For information regarding Conditional Acceptance, click here.
Admission Criteria for the Doctor of Business Administration Program
Applications for the DBA program are accepted year-round. However, the Savannah campus DBA program only seats new students in spring quarter of each year.
- Completion of an MBA degree from an acceptable accredited institution.
OR - Completion of an undergraduate degree in business and a master's degree in a business field (such as organizational leadership, management, or human resources) from an acceptable accredited institution. The College Dean makes the final decision regarding accepted fields of study for admission to the program.
AND
A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) on the earned master's degree. Additional coursework may be required to meet the Required Knowledge Base. Refer to section on Required Knowledge Base for further information. - Completion of an application for admission.
- Submission (within 5 weeks of class start date) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (refer to Conditional Acceptance).
- Personal interview with a representative from the College of Business as designated by the Dean of the College of Business (may be conducted by teleconference).
Submission of the following:
- A 1,000-word Statement of Purpose Essay that targets the applicant's academic and professional preparation for the South University DBA, along with future academic and professional goals. This statement must detail how the applicant's goals will be enhanced from earning a South University DBA and how the degree will be integrated into future career goals.
- Résumé or curriculum vitae that clearly outlines academic and professional preparation for a doctorate program.
- Three current academic/professional recommendations submitted directly to South University from the evaluator. References submitted to South University by an applicant will not be accepted. These recommendations must present the applicant's ability to successfully matriculate the program and how the applicant will contribute to the overall quality of the program. Additionally, the recommendation must include an assessment of the applicant's ability to be successful as a professional in teaching, service and research.
Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the candidate's admission packet will be reviewed and evaluated by the program director. Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis and applicants will be notified immediately.
Transfer of Credit Guidelines for the DBA program
The majority of credits toward the DBA degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work will be given if the courses were taken at an acceptable accredited collegiate institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of "B" or better.
All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the Dean, College of Business, or designee, and the Department Chair of the respective academic department and Program Director. The maximum number of classes to transfer is four courses or 16 quarter hours. NOTE: Dissertation courses may not be transferred from another institution.
Required Knowledge Base for the DBA Program
Applicants to the DBA degree program must demonstrate a master's level ability to integrate knowledge within critical knowledge areas with a grade of "B" or better. These knowledge areas must have been taken at an acceptable accredited institution and be equivalent to a 3 semester-hour, graduate level course.
Knowledge Areas:
- Organizational Behavior and Communication
- Statistics
Students meeting all other admission requirements except not having met the Required Knowledge Base areas will be admitted into the program; however, these graduate level knowledge areas must be successfully completed with a grade of "B" or better within the first two quarters of enrollment.
If a student does not complete the Required Knowledge Base areas within the required timeframe, the student will be dismissed from the program.
The Required Knowledge Base course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR).
Virtual Residency Requirement for Online Students
The doctoral residencies are a requirement for online students in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. These are a time for faculty, staff, and students to meet in a collegial learning opportunity. Residencies are designed as a time for students and faculty to work together collaboratively and to support the creation of a community of scholars. Students will participate in faculty- and student-led presentations and will have the opportunity to network and share their experiences in the program. They will also be able to work collaboratively on their scholarship during the residencies, and opportunities to provide service to the academic community will be discussed.
The South University DBA has two residencies. All DBA students in the online program are required to participate in these two residencies; these residencies are part of the completion requirements for the program.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Offered at Online Programs
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
The DBA program provides a blend of advanced theoretical and practical business applications, preparing professionals with quantitative and qualitative data driven decision-making skills that drive innovation and solve complex business challenges.
The primary objective of the DBA degree program is to prepare graduates to seek employment in faculty positions in academic institutions. Another potential value of the degree program is that graduates may have the opportunity for advancement and for enhanced performance in their positions as senior executives and consultants. The DBA degree program is designed to help candidates develop skills in applied research by improving their methodological and analytical proficiency. These skills can help graduates advance in their academic careers or in their careers as senior managers or consultants.
Students have the opportunity to study the current research in the field, analyze and practice the research methods appropriate to the topics within the disciplines of organizational behavior and leadership, and develop appropriate methodologies to teach the topics to future students through the methods used in the discipline.
Online students are required to complete two residencies as part of the degree completion. One residency will take place early in the program and another will take place near the completion of their coursework prior to the start of their dissertation.
Program Distinctions
The South University DBA program is designed to be unique through the combination of the following items:
- Focuses on teaching, scholarship and service and as such mirrors the performance criteria for faculty within higher education.
- Includes instruction in quality methods of teaching in higher education through study and classroom observation.
- Includes a traditional preliminary exam and dissertation experience similar to PhD degree programs.
- Integrates management research paradigms as an organizing structure within content courses.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
Synthesize organizational behavior and leadership theories to practically and theoretically solve complex business problems.
Create research designs using scientific investigation and systematic inquiry to drive strategic innovation and data-driven decision-making.
Design teaching strategies for future careers in higher education and business consulting.
Develop oral and written communication skills by defending solutions in academic and professional environments.
