dba dissertation length

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DBA Program Dissertation

The Executive DBA program candidates at Drexel LeBow College of Business are required to complete and submit doctoral dissertation for committee approval.

The dissertation is an integral part of the Executive DBA program and serves as a demonstration of academic excellence in applying the science of business with all its expected rigor to an important problem of interest to the industry, as well as providing insight based on theory and supported by appropriate methodological and statistical rigor.

What is a Doctoral Dissertation?

The doctoral dissertation process is comprised of a series of courses, culminating in two major doctoral study milestones: defense of the proposal and defense of the completed research. The DBA dissertation will need to show relevance, be tied to appropriate scientific literature, and have appropriate methodology and analysis to support the conclusions outlined in the doctoral study paper.

Each candidate will be assigned a dissertation chair, who will guide the student through the process starting in year one, and committee who will evaluate the proposal and the completed research. Both proposal defense and completed research defense must attain a passing grade for the degree to be conferred. There are no qualifying or candidacy exams.

While I was challenged during this program on many levels, I always had my cohort and the faculty to lean on.

Global Senior Compliance Manager

I really strive to be a thought leader within my field and to push the envelope.

Senior Financial Analyst

Department of Treasury

DBA Dissertation Structure - Research Focus

Why is DBA dissertation research so important? An Executive DBA program worth pursuing is one that holds candidates to the same rigorous standards as any other doctoral program. By maintaining a high standard, the degree holders may be confident in their accomplishment and conferred expert status.

An academically rigorous and research-based DBA degree from a ranked and credentialed institution may also qualify recipients also for academic teaching posts, and allow them to serve on some doctoral dissertation committees.

The reason the rigor and research are central to the experience is quite simple: The doctoral journey has the potential to change students. The intense focus, training in research techniques, the effort to express findings and make a publishable contribution gives students the ability to look at the business world through different lenses. There are no shortcuts to mastery in evidence-based practice.

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• Dissertation Calculator The Dissertation Calculator is a tool created by the University of Minnesota. It helps break down the process into manageable chunks. Note that while most of the information is generic, some links refer to specifics for UM students.

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• A Guide to Submitting Your Dissertation Select the "A Guide to Submitting Your Dissertation" link under the "Doctoral Studies Handbook Documents" heading. Explains the University's dissertation formatting requirements, digital accessibility standards, and how to upload a completed dissertation to OhioLINK.
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Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

The KSU Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is an innovative doctoral program designed to prepare highly experienced professionals for teaching and research positions at AACSB accredited business schools or for advanced research positions in consulting, government or industry. The KSU DBA program combines the rigor of a traditional doctoral program with intense classroom study allowing full immersion into state of the art academic research content and methods, along with a European style mentorship model supporting the student in conducting independent, original research.

As of Spring 2019, the DBA program changed to a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration. You can find those dissertations by clicking the button below.

Dissertations from 2018 2018

Investigating Information Security Policy Characteristics: Do Quality, Enforcement and Compliance Reduce Organizational Fraud? , Dennis T. Brown

IS A PENSION FUND'S MIX OF FAIR VALUE INVESTMENTS, AUDIT TYPE, AND AUDIT QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRM'S CREDIT RATING? , Trevor England

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF ORGANIZATIONAL SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT FOR IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS , Angela Jackson-Summers

Trust and Distrust Scale Development: Operationalization and Instrument Validation , John D. Rusk

SOCIAL CAPITAL AND DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES IN A TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM , Blaine Schreiner

Data Analytics in an Audit: Examining Fraud Risk and Audit Quality , Sondra Smith

Intuition in Employee Selection: Examining the Conditions for Accurate Intuitive Hiring Decisions , Vinod Vincent

SEX MAY SELL BUT GENDER IDENTITY PREDICTS: AN INVESTIGATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS’ PROPENSITY TO JOIN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUBS , Jerald Wallace

AUDIT COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING , Andrea B. Weickgenannt

Dissertations from 2017 2017

Built to Last: Exploring Family Strategy in Dynastic Business Families , Mark William Auger

REDEFINING THE SALES CALL , Judi Billups

Merger and Acquisition Financial Reporting Outcomes: An Examination of Non-Audit Fees and the Impact on Auditor Independence , Jimmy Carmenate

Are Out-Of-Period Adjustments a Type of Stealth Restatement? An Examination of Non-Audit Services, Clawback Provisions, and Out-Of-Period Adjustments , Cori Oliver Crews

What’s In It For Me? Consumer Perceived Value of Marketing Activities as a Driver of Consumer Brand Engagement on Social Network Sites. , Mary Jane Gardner

Salesperson Perceptions - An Examination of Sales Manager Leadership and Salesperson Engagement , Marleen Pope

Have We Overlooked the Benefits of NAS , James C. Rich

General Counsel Characteristics and Financial Reporting Quality , John R. Sparger

Conceptualizing and Measuring Design of Retail Environments , Julie C. Steen

FEES, GOING CONCERN OPINIONS AND AUDITOR DISMISSALS: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT , Frances Ann Stott

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Enterprise Risk Management: The Transformation of Board-level Engagement as Evidenced by Disclosure , Timothy L. Baker

Management and Organizational Influences on the Compliance Behavior of Employees to Reduce Non-malicious IT Misuse Intention , Randy G. Colvin

IS Success Model for Evaluating Cloud Computing for Small Business Benefit: A Quantitative Study , Charles Kenneth Flack

Setting the Stage for Individual Ambidexterity in Organizations: The Effects of Context and Individual Regulatory Mode on Explorative and Exploitative Behavior , Fernando Garcia

Reflecting on Performance Feedback: The Effect of Counterfactual Thinking on Subsequent Leader Performance , Kelly R. Hall

Understanding the Impact of Information Quality on Customer Relationship Management , Dana Eckerle Harrison

Recognizing and Exploiting New Opportunities in Times of Chaos and Unintended Impacts , Ryan Matthews

