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Doctor in Public Administration

Executive Doctorate and Philosophiæ doctor in Public Administration

The Executive Doctorate and Philosophiæ doctor in Public Administration degree is offered online by the FordBridge Institute of Doctoral Studies. This program provides the framework to build and evolve evidence-based theories and practices.

Utilize Data to Build 21st Century Business Success.

This Executive Doctorate in Public Administration degree program empowers learners to manage and analyze enterprise data, also known as “public decision,” to successfully address complex business decisions. Enhance your skills in research, analysis, marketing, and intelligent planning. Learn to survey and leverage emerging tools and models in the field of business analytics as part of the building and maintain a competitive advantage.

Learn Research and Analysis Techniques Learners within the Doctor of Business Administration program study the following competencies.

Market investments, capital markets, acquisitions, and other emerging issues within finance.

Application of microeconomic principles to business problem-solving.

Research design and data analytic modeling methods.

Business intelligence, data warehousing, and data mining tools.

Career Outcomes

The Doctor of Business Administration with an Emphasis in in Governance & decision sciences degree is your pathway to high-level leadership roles in the corporate and academic sectors. Prepare to guide business corporations, consulting firms and complex business partnerships on a domestic and global scale. DBA graduates may also consider pursuing careers in academia, contributing to the ever-expanding knowledge base of contemporary business theory.

RES-811: Introduction to Advanced Graduate Studies and Scholarship Total Credits: 3 credits.

Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from FordBridge. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. FBU offers the most experienced leadership in delivering online degree programs. Full-time faculty members and fully trained adjunct instructors, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way. Designed with a career-oriented professional in mind, our online classes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Choose from programs across our distinct colleges, in high-demand employment areas. Classes begin frequently.

* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment, and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding the availability of the program.

DBA-960: Dissertation II Total Credits: 3 credits.

While chapter 4 focuses on the benign presentation of results, chapter 5 of the dissertation seeks to make sense of these findings of the overarching body of work that currently exists. Reflections include the synthesis of findings, comparing those findings to previous work done in the area; consideration of issues related to the research process used and the potential challenges and advantages of the approaches used; and thoughts on implications of these findings on the current body of work. In addition to this course content, students learn to present the opportunities for further research that might have emerged as a result of this work and the potential that lies ahead for others to follow.

DBA-965: Dissertation III Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners guidance for finding the appropriate venues and approaches in publishing their research findings. This includes the final steps necessary in pulling together what might have been earlier versions of chapters 1, 2, and 3, as well as the proofing and dissertation editing strategies that are required and the steps scholars, can take to make sure their results are shared with other scholars. This includes an exploration of writing research articles and preparing to present scholarly papers, as well as other publication venues.

Degree Outcomes

This course introduces students to the principal elements of research and scholarly writing. Learners explore approaches to synthesizing literature and the application of the major components of APA form and style and learn to coordinate literature searches. Furthermore, they learn how to discern principal arguments, analyze research questions, and identify the key scholarly attributes to journal articles and other sources of scholarly data. This course also introduces learners to the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility scholars have in continuing a tradition of contributing to an ever-growing body of knowledge.

DBA-820: Emerging Issues in Financial Management Total Credits: 3 credits. This course explores the theories and frameworks that drive financial decision making in organizations today. Students focus on issues facing administrators in the changing business environment.

MGT-820: Using Business Analytics for Competitive Advantage Total Credits: 3 credits. Students will research the emerging use of business analytics in organizations. Through an exploration of the available tools and models, this course will explore how analytics can be used for competitive advantage.

DBA-831: Analytic Foundations for Business Leaders Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course addresses the foundations of data mining. The course provides tools and techniques to determine whether data is appropriate for analysis. Learners will interact with a multi-year integrated business case as a means of exploring applications of analytics.

RES-850: Foundations for Research Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course provides a broad overview of foundational elements for conducting independent, original research. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods are introduced and applied. The template for developing a research prospectus is also introduced, with emphasis on identifying a researchable topic related to the learners’ degree specialization. Prerequisite: RES-811.

