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Advanced Graduate Certificate in Business Research

The Advanced Graduate Certificate prepares you with graduate-level business research skills. This is also a great way to sample doctoral coursework before committing to the DBA degree program.

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Program Benefits

  • Experience DBA coursework and doctoral-level research
  • Transition seamlessly into Trevecca's DBA degree program after the certificate if you choose to enroll
  • Learn from faculty who possess the highest degrees in their fields and have relevant and valuable real-world experience
  • Complete your certificate fully online with materials delivered right to your door
  • Benefit from small classes of 19 students or fewer per class

What to Expect

Through the Advanced Graduate Certificate, you'll engage with courses from the DBA curriculum and explore business research, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, strategic leadership and global business practices while integrating biblical ethics with contemporary business scholarship. As you progress through the program, your faculty advisor will guide you in determining whether the DBA aligns with your professional goals.

After earning the certificate, you can continue into the full DBA program or expand your expertise by adding one of our specialized DBA tracks for an additional 12 credit hours.

Program Costs

Here’s a look at the approximate tuition rates you could expect for this program at Trevecca, including the cost per credit hour and the total tuition expense for the full degree program. Please note that rates and fees are subject to change.

Program Costs

Here’s a look at the approximate tuition rates you could expect for this program at Trevecca, including the cost per credit hour and the total tuition expense for the full degree program. Please note that rates and fees are subject to change.

Cost/Credit Hour

$699
Hours

20
Tuition Cost*

$13,980

*$300 Student Resource Fee assessed per course

Certificate Details

Admission requirements

  1. Have earned a master's degree from an institution accredited by a CHEA-recognized regional accrediting agency or the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Students who do not meet these degree requirements may be conditionally accepted in accordance with the Conditional Admission Policy.
  2. A 3.4 cumulative GPA for all prior graduate coursework.
  3. Official transcript sent directly from graduate institution to Trevecca.
  4. Submit résumé or curriculum vitae.
  5. Complete interview with the program director.
  6. Provide photocopy of government-issued identification (e.g., driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport). This requirement ensures that Trevecca complies with the U.S. Department of Education expectations for student verification.

Additional information

  • Applicants outside of the United States are required to submit a TOEFL score of 550 or above to be considered for admission.
  • A limited number of students may be admitted conditionally outside of the normal admission requirements based on an extensive amount of professional experience.

Why choose Trevecca?

WSJ_Colleges_2026_Logo_white_1Founded in 1901 and a leader in online education for more than two decades, Trevecca helps students discover and pursue an individual calling by providing innovative instruction; cultivating a supportive, Christ-centered community; and establishing relationships that open doors.

Recognized nationally and locally for academic quality, Trevecca has earned a reputation for providing the world with servant leaders, problem solvers and difference makers. Trevecca’s holistic approach to education encompasses intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.

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Course Descriptions

Get details on all the courses you’ll complete as you work toward this degree at Trevecca.

Read More
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Financial Aid & Costs

Nearly every student at Trevecca receives some form of assistance in paying for college. Learn all about the affordability of a TNU education and options for receiving aid.

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Next Steps

App Process & Timeline

Submit Your Application

Our application is easy and typically takes less than 7 minutes to complete. Submit your app to get the process started!

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Complete FAFSA

9 out of 10 students at Trevecca receive some form of financial aid. Complete your FAFSA today for the best chance at locking yours in!

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Send Your Transcripts

To ensure credit for prior education and to expedite your enrollment, make sure to send over your transcripts!

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Our Advanced Graduate Certificate in Business Research Faculty

  • Portrait for Stephen Patrick

    Stephen Patrick

    Adjunct Professor of Accounting and Finance

    Stephen has taught in higher education since 2013 and is a certified fraud examiner (CFE) with more than 25 years of professional accounting experience. He has served as a CFO at multiple organizations, worked with CPA firms and participated in ...

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  • Portrait for Kathy Dunning

    Kathy Dunning

    Adjunct Faculty
  • Portrait for Rick Mann

    Rick Mann

    Professor of Business, Director of MBA Program

    Rick has a passion for building strategic leaders and organizations that create remarkable value for their stakeholders. This passion finds expression at the Skinner School of Business where he provides academic oversight of Trevecca's MBA and ...

    Read Full Bio
  • Portrait for Dean Diehl

    Dean Diehl

    Associate Professor

    As a senior executive with Sony Music, Dean brings a unique combination of practical experience, formal education and research into the classroom. Whether teaching undergraduate music business and entrepreneurship students or adults in the MBA ...