From Offshoring to Reshoring: A Conceptual Framework for Manufacturing Location Decisions in a Slow-Steam World , Jeffrey J. Risher

Audit Firm Rotation, Audit Firm Tenure, and Audit Committee Support in Accounting Disputes , Janice E. Rummell

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Family Firms , James Nathan Smith

Capital Structure in the Family Firm: Exploring the Relationship Between Financial Sources and Family Dynamics , Diego G. Velez

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Sales and Operations Planning: A Performance Framework , Scott C. Ambrose

A Taxonomy of Emerging Markets , Alexander A. Assouad

The Effects of Risk Management Programs on Financial Professionals' Judgments , James F. Boyle

When Being More Different and Less Visible Leads to Commitment and Justice for All , Lisa Farmer

Differing Effects of Goals on Sales Control Systems and Multifaceted Job Satisfaction , Anne Gottfried

Financial Services: A Taxonomy of Consumer-focused Selling Activities and Sales Positions , Linda Joie Hain

The Effect of Audit Committee Compensation on the Procurement of Non-audit Services , Caroline Hayek

An Examination of Fit and the Use of Mobile Devices for Performing Tasks , Carole L. Hollingsworth

A Study on Information Technology Consumerization: Intentions to Use and Recognize Use Behaviors , Lorraine A. Lamb

The Relationships Between Entrepreneurs' Gender, Attitudes Toward Seeking Assistance from Entrepreneurship Centers, Utilization of Centers, and Entrepreneurial Success , Scott C. Manley

Why Empowering Salespeople is a Double Edge Sword , Lucy Matthews

The Role of Demographics: Who Engages in and Who Benefits from Family Supportive Supervisor Behavior? , John Neglia

Intuition and Its Impact on Information Systems Success , Robecca Quammen

The Influence of Leadership Style and Personal Costs on Fraud Whistleblowing Intent , Tonya D.W. Smalls

Supply Chain Managers and Risk Behavior: Testing the Sitkin and Pablo Model , Willie Frank Thompson

Measuring Family Business Performance: A Holistic, Idiosyncratic Approach , Ralph I. Williams Jr

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

A Comparative Analysis of Training, Mentoring and Coaching in the Sales Environment: Evaluating the Impact of Personal Learning on Role Ambiguity and Organizational Commitment , Shalonda K. Bradford

Sales Incentives and Sales Performance: The Moderating Effect of Cultural Dimensions , Morten Brante

Crisis Management: A Qualitative Study of Extreme Event Leadership , Charles A. Casto

Essays on Motivating Investment , J. Reid Cummings

An Investigation of Sustainable Product Purchase Behavior: A Social Cognitive Perspective of Consumer Action , Keith Edmund Ferguson

Behavioral Finance: Factors Influencing Angel Investor Decisions , Robert C. Forrester

Predicting the Presence of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) on Top Management Teams and the Moderating Influence of CMO Presence on the Relationship Between Firm Visibility, Market Power, and Industry Orientation and Firm Performance , Laurie Renee Hodge

Vendor Firm Characteristics and Buyers' Perceptions of Transaction Costs and Relationship Governance , Imran M. Khan

Stuck in the Middle: The Impact of Implementing Corporate Decisions on Middle Managers' Justice Perceptions , Lee A. Macenczak

An Examination of the Relationship Between Perceived Leadership Behaviors, Perceived Team Cohesion and Team Performance , Alvin Miles

Autopsy of the Banking Crisis: Examining the Impact of Director Characteristics on Bank Failures , Gregory L. Prescott

The Franchisor/Franchisee Relationship: The Antecedents and Outcomes of Perceived Franchisor Support , Mary Kay Rickard

Modeling Diversity Management Practices in Corporate Ethics: The Spillover Effect , Yves-Rose SaintDic

Are All Shares Equal? A Measure of Secondary Agency Conflict and an Examination of its Influence on Investor Reactions to Acquisition Announcements , Christine C. Sutton

Segmenting Segmentation: A Taxonomy Bridging Theory and Practice of Strategic Consumer Segmentation , Andrew Thomas Thoeni

Audit Committee Oversight of Fraud Risk , Robert M. Wilbanks

The Effect of Third Party Procedural Justice Perceptions on Purchase Decisions: The Role of Uncontrolled Marketing Communications , David L. Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

The Impact of Social Influence Pressure on CFO Judgments , Carol C. Bishop

The Influence of In-House Tax Expertise on Corporate Tax Avoidance , Kimberly Hutton Honaker

Revenge or Reconciliation? A Rejection-Based Model of Firm-Induced Relationship Termination , Lucas Hopkins

Two Essays on the Unintended Consequences of Sarbanes-Oxley on Small Banks and Small Businesses , Earl C. Howell

Formal and Informal Institutional Influences on Multinational Enterprise Social Responsibility: Two Empirical Studies , Dawn L. Keig

Two Essays on the Knowledge-Based View of the Firm: The Impact of Local Market Knowledge on Domestic Firm Performance in Both Transitional and Developed Economies , Ted B. Randall

Online Social Presence (OSP) In E-Tailing: Construct Development And Testing , Russell Reams

The Impact of Post-Acquisition Autonomy upon Small to Medium Enterprise Integration Success , Robert Weichel Reich

The Effects of Pricing on the Sales Force and the Firm: A Strategic View , Wendy Ritz

Understanding the Determinants of Corporate Social Disclosure Strategies: An Examination of Firms' Use of GRI Guidelines , James Michael Simmons Jr.

