Business Administration, DBA

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Business Administration program is to prepare leaders in business to meet the personal and professional challenges of the future. Through an integrated curriculum, students experience advanced business concepts through the exploration and discovery of new knowledge, performing focused research, and conducting detailed analysis. The program creates meaningful learning experiences that develop practitioner-based scholars who from a leadership perspective can apply creative and innovative concepts to complex and diverse business problems in a variety of sectors. The program promotes leaders who can positively contribute to organizations in a professional manner. 

Program Overview

The Doctor of Business Administration program requires successful completion of 90 quarter credit hours. The program must be completed within a maximum timeframe of 54 months. Core courses are supplemented by courses in the specialty area chosen. The courses for this program are conducted in an online delivery format through a competency-based education (CBE) approach. A faculty model is utilized designed for a 1:1 faculty/student relationship that promotes and involves substantive faculty/student interaction. The faculty engage students through a variety of multimedia presentations, conversations, and qualitative and quantitative feedback.

Students complete coursework that supports a strong understanding of the skills required to identify an issue pertinent to their field and determine the existing data and prior research findings that illuminate potential implementations. The primary focus is on identifying and analyzing the value of existing data with a critical lens on both the methodology used in the data collection and the subject matter expertise of the researcher in the student’s field. 

After completing an initial review of the existing data and developing a preliminary analysis within the first courses, students move on to creating a formal literature review and identification of stakeholders to ensure that the research addresses multiple perspectives. This supports the move from review to analysis and toward the final portion of the dissertation in practice or capstone. The final stage will include the student’s findings based upon the analysis of the research and a resulting proposal for implementation commensurate with the industry standards for the field being addressed. As a part of the presentation of the dissertation or capstone, the student includes a description or model of how the recommended proposal will be shared with the community or population it is intended to support. 

Students are empowered within this learning model to apply their learning in practice each term, demonstrating their understanding by creating a portfolio of work. The guiding principle is for students to collaborate with their instructors and create a learning plan that individualizes each demonstration of mastery specific to their field, rather than a predetermined theoretical application. Each course has a set of competencies that can be demonstrated through application of the topic in the students’ field. To that end, the courses are written to address the competency, not a specific subject matter. Each student chooses a focus for the doctoral program that serves as a basis for the individualization.

Overviews of the Specialty Areas are as follows:

Accounting is designed to enhance the student’s knowledge of managerial accounting methods that are essential to understanding and evaluating business performance and management.  Emphasis is on advanced accounting skills to address the real-world business challenges faced by business today.  There is a special focus on formulating, evaluating, and interpreting accounting information for managerial decision making.  Identifying, preventing, and resolving accounting fraud issues is also included, as well as exposure to the special accounting issues related to global, non-profit, and government accounting. 

Communication is designed to prepares senior business leaders and scholar-practitioners to leverage communication as a strategic asset for organizational success. The program blends advanced theory with applied practice to help executives design, implement, and evaluate communication strategies that enhance competitive advantage, guide change, and build lasting stakeholder trust. 

Healthcare Administration is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the field of healthcare. The focus of the program is to have students utilize business management skills within the ever-evolving, complex field of healthcare. Students will examine current and proposed healthcare policy influence on the debate and current issues within healthcare, specifically the business of healthcare. Special emphasis will be on the decision-making process in managing and leading a healthcare organization relative to the financial and quality issues.

Human Resources is designed to enhance the student’s knowledge of human resource management to cultivate leadership and interpersonal skills that enable students to manage teams, influence organizational culture, and drive change. This program emphasizes a strategic approach to human resources management (HRM), integrating the latest trends and best practices in talent acquisition, employee development, labor relations, performance management, and organizational leadership.

Information Technology is designed to leverage the experiences and knowledge of current IT leaders and business professionals to improve the market position of an organization while enhancing internal processes to scale efficiently and effectively. This program blends Business and IT with the goal to create the technology focused organization of the future. Students will analyze current organizational technology to build the future technology foundation of the organization to maximize performance, organizational processes, and create a competitive advantage that keeps the organization relevant. The faculty will set a tone of exploration and problem-solving based in research that will build from the core courses (Business) to the specialization courses (IT) to the dissertation (research).