RSD-851: Residency: Dissertation Total Credits: 3 credits.

This residency allows students to begin developing their skills as academic researchers. Residency sessions address topics such as research question development, design, item generation, subscale development and analysis, and basic hypothesis testing. Students have hands-on experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis software.

DPA-833: Predictive Modeling Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course addresses predictive modeling techniques that leverage enterprise data to create a competitive advantage. Methods of creating and communicating predictive modeling solutions are also discussed.

RES-861: Analysis of Existing Research Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course is designed to train learners in the conduct of a systematic literature review related to their research topic. Emphasis is placed on creating a structure for reading, analyzing, synthesizing, and organizing prior research necessary for drafting the first iteration (draft) of Chapter 2 of the dissertation. Learners use the research prospectus template to guide the development of Chapter 2.

DBA-815: Economics for Business Decisions Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course provides the student with the skills and competencies needed to be able to apply microeconomic principles to the solution of business problems. Specifically, the course examines the four market structures focusing on competition and utilizes microeconomic theory to provide solutions to business problems.

DPA-835: The Sustainable Future Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course examines organizational sustainability through the lenses of competitive advantage and innovation. It addresses the leadership skills and capabilities required to foster, lead, and sustain innovation in organizations, and it explores how these ideas can be applied to create a competitive advantage leading to a sustainable organization.

RES-866: Approaches to Research Design and Data Analysis Total Credits: 3 credits This course provides learners with an overview of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches with emphasis on conceptual and practical aspects of data collection, management, and analysis. Learners use their research prospectus to align the research question(s) and variables of interest with the appropriate data collection and analytical techniques.

RES-845: Statistics Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course provides a study of theories of probability, descriptive and inferential analyses of data, and testing of statistical hypotheses. Practical experience is provided in the application of statistical methods.

RSD-881: Residency: Presentation of Progress or Results Total Credits: 3 credits.

This residency prepares students to present their scholarly work and to thoughtfully critique the work of others. Students orally present papers developed in their classes and respond to questions from colleagues. Students are further prepared to become active members in academic communities by learning how to review papers and provide comments.

DPA-837: Prescriptive Modeling for Business Decisions Total Credits: 3 credits.

This course addresses prescriptive modeling techniques that leverage previously gained predictive enterprise data to create a competitive advantage. Technological and organizational supports for prescriptive modeling are discussed as are methods of communicating prescriptive modeling solutions.

DPA-839: Public Enterprise Data Complexity Total Credits: 3 credits.

Business is routinely using enterprise data to create a competitive advantage. This course addresses the complexity of implementing enterprise data solutions and related infrastructure considerations. In this course, learners will interact with a multi-year integrated business case to experience the complex interactions associated with exploiting enterprise data for competitive advantage.

RES-880: Formalizing the Research Prospectus Total Credits: 3 credits.

Learners complete a cogent research prospectus as the foundation for their dissertation research proposal. Emphasis is placed on fully articulating a study design and methodology that is aligned with the research questions and developing the first iteration (draft) of Chapter 3 of the dissertation.

DBA-885: Developing the Research Proposal Total Credits: 3 credits.

In this course, learners formalize their research proposal specific to their topic. Emphasis is placed on fully developing Chapter 1 and incorporating Chapters 2 and 3 (drafts) from previous research courses. This proposal becomes the first three chapters of the dissertation upon approval of the final draft by the FordBridge Institute Doctoral Studies.

DBA-955: Dissertation I Total Credits: 3 credits.

One of the most essential aspects of bringing research findings to the scholarly community is mastering the discipline of approaching this task in an unbiased, benign manner. This course emphasizes the steps scholars must take in taking their findings and establishing a reporting mechanism that presents the outcomes of the research in a way that clearly articulates the fruits of the researcher’s labors without distracting or misinforming the audience. This work is typically done in chapter 4 of a dissertation. Also included in this content is the organization of data sets and the application of tables, charts, and graphs.