A Contemporary Examination of the Miles and Snow Strategic Typology Through the Lenses of Dynamic Capabilities and Ambidexterity , Marc D. Sollosy

Influences on Supply Manager Behavior Toward Environmental Responsibility , James Anthony Swaim

The ERM Process: Evidence from Interviews of ERM Champions , Therese R. Viscelli

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

An Examination of the Influence of Top Executives on Entrepreneurial Orientation , James Ruben Boling

The Effects of Internal Audit Report Type and Reporting Relationship on Internal Auditors' Judgments , Douglas M. Boyle

Job Embeddedness: Do the Interaction Effects of Attitude, Personality, and Exchange Relationships Detract from Performance? , Juanne V. Greene

Multi-Family Businesses — An Exploratory Study of Trust and Intergroup Relations , Jerry Kudlats

Antecedents and Outcomes of the Investment in Internal Auditing and the Moderating Role of Family Business Culture , Debra J. Lasher

Two Essays on the Degree of Globalization of a Firm: Measurement, Antecedents, and Consequences , Victor B. Marshall

The Drivers of Future Generosity Behavioral Intentions of College Service-Learning Experience Participants , Jeananne Nicholls

Extended Stakeholder Orientation: Influence on Innovation Orientation and Firm Performance , Vijay K. Patel

Institutional Theory and Cross-National Differences in International Market Selection for Direct Selling , Charles B. Ragland

A Taxonomy of Regulations: The Effect of Regulation on Selling Activities , John F. Riggs

Two Papers on "How Perceptions of Fairness and Influences of Social Capital and Source Credibility Matter to Compensation Committees And Investors" , Anne M. Wilkins

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Online Doctorate in Business Administration Programs

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A doctor of business administration (DBA) puts emerging business research to the test with real-world applications — and the terminal degree can help you stand out from the competition.

Far fewer people earn DBAs compared to the popular master of business administration (MBA) degree, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . Postsecondary institutions conferred less than 5,000 doctoral degrees in business during the 2021-2022 academic year compared to more than 200,000 business master’s degrees.

A DBA can lead to leadership and high-level analyst roles or academic, research-oriented positions in education.

Read on to find out more about a doctorate in business administration and learn about some of the schools that offer this terminal degree.

Featured Online DBA Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Best Online Doctorate in Business Administration Programs

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Lynchburg, VA

LU offers a doctor of business administration program from one of the nation's top Christian colleges. Students complete the fully online degree in three years on average. This DBA allows students to specialize their skills by choosing an emphasis.

Core DBA topics include strategy formulation and strategic thinking, supply chain management, and strategic allocation of financial resources. The 17 specializations include traditional subjects such as accounting, finance, and international business.

All participants complete a culminating applied research project. Admission requires a master's in business or a related major, as well as a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Program Snapshot

• Program URL: Visit Program
• Cost per Credit: $595
• Program Length: 3 years
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 60 credits
• Instruction Style: Asynchronous
• Format: Online
• School Status: Private
• Program Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Bellevue, NE

BU developed a doctor of business administration focused on the real-life application of advanced business skills. The fully online curriculum consists of 55 credits. Students receive an additional 36 credits for their accredited MBA .

The DBA curriculum explores topics such as human capital development, finance for business leaders, and sustainable business development. A research project beginning in the first year helps establish the participant as a thought leader. This DBA program requires no dissertation.

Two-week breaks between courses help participants manage their schedules. Admission to the online doctorate in business administration requires an MBA or equivalent master's. Applicants do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores.

• Cost per Credit: $780
• Program Length: 3+ years
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 91 credits
• Program Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education

Seattle, WA

CityU develops business programs specifically for working professionals. The doctor of business administration offers a customizable curriculum that students complete online in 3-4 years. The DBA examines topics such as financial decision-making, organizational identity and culture, and industry analysis and market innovation.

All students complete several research courses in preparation for the dissertation. Participants use 12 credits to design a concentration. The DBA format blends asynchronous learning and live bi-weekly sessions with peers and the professor.

Students can transfer up to 12 credits into this doctorate in business administration. Admission requires a master's degree (business major preferred) and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Cost per Credit: $742
• Program Length: 3-4 years
• Instruction Style: Asynchronous and Synchronous
• School Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Baker College's doctor of business administration develops scholar-practitioners. Students complete the degree entirely online in 3.5 years on average. The 60-credit curriculum develops proficiencies in areas such as quality improvement, knowledge management and information systems, and research methods and design.

Students use nine credits to focus on a specialty area. They culminate the doctorate in business administration with a dissertation. Eight-week terms help students finish the DBA faster.

All students pay the same affordable tuition rate regardless of residency. Admission requires a master's degree in business and optional GMAT or GRE scores.

• Cost per Credit: $915
• Program Length: 3.5

Columbus, OH

Franklin's doctor of business administration offers working professionals the best of both worlds. Students can complete the degree entirely online or in hybrid format at regional centers located throughout Ohio. The degree requires at least a three-year commitment.

The 58-credit curriculum explores topics such as organizational leadership and strategic thinking and decision-making. Students use elective credits to pursue a focus area such as accounting or HR management. The degree requires a comprehensive exam and dissertation.

Students can transfer up to 24 credits into the online doctorate in business administration Admission requires an accredited master's and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Cost per Credit: $748
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 58 credits

River Forest, IL

CUC's doctor of business administration enrolls seasoned business professionals. The program blends online learning, three face-to-face residencies, and extensive mentorship. Enrollees learn how to apply business research to their management practice.

The curriculum explores topics such as strategic marketing, global business operations, and business analytics. Participants choose one of two specializations: innovation in healthcare management or strategic leadership and innovation.

All enrollees complete research methods coursework. Students pair with business mentors in the second term. Participants culminate the doctorate in business administration with a dissertation. Admission requires a master's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants are also encouraged to have at least five years of professional experience.

• Cost per Credit: N/A
• Format: Online with residencies

Newberg, OR

Located in Oregon, George Fox offers a doctor of business administration that blends online learning and two residencies on campus in Newberg. Students take three years of coursework and spend one year on the dissertation.

Coursework explores topics such as leading in organizations and international business. Another course focuses on effective teaching in higher education. Students customize the doctorate in business administration with one of three concentrations: accounting, management, or data analytics.

Admission requires a master's degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and five years of professional experience or a full-time faculty appointment.