Organizational Leadership is designed to enlighten, equip, and empower students to pursue personal and professional goals within their organizations.  The focus of the program will ensure that students have a mastery of knowledge and skills to make leadership decisions, influence others and the organizations in which they work, and to lead and navigate organizational changes. The program will explore how culture, change, communications, diversity, and strategy impact an organization through research-based practices. Additional focus points will be centered around executive leadership, leading across cultures, building organizational capacity, and leading as a coach/consultant. 

Public Administration is designed to empower students for leadership and managerial roles in public service, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. The program emphasizes the development of practical skills and knowledge needed to design, implement, and manage public policies and programs that address societal challenges. This program blends theoretical frameworks, focusing on public policy analysis, public sector management, ethical leadership, and governance.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following: 

• Goal I: Exercise critical thinking strategies, including scientific reasoning for business problem definition, problem analysis, and evaluation of solutions, and be able to appropriately apply them at high levels in organizational settings.
• Goal II: Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills by selecting appropriate communication tools and utilizing them in a highly effective, professional manner.
• Goal III: Evaluate the business and leadership principles, theories, and skills required to implement change in the business environment and be able to apply them effectively at strategic levels.
• Goal IV: Select and implement appropriate research methods that provide the foundation for strategic research in business administration.
• Goal V: Formulate an understanding of the current issues facing business leaders in a contemporary global environment and develop strategies to effectively address those issues.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants interested in the Doctor of Business Administration program are required to meet individually either in person or via telephone with an admissions representative to discuss the program and all requirements.

Doctor of Business Administration admission requirements:

• Submit a completed South College application for admission and application to the program.
• Submit an official transcript evidencing earning of a Master’s degree in the field or related field from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Evidence of earning of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all post-baccalaureate degree coursework.

Applicants for the Accounting, Healthcare Administration, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Public Administration specializations must also meet the following requirement:

• Evidence of at least 3 years’ experience in the field.

Cancellation & Deferral of Enrollment for Newly Accepted Students

The following process is followed for newly accepted students wishing to defer their enrollment to a future term. Please note, the student must be accepted to the program and meet all admissions requirements as outlined in the South College Catalog to make a request for deferral of enrollment.

Deferral of Enrollment Process

• If a new student chooses to cancel initial enrollment at South College, and wishes to defer enrollment to a subsequent term, a request to defer the enrollment must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of CBE Admissions. The Executive Director shall issue written confirmation to the student, specifying the confirmed start date for the deferred enrollment. No formal review process is required for the first request for deferral.

Subsequent Deferrals and Final Enrollment Consideration

• If the new student subsequently cancels a second enrollment, a request for a third and final enrollment must be submitted in writing to the CBE President for consideration. Students who defer enrollment more than twice may be subject to denial of further enrollment deferment. Exceptions may be made if the student has extenuating circumstances such as medical necessity, military service, and/or other personal circumstances with acceptable documentation. The request for deferment should outline the reason(s) for deferment, including any extenuating or mitigating circumstances. The new student will receive official notification indicating if the request was approved or denied.

Academic Participation and Withdrawal

Participation Policy

Regular participation is required.   

Incoming Student Participation Requirement at New Term Start

Incoming students must participate within the first 28 days of the start date of the entering term or they will be canceled from the program. Student participation is defined as completing (having passed) a full competency within the 28-day new start period (entering term). All formative and summative assessments within one competency must be successfully passed during the current 28-day new start period. Students who do not meet this requirement will be cancelled from the program. If a student completes a course within the first 28 days of their new term, they will be billed for tuition for the term. 

Administrative Withdrawal Policy

If at the end of a term, at least 50% of one course has not been completed and the students has been inactive for more than 60 days, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program.  If a student, who has been administratively withdrawn (due to non-participation), wishes to continue with the program, the student must formally re-apply through standard admissions process.