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  • Portrait for Brandee Norris

    Brandee Norris, Ph.D.

    Graduate Business Programs Chair, Director of Healthcare Administration and Management

    Brandee’s specialization is healthcare administration and she is deeply passionate about mentoring future healthcare leaders. She embraces faith-based learning and promotes the importance of authentic servant leadership. As a former healthcare ...

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  • Portrait for Phil Rickard

    Phil Rickard, DBA

    Dean, Skinner School of Business, DBA Program Director, MBA Program Director, Professor of Accounting, Finance and Strategy

    Phil is a certified public accountant with professional experience in accounting, finance and strategy in energy industries. He has also served in ministry and administrative roles for nonprofits. Prior to assuming the dean position at Trevecca, ...

    Read Full Bio
  • Portrait for Dawn Olson

    Dawn Olson, Ed.D.

    Associate Professor of Marketing & Business, Director of Program and Student Engagement

    Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Dawn serves as an associate professor and the director of student and program engagement for the Skinner School of Business. She teaches undergraduate business courses as well as MBA and DBA courses in the ...

    Read Full Bio
  • Portrait for Edmund McFadden

    Edmund McFadden, DBA

    Associate Professor, Healthcare Administration

    Dr. McFadden has over 30 years of healthcare consulting, operations, and information technology experience in multi-site, high-growth healthcare companies. He teaches undergraduate, master's, and doctorate-level courses. He has successfully ...

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  • Portrait for James Agee

    James Agee, Ph.D.

    Professor

    James’ specialization is in statistics, research and management, which he teaches in a variety of programs across campus, including the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). He received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York (Albany) ...

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  • Portrait for Eda Cako-Moore

    Eda Cako-Moore

    Faculty Recruiter, Director of Science in Business Management Program

    Eda serves as associate director of research in Trevecca’s Doctor of Business Administration program. In this role, she teaches doctoral research courses, advises dissertation students and supports the continued development of research quality ...

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  • Portrait for Andrew Hoskins

    Andrew Hoskins, DBA

    Adjunct Faculty
    Andrew is the chief operating officer (COO)  of The Exodus Road, a global nonprofit with a mission to end human trafficking. He has taught and led nonprofits across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. He holds a Doctor of Business ...
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  • Portrait for Danielle Wright

    Danielle Wright, Ph.D.

    DBA Research Director and Professor of Business

    Danielle brings decades of expertise at the intersection of business, technology and organizational leadership. She holds a Ph.D. in organizational leadership and an MBA in business and technology. A deeply dedicated academic mentor, she has ...

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Course Descriptions

Get details on all the courses you’ll complete as you work toward this degree at Trevecca.*

Introduction to Doctoral Business Studies
BUS 8000
This course will introduce students to key business topics at the doctoral level. Students will work through doctoral-level analysis, writing, and case studies developing requisite writing skills, critical thinking skills, and engagement of doctoral and peer-reviewed research in preparation for future coursework and research. This course must be completed with a B or better before any later DBA work can be taken.
Credit Hours: 4
Current Topics in Management and Leadership
BUS 8010
This course will review current principles and best practices in management and leadership. Analysis of these trends will be reviewed in the literature and selected case studies. Students will reflect on their own management and leadership patterns.
Credit Hours: 4
Current Topics in Business Strategy
BUS 8020
Students will review strategic management foundations as well as current strategic principles and practices. Students will review cases related to strategy development and execution.
Credit Hours: 4
Current Topics in Accounting and Finance
BUS 8030
This course is designed to facilitate comprehension of financial transactions and reports for effective applications to managerial decision-making and strategic formulation. Current topics from accounting and finance that drive value creation in both tactical and strategic initiatives will be explored. Topics will include corporate governance, cost management, profitability analysis, forecasting financial statements, credit evaluation and market-based valuation.
Credit Hours: 4
Current Topics in Marketing
BUS 8040
Students will review theoretical marketing concepts like consumer behavior as well as current trends in ethical marketing and digital marketing practices. This course is designed to strengthen analytical, communication, and leadership skills in marketing from a Christian perspective. Students will critically review academic literature related to strategic marketing and engage in a self-directed marketing project under the guidance of an experienced marketing faculty mentor.
Credit Hours: 4

*For a complete list of courses, tracks and other relevant information, view the program's course catalog.

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