• Cost per Credit: $964
• Program Length: 4 years
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 56 credits

Providence, RI

Founded as a business school, Johnson & Wales offers a fully online doctor of business administration with no residency requirement. The cohort-based program creates business leaders able to optimize business performance in various sectors. Students complete the 54-credit degree in about three years.

All enrollees complete a mandatory online orientation. Core courses examine topics such as organizational strategy and design, innovation and change, and business analytics and intelligence. Participants culminate the DBA with a dissertation.

Enrollees in the doctorate in business administration pay the same tuition regardless of residency. Admission requires a master's degree, business coursework, and five years of related experience.

• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 54 credits
• Instruction Style: N/A
• Program Accreditation: N/A
• School Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education

A private college located in New Jersey, Felician University offers a self-paced doctor of business administration . Students learn from faculty with extensive C-level experience. The online curriculum blends an advanced business core, projects in knowledge areas, and personalized mentorship. Students must attend a brief residency in the beginning of the program.

The doctorate in business administration covers topics such as management theory, applied marketing, and statistical and quantitative analysis. Students conduct research in areas of their choosing.

Participants receive online guidance as they complete their dissertation. The innovation lab and industry experts provide invaluable resources. Admission requires an MBA and optional GMAT or GRE scores.

• Cost per Credit: $965
• Program Length: N/A
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 70 credits
• School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Riverside, CA

CBU prepares business leaders equipped for the business environment's rapid pace of change. The doctor of business administration uses a cohort model for coursework and the dissertation process.

The curriculum explores topics such as economic theory, strategic marketing, and international business in global markets. The program also incorporates ethics as part of CBU's Christian heritage.

Students typically finish the degree in 36 months. Eight-week sessions accelerate degree completion. All participants pay the same affordable tuition regardless of residency. Admission requires an accredited MBA or MBA equivalency exam.

• Cost per Credit: $795
• Program Length: 36 months
• Total Credits Required to Graduate: 56 units
• School Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission

How We Rank Schools

At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.

We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies .

What Can I Expect From an Online Doctorate in Business Administration Program?

Whereas a Ph.D. in business administration usually serves aspiring researchers or academics, the DBA is a high-level professional degree. Current or aspiring executives pursue DBA degrees for career specialization and advancement. DBA degrees typically work best for ambitious people interested in leadership roles.

About 60 credits total, the DBA curriculum includes core courses on multivariate statistics, econometrics, and research methods. DBAs often require 3-5 years of full-time enrollment to finish, although applicants with transferable master's degree credits may finish more quickly. DBA students benefit from advanced skills in analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

Most programs expect enrollees to specialize their course of study through a curriculum concentration. Common DBA curriculum specialization options include finance, management, and marketing. Some schools also offer concentrations such as information systems or supply chain management.

Online doctorate in business administration enrollees complete internships and capstone projects in their specialization area. Online learners can do their internships at approved local sites — often their current workplace. DBA capstone projects may be connected to the internship. Dissertation-based DBA programs may focus on more abstract research topics.

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Degree Programs.

What courses will i take in an online dba program, econometrics, contemporary issues in management, global marketing, foundations of information systems, research methods, find the tools you need to get started on your degree, what can i do with an online doctorate in business administration degree, career outlook.

Online DBAs meet or exceed degree requirements for various high-paying and rapidly growing careers in industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. The advanced research and analytical skills of DBA graduates prove useful in jobs such as economist , management analyst , and market research analyst .

All of these careers are projected to grow faster than average over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reflecting high demand for their skill sets.

Economists earn very high median annual salaries of $115,730, according to the BLS. Financial managers top the salary scale with a median annual salary of more than $156,100. The BLS projects a 16% growth in financial manager jobs from 2022 to 2032.

Learn more about the many business administration , business management , and business intelligence careers available to online DBA graduates.

Career Paths

Market research analyst.

Like economists, market research analysts often use statistical techniques and software to analyze market conditions. These professionals help businesses determine the best products or services to sell, at what price, to which audience. Market research analysts gather and examine consumer data and forecast trends. Some analysts hold the Certified Market Research Analyst credential.

• Median Annual Salary: $74,680

Management Analyst

Sometimes referred to as management consultants, these analysts examine organizations' functioning and make recommendations for increasing revenues and/or reducing costs. Some management analysts specialize in particular fields or industries. Possible professional certifications include Chartered Human Resources Analyst or Certified in Planning and Inventory Management .

• Median Annual Salary: $99,140

Top Executive

Experienced professionals can use their DBA degrees to enhance their candidacy for top executive positions. These high-level administrators establish organizational goals and create major strategies and policies that support those goals. Top executives collaborate with other administrators in making important decisions.

• Median Annual Salary: $206,680

These research-oriented professionals gather data and perform high-order analysis of economic phenomena. Economists may conduct this analysis to evaluate economic issues, understand and predict market trends, and make recommendations to executives. Some Ph.D.-level economists research and teach at universities.

• Median Annual Salary: $115,730

Financial Managers

These managers oversee organizational finances, collaborating with other managers to create and achieve long-term financial goals. These professionals often produce and present financial statements and reports. Other duties include supervising financial staff, ensuring legal compliance, and advising top executives.

• Median Annual Salary: $156,100

Business Administration Not For You? Check Out These Related Careers.

How do i choose an online dba program.

The total cost of a doctoral degree averages $133,340 in the United States. Online degrees often cost less than on-campus equivalents. Private university tuition typically costs nearly three times more than public in-state tuition.

To calculate the true cost of an online program, learners also must consider living expenses and non-tuition educational expenses. Distance learners typically save money on living expenses but do pay for books and graduation fees.

Program Format

Many online programs allow asynchronous attendance to accommodate working students. Asynchronous online programs allow participants to watch recorded sessions and contribute to discussion at any time of day.

Online doctorate in business administration programs also may offer self-pacing options that allow learners to accelerate their degree or complete it on a more part-time basis. This flexibility makes a difference for busy students.

Many online graduate programs require periodic visits to campus, often at the beginning or end of each semester or the program as a whole. Consider these requirements carefully when you decide where to apply , since this kind of travel gets expensive.