Reinstatement and Re-entry after Withdrawal

Within 7 days of a withdrawal request, a student may request to be reinstated to the program. The student must send their written reinstatement request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Reinstatement is not guaranteed and is at the discretion and approval of the President of Competency-Based Education.

If a student would like to re-enter the CBE program after withdrawal outside of the 7-day grace period for reinstatement, the student must apply for re-entry to the CBE program by sending a written re-entry request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Re-entry, if approved, may not be within the same 6-month term and will only be approved in a subsequent 6-month term.

Withdrawal Policy (within term)

If a student withdraws before the 5th month of any 6-month term, the student will be issued a W grade for any uncompleted courses, unless the student was on academic probation for not completing a course the prior term. In this case, the student will receive a letter grade of F for the course.

If a student withdraws after the 1st day of the 5th month of any 6-month term, any course that is not completed will be assigned the letter grade of F.

A student must request to withdraw using the Withdrawal Form located in the Student Portal.

Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the graduate program, students are encouraged to confer with their Mentor as needed. Students’ academic progress is monitored each 6-month term to ensure satisfactory progression which is considered mastery of at least 8 credits per 6 month term.

1. Failure to complete a minimum of 8 credits (Example two 4.5 credit courses, two 4 credit courses or one 9 credit course), per 6-month subscription with a final grade of A will result in the student being placed on academic probation.* 
2. Students who are placed on academic probation that did not successfully complete a minimum of 8 credits (Example two 4.5 credit courses, two 4 credit courses or one 9 credit course) must meet this requirement within the first 28 days of a new term or they will be administratively withdrawn from the program. 
3. On the 1st day of the 4th month of any term, any student who has not completed at least 1 course during the current term will receive an academic probation warning letter. 
4. If a student who received a SAP warning on the first day of 4th month does not reach SAP within 60 days of the warning, they will need to complete an Academic Plan on day 1 of the 6th month on how they will reach course completion. The Academic Plan must be signed, approved and on file prior to the start of the next term. Students who do not complete an Academic Plan will be academically dismissed from the program.  
5. Students may only enter probation one time in their program.

Students on Academic Probation who do not complete the required 8 credits within 28 days of the next consecutive term start are not eligible to progress and will be notified of dismissal from the program.

Students who were dismissed or voluntarily withdrew from the program and who wish to return to the program must submit an application for re-entry. Program requirements in effect at that time of approved reentry must be met. A student may only be readmitted to the  program one time.

Student deficiencies that may impact academic standing, which may include probation or dismissal from the program, are monitored by the Student Success Mentor.

Categories of Academic Standing for Program Candidates are:

• Good Standing: Status of a student who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
• Academic Warning: Status of a student whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade required or progression. Students who have not completed a course by the 1^st day of the 4^th month of the term will be placed on Academic Warning.
• Academic Probation: Status of a student who has failed to receive mastery in at least 8 credits within a 6-month term. Following a 28-day period of Academic Probation during the next consecutive term with an Academic Plan approved and in process, the student will either return to Good Standing by satisfactorily completing the minimum required credits during the probationary period or be dismissed from the program for not completing the minimum required courses. Students may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.

Grading

Course Instructors determine mastery of competencies and the resulting final grade in all courses. The requirements of each course are found in the course syllabus.

Letter Grade	Q.P.	Percentage Score Range
A (Mastery)	4.00	90-100%

Grievance Process

All efforts must be made to resolve issues at the department level before moving to the South College Formal Complaint and Grievance processes as listed in the Student Services section of the catalog. 

Graduation Requirements

For a student to graduate from the Doctor of Business Administration program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following: 

• Successfully complete the required credit hours of academic coursework. 
• Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.00 for the required coursework. 
• Achieve a designation of “mastery” for all course competencies.
• Achieve a successful “Pass” for the dissertation or capstone.
• Complete all required South College and program documents in preparation for graduation. 
• Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College. 

South College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation, concedes to give South College the right to require withdrawal at any time the college deems it necessary to safeguard the standards of scholarship, conduct, and compliance with regulations, or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by South College as set forth in the South College Student Handbook and/or the South College Catalog.

The Doctor of Business Administration program is offered Online (CBE).