online graduate

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Trevecca’s Doctor of Business Administration equips students to teach, consult or advance in a corporate or academic setting, focusing on one of our distinct study tracks.

Upcoming Start Dates:

Online:
Apr. 17, 2024
Aug. 21, 2024
Jan. 15, 2025
Apr. 23, 2025

Students in the DBA program get an advanced education in general business principles, while also gaining focused expertise in one of our tracks of study:

  • Higher Education: Designed for those interested in teaching business or serving as a college administrator. 
  • Consulting and Coaching: Equips graduates to serve as internal or external executive consultants and coaches.
  • Enterprise Leading and Managing: Develops enterprise-level leaders who work in complex entrepreneurial settings. 
  • Healthcare Administration: Prepares graduates for leadership and service in healthcare organizations at middle and senior management levels.
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: Allows students to receive up to 12 credit hours for doctoral coursework completed at another institution in any discipline.
  • Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Provides aspiring leaders with the knowledge and skills to navigate the rapidly-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on organizations.

Program Benefits

  • Complete your degree online in 32 months with no residency requirements.
  • Continue to work and focus on your other priorities while earning your degree, taking one course at a time with all materials delivered to you.
  • Utilize a built-in support system and complete your degree alongside others who are working toward similar goals through Trevecca’s cohort model.
  • Get started without testing; no GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is required.
  • Benefit from small classes of 19 students or fewer.
  • Learn from faculty who possess the highest degrees in their fields and have relevant and valuable real-world experience.

What to Expect

As a student in Trevecca’s Doctor of Business Administration program, you’ll move through curriculum that pairs the latest business theories with practical applications for the workplace. You’ll examine how the global environment impacts business decisions and strategies while learning to use the latest technologies to strengthen training methods and communications. You’ll learn to use research techniques and data analytics for innovative problem solving, and you’ll discover how to cultivate a creative and entrepreneurial culture in your organization.

In addition to choosing your selected degree track, you’ll have the choice of completing either a traditional dissertation or an Applied Doctoral Project. The traditional dissertation is a pathway to new knowledge and is the more typical choice of academic faculty and leaders. The Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) is designed for working practitioners who want to use methodology and data to address real-world problems and issues. 

Why Choose Trevecca?

Founded 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.

2024 #3 Online Doctorate in Accounting, intelligent.comRecognized 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.

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Financial Aid & Costs

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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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.

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

60

Tuition Cost*

$41,940

*$150 Student Resource Fee assessed per course. $150 estimated book cost per course.

We understand life is busy and you may not have time to attend class on campus. That's why we offer our programs 100 percent online. Whether you are a working adult, a stay-at-home parent, or simply live outside of Nashville, we make it easy to earn your degree while focusing on one class at a time, any time—24/7. Classes are taught online through our learning management system, Blackboard. Additionally, books and materials are delivered to your front door. And when we say the degree is entirely online, we mean it. With the way our program is structured, you never have to step foot on campus--not even once!

With our online degree programs, you can expect the same level of quality and rigor that Trevecca has provided students since 1901. Our online students also benefit from a cohort model, where students begin and complete their degree alongside a group of other online classmates working toward similar goals.

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Getting Started

  1. Complete the online application (it's free!).
    Need help applying? Read the step-by-step instructions here!
  2. Fill out FAFSA to be considered for financial aid. 
  3. Request official transcripts from your previous graduate institution.

Admissions 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. 

Degree Requirements

  • A graduate degree is required for all applicants seeking admittance into the program.
  • 60 semester credits are required for graduation
  • For students entering the program without an undergraduate or graduate degree in a business area but with a master’s degree in a non-business area of study, 5 credits of prerequisites are required. These prerequisites (two 6-week MBA courses) can be taken at Trevecca. Prerequisites must be completed before the start of the first DBA course.
    These prerequisites include—
    • BUS 6000 (2 credits) Introduction to Graduate Business Studies
    • BUS 6015 (3 credits) Accounting and Finance for Managers

Additional Information

  • Applicants outside of the United States are required to submit a TOEFL score of 550 or above to 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.
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In addition to completing coursework that coincides with the selected degree track, students will have the choice of completing a traditional dissertation or an Applied Doctoral Project.