Some online doctorate in business administration students choose schools in their state or area so that they can take advantage of local networking and internship opportunities.

Accreditation

Good universities maintain institutional accreditation through regional accrediting agencies approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation matters, since regionally accredited schools do not accept transfer of credits from nationally accredited schools. Furthermore, only students at regionally accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid.

High-quality online doctorate in business administration programs usually also boast programmatic accreditation by organizations such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Student Support

Most online doctorate in business administration schools provide student support such as academic advising , career services, and networking opportunities. Some programs even offer mentorship programs. Compare online student service offerings as you choose prospective schools.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online DBA Programs

Are online doctoral degrees respected.

A number of prestigious, well-known universities offer accredited online doctoral degrees. Employers have increasingly seen the value in online degrees since the COVID-19 pandemic moved many learning and employment opportunities online.

Does a DBA require a dissertation?

A DBA typically includes a capstone or dissertation requirement, although the details of those requirements will vary by school.

Is a DBA equivalent to PhD?

A DBA is different from a Ph.D. in business administration. Both are respected terminal degrees with a focus on research, but a Ph.D. tends to be more focused on theory and academics whereas a DBA focuses on applied research.

Is the DBA program difficult?

A DBA includes rigorous research and applying concepts to the real world. A number of intensive, high-level concepts are covered in a DBA program.

What is the difference between an Ed.D., a Ph.D., and a DBA?

A doctor of education (Ed.D.) is focused on education leadership, whereas a DBA is focused on business leadership and practical education. A Ph.D. is a broad degree available in both subject areas, typically with an academic, theory-heavy focus. A Ph.D. prepares learners to work in academia and research.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 6, 2024.

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Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)

An Innovative Doctorate in Business Administration

Study Format

Program length.

• 60 Credit Hours

Application Deadlines

Domestic students.

Summer 2024 Application Due | Classes Start May 6,2024

International Students

Summer 2024 Completed File Due | Classes Start May 6, 2024

The Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is designed to meet the demand for doctoral business education that is the next step in individual professional development. The program, one of the top DBA programs in Chicago, provides a further tier of leadership and management preparation beyond the master’s level. The DBA creates an opportunity for students and faculty to further cultivate the global perspectives, knowledge, and networks already established through the College’s expanding global presence. The curriculum, residencies, specializations, and the Mentor interface are innovative by design and delivery. A unique feature of Concordia-Chicago's DBA program is that the dissertation process begins immediately with students choosing a preliminary topic at the beginning of their program of study. 

The Concordia-Chicago Doctorate in Business Administration has been designed for professionals who seek professional enrichment and want to focus on real-life business challenges while developing application-oriented research. Seasoned business professionals know that they must blend research with their management practice. They must know how to assess current global trends in business, leadership, and management that affect their organizations. The DBA program is committed to scholarly business research, and qualified candidates will have research interests that align with one of the two specializations offered. Those who earn a DBA degree will be prepared to advance in their profession and to use their research expertise to positively impact organizational goals.

Two DBA specializations are offered, Innovation in Health Care Management and  Strategic   Leadership and Innovation . Please view the curriculum below for program and specialization information.

Program Outcomes

The program prepares graduates to:

• Critically examine the literature of business, leadership, and applied research
• Undertake independent, ethical, innovative, and rigorous business research
• Synthesize global trends, business knowledge, and leadership theory to advance both theory and practice
• Design and implement innovative business solutions
• Evaluate the efficacy of business principles to effect change in global environments 

What is a DBA and how does it differ from a PhD?

A DBA is a professional doctorate with a focus on theoretical knowledge and its application to business practice. While also intended to prepare graduates for academic careers, the DBA has more practical application in managerial settings than the PhD.

A PhD is a research degree for candidates who would like to pursue a traditional academic career and conduct research that contributes to business knowledge or theory.  

The DBA and PhD are academically equivalent. Concordia-Chicago graduates holding a DBA degree are prepared to work in executive and leadership positions within organizations, as consultants, or in scholarly pursuits at universities and colleges. 

Download additional program information  (PDF)

Program Information

View curriculum, core: 17 credits, foundations of the doctoral experience.

This course orients and provides students with the foundational tools they will need for success in writing course assignments, literature reviews, and the dissertation. APA style, scholarly writing, academic integrity, library literacy skills, and writing for an academic audience will be reviewed. (2 credits)

The Global Leader: Social Responsibility and Ethical   Decision Making

A critical examination of the creative tension among the three principal components of organizational performance: leadership, social responsibility, and ethical decision making. This course examines the leader as the principal driving force of global performance, the role of sustainable social responsibility in the global world and the intricacies of ethical decision making in diverse cultures.

Global Concepts in Strategic Marketing

This course examines the marketing function from a global perspective. It focuses on the managerial application of marketing tools and methodology across multiple cultures and emphasizes marketing decisions associated with allocating organizational resources. The course will assess and analyze strategic product development and design, pricing, promotional strategies, and distribution in a global environment.

Strategy Formulation, Deployment, and Innovation: A Global Perspective

This course reviews the key elements of strategy formulation, deployment, and innovation in a global environment. Considered are the applications of strategic management in the formulation of global strategy, the unique elements of strategy deployment in a global environment and the process of using formulation and deployment in creating innovative global strategies

Business Analytics and Financial Decision Making

This course provides experience and application in predictive analysis and advanced data analytics to discover new business trends. It provides for powerful new visualization that empowers the use of big data in reaching financial decisions  that support effective global planning strategies for identifying and taking advantage of new global market opportunities.

Global Business Operations

This course provides the tools and knowledge to enable business managers and leaders to synchronize and optimize value from existing physical or intangible resources. Such knowledge facilitates prudent decision making and obtaining value from organizational assets, including supply-chain management that can create optimal performance.

DBA Mentor Course Rooms: 15 credits

The ten DBA Mentor course rooms run concurrently with core, research, and specialization courses. The Mentor course room begins the student’s introduction to the dissertation process starting in the second term of the student’s program. Each Mentor course room has a specific deliverable that coincides with one of the elements of the dissertation.   

