two examiners for grading.

On the successful completion of the DBA, the prefix 'Dr.' can be used before your name as a professional title, and you can legally describe yourself as a Doctor of Business Administration.

In summary, MBA degree holders need to successfully complete only the Research courses to obtain their DBA.

Course List

Degree Awarded: Doctor of Business Administration [DBA]