Applied Doctoral Project

An Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) is designed for working practitioners who want to use more sophisticated methodology and data to address real-world problems and issues. For example: 

  • Why are we experiencing employee turnover and how can we reduce it? 
  • What strategies are most successful in improving cash flows? 
  • What social media practices are most likely to help in increasing sales? 
  • How can we improve processes and reduce costs?

ADPs include these chapters: 

  • Introduction 
  • Literature Review 
  • Problem or Opportunity 
  • Solutions or Recommendations 

Dissertation

A classic dissertation is a pathway to new knowledge and is the more typical choice of academic faculty and leaders. Here are some examples of topics explored: 

  • Do diverse teams help to reduce sexual discrimination? 
  • Do stores in larger populations centers generate higher per store sales? 
  • Which college majors have the lowest and highest retention at Christian colleges? 

Dissertations include these chapters: 

  • Introduction 
  • Literature Review 
  • Methodology 
  • Findings and Recommendations
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Career Opportunities

Trevecca’s online Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) degree program is designed for experienced professionals who want to take their education to the next level. The curriculum offers instruction on the latest business theories and methods paired with practical applications for the workplace.  

Professionals who’ve obtained a DBA are uniquely prepared to run major corporations, international companies or teach business at a prestigious school. They are strong candidates for careers in research organizations, firms, banks or other enterprises.  

Executives who earn a DBA are well-positioned for roles such as these: 

  • Operations Manager 
  • Chief Financial Officer 
  • Senior Managerial Consultant 
  • Director of Human Resources Management 
  • Chief Executive Officer 
  • Dean of Business 
  • Senior Manager
  • Business Faculty
  • Executive Coach

“If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Trevecca has provided the rigor and accountability I needed to grow in significant ways.” 

Shaun McClellan Trevecca graduate

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Course Descriptions

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



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Cohort Schedule

View a sample schedule of the courses you will be taking when you enroll.

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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Introduction to Applied Business Research Design
DBA 8050
This course introduces students to foundational topics related to research. A special emphasis is placed on choosing reliable and valid measures and developing sound designs. Ethical research practices are also explored.
Applied Business Research Principles and Practices
BUS 8200
Students will review research and/or project-based, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies including both theoretical foundations and with cases demonstrating applied principles and practices. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course must be completed with a C or better before any later DBA work can be taken.
Introduction to Applied Business Research Analytics
BUS 8210
This course is designed to equip students with the statistical tools needed to analyze the data from a variety of different research designs that an organization might use to assess operational issues.  In addition, students will develop the skills necessary to interpret and present findings.
Applied Doctoral Project Proposal / Dissertation Project Development
BUS 8220
In this course, students will pull together all they have learned related to applied business research principles and practices and develop the research framework and proposal for the Applied Doctoral Project or Dissertation that they will complete for this program. This course must be completed with a C or better before any later DBA work can be taken.

Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) 1 - Problem and Solution Design
BUS 8300
Students will finalize the design of their Applied Doctoral Project to the point of being ready for execution. 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 development of their applied doctoral project. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) 2 - Project Execution and Analysis
BUS 8310
Students will execute their Applied Doctoral Project and analyze the results of their project. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) 3 - Project Report and Completion
BUS 8320
Students will complete their Applied Doctoral Project finalizing their report for approval and graduation. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) Continuation
BUS 8330
This course will provide students with an opportunity to extend their Applied Doctoral Project as needed for graduation. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
 
OR
Dissertation 1 - Proposal Completion
BUS 8350
Students will finalize their dissertation proposal details and be ready for execution.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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Dissertation 2 - Data Collection and Analysis
BUS 8360
Students will collect data and do planned analysis. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Dissertation 3 - Dissertation Completion
BUS 8370
Students will complete their dissertation reporting and meet all requirements for graduation. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).
Dissertation Continuation
BUS 8380
This course will provide students with an opportunity to extend their dissertation needed for graduation. 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 their applied doctoral project or dissertation. This course is graded as Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

Choose a Track

Enterprise Leadership and Management
TRACK
Consulting and Coaching
TRACK
Healthcare Administration (Doctoral Track)
TRACK
Higher Education
TRACK
Interdisciplinary Studies
TRACK
Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
TRACK

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