Residencies: 3 credits

Dba residency experience 1  .

The residency occurs during the first term of a student’s enrollment in the DBA program. It provides students the opportunity to meet professors and peers, as well as build a community that they can access throughout their program and beyond. Residencies provide a rich learning experience. Some of the competencies students will develop in Residency I include an introduction to the DBA research and dissertation process focusing on problem identification. Students will self-assess their leadership, time management, and research skills. Students will establish a Comprehensive Professional Portfolio in which to record their significant achievements in the program.

DBA Residency Experience 2

Students who have approved prospectuses will emerge with a plan for writing chapters 1-3 of the proposal. Pre- and post-work encompasses the term.

DBA Residency Experience 3  

This course is taken after the proposal is written, with the goal of preparing students to collect data and write chapters 4-5 of the dissertation. 

Research Methods: 10 credits

Research design.

Emphasis on how to design doctoral-level, business research. Principles of research theory, methods, inquiry, problem formulation, data collection, literature searches, and ethical considerations. Emphasis on how to design a doctoral-level research study. (4 credits)

Quantitative Research and Advanced Statistics 

This course provides an understanding of the unique advantages of quantitative research in research and business and uses statistical software to explore, analyze, and apply descriptive and inferential statistics through both non-parametric and parametric techniques.

Qualitative Research

An examination and application of qualitative research approaches with a focus on research design, the role of the researcher, data collection and analysis, and writing from a qualitative perspective.

Specializations: 9 credits

Innovation in health care management, innovative best practices in health care management.

This course is a survey of best practices in health care management and focuses on those determined to be innovative through recognition from Malcolm Baldridge Awards, Magnet Certification, and the Center of Excellence Designation. Innovation is reviewed and methods and techniques that stimulate, develop, and foster innovative practices are examined. 

Health Care Analytics and Financial Applications for Health Care Management

This course examines the application of health care analytics and models to increase health care performance by the health care facility or system with emphasis on revenue cycle management and supply chain management using mobile technologies and other advanced techniques. It uses analytics in examining financial management, patient care innovations that improve financial performance while improving quality and mitigating risk.

Governance of Health Care Systems 

This course reviews health care system governance from the perspective of strategic policy formulation and execution, the governing body, ensuring the establishment of internal controls to ensure the integrity of the system, methods for accountability and transparent reporting to health care system stakeholders. It reviews innovative practices in health care system governance using information technology to leverage and ensure that the organization is proactive and compliant to regulations, accreditation standards as it meets the needs of the patient population it serves. 

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION

Strategic leadership thought                                                                                                  .

This course provides a compendium of leadership on how one leads in today's global, interconnected world. This goal is achieved through two reciprocal actions: leadership thought and thought leadership. Leadership thought provides a historical framework of leadership thought and the conditions under which it appears to effective. Thought leadership is a unique, informed, useful and relevant perspective that derives from strategic leadership thought. It starts at the top, is integrated throughout the organization, and becomes an integral part of the brand.

Strategic Leadership Practice                                                                                                  

This course surveys the universe of leadership practice and allows the student to assess and determine the optimal leadership practice for their situation. It provides a collateral seven-point principle framework that covers care, communication, consciousness, contrasts, context, change, and capability in better understanding the contemporary issue of leadership practice.

Disruptive Innovation Execution                                                   

This course builds on a synthesis of leadership thought and practice and examines them in the context of innovation and its execution. Innovation execution begins with Strategic Leadership Thought and Practice and translates them into actionable knowledge. The course builds upon the course,  Strategy Formulation, Deployment, and Innovation: A Global Perspective . Students will learn how to create a flexible yet disciplined innovation process to support strategic leadership thought and strategic leadership practice.

Comprehensive Professional Portfolio: 0 credit

To document and assess academic progress, students will prepare and present their Comprehensive Professional Portfolio (CPP) prior to defending their dissertation proposal in the final Mentor course room. The CPP is a systematic reflection and documentation of the student’s experience in the DBA program. Students complete a complex assignment within each Mentor course room that provides a basis for evaluating the degree of mastery of all learning outcomes for that course. This experience provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their command of the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary for conducting research within their area of focus. The student will present their CPP either virtually or in person to their dissertation committee prior to defending their dissertation proposal. 

Dissertation: 6 credits

DBA Dissertation Intensive #1  DBA Dissertation Intensive #2  DBA Continuing Services 

Program Structure

• Core courses and specializations courses capture the knowledge needed for the business profession
• Three residency courses provide sustained participation with peers and faculty members in scholarly/creative activities
• Acquisition of skills of inquiry, development of research techniques, and the incorporation of professional values
• Mentors who work with students through their program of study
• eBooks and eResources are used to contain costs
• Coursework and activities are integrated, ensuring all student effort is complementary
• Dissertation discussion begins in the first term
• The program is designed for three-year completion. Students requiring more time register for continuing services. The three-year delivery model mirrors the business environment and is managed by the student as a business enterprise
• Students do not wait until course work is finished to focus on their dissertation 
• Note: travel and accommodations are not included in tuition

The Mentor Experience

At Concordia-Chicago, doctorate of business administration students are matched with a mentor in the second term of their program of study. Mentors are selected for their business and research knowledge and their strong interpersonal skills. The relationship between the mentor and the student builds quality into the dissertation in a step-by-step, measurable way, preparing the student to begin collecting data, and writing chapters 4 and 5 of the dissertation supporting the completion of the dissertation by the end of year 3.