Doctor of Business Administration: 72 Credits
Foundation: 4 Credits
This course introduces students to the structure, expectations, and academic resources of the South University DBA program. Emphasis is placed on doctoral-level preparation for leadership roles in higher education and professional business environments. Students examine the responsibilities associated with earning a terminal degree, including scholarship, research foundations, developing a doctoral mindset, and service to academic and professional communities.
Quarter Credits : 4
This course represents the first of two required doctoral residencies for students enrolled in the online DBA program and is a mandatory component of program completion. The residency provides structured, faculty-led academic engagement designed to support doctoral-level learning, scholarly development, and progression in the program. Students participate in presentations and guided activities facilitated by faculty and staff, engage in collaborative scholarly discussions, and interact with their doctoral cohort in a structured learning environment. The residency supports the development of a community of scholars and introduces expectations related to academic service, professional conduct, and applied research consistent with doctoral education standards.
This course represents the second required doctoral residency for students in the online DBA program and provides structured, faculty-led academic engagement. The residency offers a collegial learning environment in which faculty, staff, and doctoral cohorts collaborate to support scholarly development and program progression. Students participate in faculty- and staff-led presentations, engage in professional networking, and work collaboratively on doctoral scholarship. The residency further reinforces the development of a community of scholars and introduces expectations related to academic service and professional contribution as part of the program’s completion requirements.
Major Courses: 24 Credits
The comprehensive examination serves to assess mastery of the DBA program’s core content and readiness to advance to the dissertation phase, ensuring preparedness for leadership and scholarly contribution in professional and organizational settings. The exam evaluates the ability to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply theoretical constructs and research findings to contemporary challenges in business and higher education. It consists of four individual tests, each of which must be passed within two attempts. Successful completion signifies broad expertise in the discipline, doctoral-level competence, and the capability to apply advanced knowledge to drive meaningful impact in professional and academic communities.
This doctoral-level course examines individual behavior in organizations, including personality, decision making, motivation, job satisfaction, workplace reactions, conflict, and impression management. Weekly topics are explored through literature reviews, with guidance on developing rigorous reviews suitable for peer-reviewed journals. The course also introduces research design and paradigms at the individual level of analysis, building on concepts from the initial research methods course. Additionally, the course emphasizes the creation of teaching resources and the application of research insights to professional and academic practice.
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
This doctoral-level course examines theoretical and practical aspects of organizational theory, including organizational design, strategy, environment, structure, processes, people, coordination, context, partnerships, and diagnosis. Weekly topics are explored through critical literature reviews, emphasizing the development of reviews suitable for peer-reviewed journals. Research paradigms at the organizational level of analysis are investigated, and a research proposal is developed through the point of data collection, including consideration of data analysis approaches. The course integrates concepts from the initial research methods and statistics courses and emphasizes the creation of teaching resources and the application of research insights to advance organizational practice and scholarly contribution.
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Research Methods/Statistics: 16 Credits
This doctoral-level course examines the ethical principles and methodological foundations of business research. Emphasis is placed on the research process, formulating and refining research questions using secondary data, and developing appropriate research designs. Topics include qualitative methods, observational studies, surveys, and experimental research. Concepts are applied through critical analysis of scholarly articles from discipline-specific content areas, with attention to how ethically conducted research can provide meaningful service to academic and professional communities.
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Teaching in Higher Education: 8 Credits
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Dissertation: 20+ Credits
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Quarter Credits : 4
Dissertation Extension
This course is an extension of BUS8100 to allow the student additional time to complete the required progress toward completion of the dissertation. Repetition of an extension course will override the prior grade earned in the extension course and will not count as additional credits toward the degree. This course is Pass/Fail/Limited Progress (P/F/LP).
Quarter Credits : 0
This course is an extension of BUS8105 to allow the student additional time to complete the required progress toward completion of the dissertation. Repetition of an extension course will override the prior grade earned in the extension course and will not count as additional credits toward the degree. This course is a Pass/Fail/Limited Progress (P/F/LP).
Quarter Credits : 0
This is an extension of the BUS8110 course to allow the student additional time to complete the required progress toward completion of the dissertation. Repetition of an extension course will override the prior grade earned in the extension course and will not count as additional credits toward the degree. This course is Pass/Fail/Limited Progress (P/F/LP).
Quarter Credits : 0
This course is an extension of the BUS8115 to allow the student additional time to complete the required progress toward completion of the dissertation. Repetition of an extension course will override the prior grade earned in the extension course and will not count as additional credits toward the degree. This course is Pass/Fail/Limited Progress (P/F/LP).
Quarter Credits : 0
This is an extension of the BUS8120 course to allow the student additional time to complete the required progress toward completion of the dissertation. Repetition of an extension course will override the prior grade earned in the extension course and will not count as additional credits toward the degree. This course is Pass/Fail/Limited Progress (P/F/LP).
Quarter Credits : 0
Note:
Dissertation courses may be repeated using course code with "EX" at the end.