How the DBA Program Works

Residential Sessions

Residential sessions are scheduled once per trimester and will typically occur in October, February, and June. New coursework is presented during these sessions and is continued throughout the trimester through online instruction or individual assignments. Residentials will be six full days, and most will require arrival the day before the session begins.

Pre-work, interim, and post-course assignments are designed to allow appropriate understanding, reflection, and application of the course content and learning outcomes. Pre-residential work is assigned in advance of the face-to-face session and designed to allow for a more robust discussion in class.

Trimester I

(Fall Y1) (6.5 units)

• EDBA 711 Doctoral Studies Orientation Workshop (0.5 unit) 
• EDBA 700 Introduction to Applied Research and Scholarship (1)
• EDBA 712 Epistemology & Theory Development A (2)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar - A (Innovation for the 21st Century) (1)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar - B (The Future of Work and People in Organizations) (1)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar - C (Evidence-Based Decision Making) (1)

Trimester II

(Spring Y1) (6.5 units)

• EDBA 701A Research Design–A (2)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar A: Innovation for the 21st Century (1.5)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar B: The Future of Work and People in Organizations (1.5)
• EDBA 798 Integrated Research Seminar C: Evidence-Based Decision Making (1.5)

Trimester III

(Summer Y1) (6 units)

• EDBA 731A Quantitative Research Methods I (2)
• EDBA 732A Qualitative Research Methods I (2)
• EDBA 703 DBA Conference (1)
• EDBA 797 Comprehensive Literature Review (1)

Trimester IV

(Fall Y2) (6.5 units)

• EDBA 701B Research Design–B (1) (dissertation research proposal preparation)
• EDBA 731B Quantitative Research Methods II (2) [Measurement & Intro to Survey Research Design]
• EDBA 732B Qualitative Research Methods II (2)
• EDBA 702 Research Apprenticeship (1) (Supervisor: dissertation research proposal development)

Trimester V

(Spring Y2) (6.5 units)

• EDBA 702 Research Apprenticeship (1) (Supervisor: dissertation research proposal development)
• EDBA 799 Directed Study (1) (Secondary advisor(s): dissertation proposal review and approval)
• EDBA 704 Research Proposal (2) (Supervisor: dissertation research proposal approval and defense)
• EDBA 731C Quantitative Research Methods III (2) [Advanced Survey Research Design & Analysis] OR EDBA 732C Qualitative Research Methods III (2)

Trimester VI

(Summer Y2) (6.5 units)

• EDBA 731D Quantitative Research Methods IV (2) [Advanced Regression Methods] OR EDBA 732D Qualitative Research Methods IV (2) [Advanced Qualitative Coding and Analysis]
• EDBA 703 DBA Conference (1) 
• EDBA 791 Dissertation Research (3) (Supervisor)

Trimester VII and VIII

 (Fall Y3 and Spring Y3) (6 units)

• EDBA 791 Dissertation Research (6) (min of 5 units w/ Supervisor; max of 1 unit w/ Secondary)

Trimester IX

(6 units) (Summer Y3)*

• EDBA 703 DBA Conference (1)
• EDBA 799 Directed Study (1) (Secondary advisor(s): dissertation review and approval)
• EDBA 791 Dissertation Research (4) (Supervisor)

Dissertation

The dissertation is the culmination of the student's work throughout the program. The dissertation may take two different forms: a single document in the form of a traditional dissertation, or in rare cases, two or more publishable papers that address related research questions for a particular business problem.

The program is designed so that work completed by the students throughout each course contributes to their dissertation. For example, in the first year, students will develop a literature review for the business problem they have selected. This deliverable will be used within their dissertation proposal and the final submission.

Conference

The annual DBA conference is a gathering of all DBA students, other doctoral students within Pepperdine University, and students from other DBA programs nationally and abroad. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for students to present their ideas for peer review and comment and to hear details about other scholars’ research (including guest keynote faculty).

The DBA conference is intended to advance the doctoral research culture, provide opportunities to evaluate student progress on their research, and foster the ongoing development of a community of scholar-practitioners within the DBA program. The academic director and program faculty will use the conference to evaluate student learning and research progress, creating a learning environment for students to become comfortable and proficient in doctoral research discourse.

This “internal” conference opportunity will also give students the confidence to submit and present their work at regional, national, and international conferences in their field of study.