"The heart of the CUC DBA is the one-to-one mentoring course room experience. 'To innovate is not to reform: It is introducing useful change' (Adair, 2011, p. 412). The CUC DBA mentoring experience is an innovation in doctoral education. Concordia’s DBA dissertation mentoring experience starts as a continuous support to you as your mentor helps you orchestrate the dissertation journey. 'We Can Do This Together,' is the winning mantra." Charlene Dunfee, DM, PhD DBA Core Faculty

DBA Residencies

The Concordia-Chicago DBA program integrates three residencies at pivotal points of the program. Whether students are taking courses face-to-face or online, everyone attends residencies to enable personal support of program requirement achievement and ensure on-time graduation. Residences provide a rich blended-learning experience. Pre-and post-work encompasses an entire 8-week term .

Career Outlook

The market is robust for holders of the doctorate in business administration. Generally, MBA programs and other business-related master’s programs link to a DBA as a logical next step in business professionalization. As business requirements become more demanding and specialized, the demand for advanced business and leadership training, such as in the DBA, will increase. According to learn.org, graduates holding a doctor of business administration degree are prepared to work in executive positions, such as CEOs, within organizations or in scholarly pursuits at universities and colleges. Chief executives, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, earn high six-figure salaries or more, and professors with business doctorates tend to earn high wages from consulting, in addition to teaching and conducting research.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) occurs prior to initiation of course work. The number of students admitted will be limited to ensure quality of program and dissertation advising.

Applicants who are successful in their application for admission for entrance into the DBA program will meet the following criteria:

• Master’s degree  from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA*
• A completed Doctoral Application for Admission  
• Provides a coherent argument for pursuing doctoral study of business management.
• Demonstrates the ability to frame one’s own ideas and those of scholars in the field into a logical and persuasive presentation as to why this degree fits with their professional career goals.
• Speaks to how their academic background has informed their interest in pursuing doctoral research in business. 
• Demonstrates a thoughtful and intentional purpose for pursuing a DBA. Why is this the right degree for you?
• Shows his or her ability to write professionally and use citations and references, demonstrating his or her knowledge in identifying and using evidence to support one’s thinking and ideas. 
• Transcripts:  Submission of official transcripts of all degrees conferred.
• 1 professional recommendation
• 1 academic recommendation
• Past experience:  5 years of professional experience is recommended.

*Exceptions to the 3.0 master’s GPA may petition the dean of the College of Business for admission; additional admission criteria may be required.

Note: Students will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA while in the program. 

All documents should be submitted to:

Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services Concordia University Chicago 7400 Augusta Street River Forest, IL 60305

The office fax number is 708-209-3454.

Admission recommendations are submitted from the admission committee to the Dean of the College of Business, who will then make the final admission decision and communicate the decision to the candidate. The admission committee may establish an admission waiting list, if necessary.

Students who are applying for admission to the doctoral program are precluded from enrolling in any courses that meet doctoral program requirements until the student has been completely admitted to the program.

Each DBA student will be required to assess their potential for success in specific business courses. If the pre test (administered through Peregrine Academic Services) indicates that you require additional support, you will take a leveling course in the specific content area through Peregrine to help you develop the foundational business knowledge so you will be more successful in the doctorate degree in business administration. You may take the pretest any time between receiving your acceptance into the program and during the first term of course work. You will receive information regarding Peregrine and how to take the pre test after you are admitted. This is not an admissions test, and does not impact your admission status.

The Graduate Admission Committee reserves the right to request additional information or documentation deemed helpful in evaluating applicants for admission.

Pending Status

Doctoral and international students are not eligible for Pending Status.

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are required to meet all admission standards listed for the program they wish to enter. In addition, the following are required to be considered for admission:

• TOEFL:  A score of at least 60 (internet) minimum requirement on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or successful completion of Level 112 at an English Language School (ELS) unless English is the native language, and an unqualified recommendation from an ELS program director is provided.   (International students who have earned an advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States do not need to submit TOEFL scores.)
• Transcripts:  Transcripts from each college/university attended showing all college/university course work with certified English translations of all transcripts originally prepared in any other language. Also, any international transcripts must be evaluated by a Concordia-approved international credentialing service such as WES (World Education Services), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators), or AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers).
• Financial Support:  A certified document guaranteeing adequate financial support for at least the student's first year of study and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, adequate funding from the same or an equally dependable source, for subsequent years.
• Medical:  A physical exam, adequate medical insurance, and proof of immunization are required prior to enrollment.
• Regular Admission Requirements:  International students must qualify for regular admission to a degree program in order to enroll.

All documents must be received by the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services at least three months prior to the expected date of entry. I-20 forms may be issued only after University acceptance is granted and will remain in effect only for students who continue to make satisfactory progress as full-time students in an accepted university program. The program length of the doctoral program may vary for each student.

*International Student Requirement

Seminar in higher education (edu 6015).

In addition to the base program curriculum, international students attending face-to-face classes on the CUC campus are required to take the Seminar in Higher Education, a 3-credit course. This requirement will not apply to international DBA students studying exclusively online.

The CUC Advantage

The doctorate in business administration is a terminal, professional degree within the broad-reaching fields of business, social enterprise, and public sector management. Holders of the DBA frequently work in executive leadership capacities in a variety of industries and organizations and in academe. While many executive leaders may hold graduate business degrees, increasing complexity, new knowledge, and turbulence within the business environment requires an advanced level of knowledge, skill, and ability. 

The Concordia University Chicago DBA focuses on practice, contributing to extending the theoretical base of the particular practice and extending the use of business knowledge through application. The CUC DBA integrates academic and dissertation preparation through a tightly monitored schedule concurrent with course work, rather than in a linear fashion in which students take courses first and then write their dissertation. 

"Keeping up with your profession, or, as a business expert aptly put it, 'to always be fit for future action,' is a key responsibility of any business professional. The Concordia-Chicago DBA provides a pathway that empowers business professionals to proactively keep pace with their fast-changing professions. The Concordia-Chicago DBA focuses on three vital areas (a) leading for innovation, (b) honing the student’s capacity to conduct research, generate, and apply analytics, and (c) sharpening the student’s ability to think critically and communicate effectively. These essential skills transcend skills acquired at the master’s level, and enable the professional to adapt to a continuously changing world. Students will earn not only a DBA, but a Concordia-Chicago DBA."   Dr. Claudia Santin Dean, College of Business

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The dba versus the phd - what’s the difference.

