Advance your career in business or academia

Our Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) combines intellectual rigor, a springboard for career advancement and a professional network. With a DBA degree from DePaul, you’ll take your career to the next level—in the corporate world or higher education.

Build a network of research-minded thought leaders

As a DBA candidate, you’ll advance through the program as a member of a tight-knit cohort of students. Our small-group format will help you build a strong network of like-minded thought leaders whom you’ll support and be supported by during the program and after graduation.

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Application Deadlines

Students may submit their applications any time of year for admission into the program, which starts in the fall quarter. Admission to the program is competitive and continues on an ongoing basis until the fall cohort has been filled.

Admission Requirements

A completed MBA or master’s degree is required. Submit an application, résumé, personal statement, official transcripts and two letters of recommendation.

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Required Courses

You’ll take seven research methodology courses and seven business discipline-specific courses.

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Top Program

DePaul was ranked among the world’s premier DBA programs in CEO Magazine’s global business school rankings (2018)

Learn from faculty with real-world experience

Our DBA faculty come from various backgrounds across many different disciplines. Associate Professor and DBA Program Director Grace Lemmon is a research expert in evidence-based management, career guidance, and coaching for students who are interested in changing careers. “I appreciate that DePaul attracts deeply diverse students,” she said. “Despite differences, we find commonality in the goal of generating and applying high-quality evidence to modern work problems.”

“The DBA program is designed to bridge the gap between business and academia. Almost instantly, I used what I learned in class at work to solve business problems in a more scientific way, which is great for my organization and great for my personal brand. The DBA has definitely opened doors for me.”

Karen (DBA ’18)
Vice President, Brand Marketing, SpotHero

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to have completed an MBA or master's degree.

Candidates for the Doctorate in Business Administration must fill out an online application and submit the following:

• Two letters of recommendation submitted directly by the letter writers. Please identify the letter writers in the online application. We strongly encourage your letters of recommendation to evaluate attributes that make you a strong candidate for doctoral education at DePaul, such as intellectual curiosity, educational aptitude, professional maturity, teamwork, collegiality, persistence and/or conscientiousness.
• A personal statement, not to exceed 1½ pages, outlining professional and research goals.
• Current résumé.
• Official transcripts for bachelor's and master's degrees. Both degrees must be from regionally accredited universities.

Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Applicants may be asked to interview with the admission committee as part of the admissions process.

Deadlines

Students may submit their applications any time of year for admission into the program, which starts in the fall quarter. Admission to the program is competitive and continues on an ongoing basis until the fall cohort has been filled. 

Degree Requirements

??DePaul's DBA program begins with a strong emphasis on research methodology and disciplinary coursework that features the most current developments from both academia and professional practice.

Coursework simultaneously builds candidates' interdisciplinary business knowledge and applied research skills. Candidates take seven research methodology and seven business discipline specific courses. Access course descriptions by rolling over the course titles below.

Each course is delivered in three-hour modules resulting in five different courses during a given residency, and courses are staggered throughout the year to offer deep engagement in each topic.

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?Course Requirements

Research Methodology Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Research Methodology Courses
GSB 800	INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS	2
GSB 801	EMPIRICAL RESEARCH STUDIES	6
GSB 802	STATISTICS IN BUSINESS RESEARCH	4
GSB 803	APPLIED MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS	5
GSB 804	FORECASTING AND PREDICTION	4
GSB 805	DATA SCIENCE AND VISUALIZATION	2
GSB 806	INSTITUTIONAL AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH DISSEMINATION	2
GSB 820	LEADING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH PEOPLE	2
GSB 820	LEADING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH PEOPLE	3
GSB 850	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS	3

Disciplinary Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
GSB 821	CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN FINANCIAL RESEARCH	3
GSB 822	MARKETING AND BUSINESS STRATEGY	3
GSB 823	LEADING ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE	4
GSB 824	BEHAVIORAL DECISION THEORY	3
GSB 825	BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY	2
GSB 826	CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN ACCOUNTING RESEARCH	3

Research Labs1

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
GSB 840	GROUP RESEARCH LAB I	2
GSB 841	GROUP RESEARCH LAB II	2
GSB 842	DISSERTATION PROPOSAL LAB	5
GSB 843	DISSERTATION LAB II	3
GSB 843	DISSERTATION LAB II	3
GSB 843	DISSERTATION LAB II	6

1	These courses are taken Pass/Fail

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.