Of all the questions I receive from people seeking a terminal degree in business, the one focusing on the differences between the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the PhD in Business Administration (PhD) is the most prevalent. Further, this inquiry comes as often from business faculty as from degree-seeking applicants. In this short discourse, I will compare the two terminal degrees from several perspectives to shed light on this fundamental question.

DBA History

Despite its increasing prevalence throughout the world, the DBA degree is still little known and understood in the United States. Further, the numbers of business PhD degree programs and graduates still dwarfs those of DBA programs. Interestingly, if we go back in time, this was not always the case.

While the PhD degree in business has been available in the United States since the early 1920s, the DBA degree was given its start at Harvard Business School in 1953. By 1960, the DBA became the de facto business doctorate at Harvard. Other U.S. universities followed Harvard’s lead and by the early 1990s, the international adoption of the DBA degree was ubiquitous.

Despite its early popularity however, the DBA degree ultimately gave way to the PhD in business at many institutions to avoid confusion and to leverage the PhD’s more scholarly-sounding connotation. In recent years, this condition has reversed and many reputable research institutions are offering both degrees in their Colleges of Business.

Degree Similarities

As with any comparison, it is often fruitful to begin identifying the similarities between the two degrees. To begin, both degrees are doctoral-level degrees and are considered terminal degrees in business. This means they both represent the highest academic achievement awarded in business administration. Additionally, both degree programs, when delivered through a top-level research institution present rigorous, research-focused curricula that develop an understanding of advanced research concepts and conduct such that the successful graduate can apply the best practices of scientific research toward the pursuit of advanced business knowledge.

Generally, both programs require a dissertation project (or its equivalent) toward the end of the course of study. Finally, both degree programs develop the skills associated with communicating scientifically conducted research findings within the field of business to the broader business community. Within the United States, both degrees are recognized as equivalent degrees by many significant research bodies including the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. Similar equivalent recognition can be found throughout the world.

And yes, when you successfully complete either degree program, you can be officially addressed by the title “Doctor”!

Now that we have a basic understanding of the history and similarities of the two degrees, we can focus our attention on what makes them unique.

DBA versus PhD – So, what’s the difference?

The DBA and PhD in business differ in four primary areas: research focus, candidate profile, method of delivery and cost.

Research Focus

The primary difference between the DBA and the PhD regarding research focus can be found in the type of knowledge conveyed and the type of research students are expected to perform.

The classical PhD focuses on theoretical research which involves the development of new theory and the refinement of existing theories relevant to business and human behavior. In this sense, it is considered a social science where we seek to better understand human behavior and the effects of a multitude of forces on business-related issues. The theoretical researcher is interested in description and understanding as it relates to social phenomena. Further, the PhD candidate is expected to develop an expertise and command of the knowledge directly related to his or her chosen field of concentration:   management, finance, marketing, information systems   and   accounting . Through this expertise, the PhD graduate is expected to pursue a career as an academic scholar and to contribute to the body of knowledge within his or her chosen discipline.

In a DBA degree program, the research emphasis is on applied rather than theoretical research. In this, the applied researcher uses academic theory to drive a scientific inquiry into the nature and solution of an advanced business problem. Their focus is not on developing or extending theory but rather the application of it. The starting point for this type of research is generally the identification of a specific business problem from their personal business domain and experience. From this, a theoretical model of the problem can be developed such that a scientific investigation into its causes and solutions can be generated. Such business problems are generally considered relevant and timely by both scholars and practitioners alike.

In other words, both types of research use the same expertise in methods, tools and scientific approach but differ in their objectives.

Candidate Profiles

The PhD degree program is specifically intended to prepare successful graduates for a career as an academic scholar. Here, PhDs focus on conducting theoretical research, teaching at the college and university level and further developing their knowledge and research acumen along with their international reputation as an academic scholar. One of the primary activities throughout their career is the publishing of relevant research contributions in academic journals and books. In some fields, PhD graduates may become senior researchers in both the government and corporate sectors, but the majority remain in academia.

In contrast, a DBA graduate may follow a variety of career paths.  As the DBA graduate is most often a high-achieving and highly successful business practitioner, many graduates continue as working professionals within their companies with the intention of becoming decision leaders within both their work environment and broader field of expertise. In other instances, DBA graduates use the knowledge gained from their degree program to expand their field of influence as a consultant to a variety of companies and industries relevant to their experience and background. Still others use their degree to make a transition to an academic career path as a guest lecturer, adjunct faculty, or a tenure-track faculty member at a college or university. The knowledge they bring to the research arena and the classroom that comes from their accomplishments as a successful practitioner is often highly valued by both academic institutions and students alike.

Method of Delivery

The classic delivery of a PhD program can be thought of as an undivided attention to the development of a scholar. Typically, PhD programs are four to five year programs with the first years focused on the acquisition of all knowledge within their field of concentration and the remaining years focused on the development of a dissertation that makes a unique and material contribution to the body of knowledge within that discipline.

There is rarely an instance where a PhD program can be characterized as part-time. Most programs require students to compete for a limited number of slots and demand that no outside work be conducted during the program. Many pay a stipend to the student and provide tuition waivers. The student is expected to devote all time and attention toward becoming a scholar and entering a traditional academic research career. Everything else is assumed to take a back seat to this objective.

You can begin to see from the above description that access to the highest degree in business through this approach is limited to those who divorce themselves from all other life pursuits both during their training and following their graduation. As such, there are many people who could successfully perform at the doctoral level and aspire to scholarly activities that simply cannot avail themselves of the training and knowledge that comes with such a life pursuit. Obligations associated with a successful business career and a growing family simply prevent them from accessing the opportunity and achieving their desired outcome.

Enter the DBA degree!

Program delivery of the DBA generally does not require your undivided attention to all things scholarly and is intended to facilitate and accommodate work and family obligations while studying and completing the program. Programs of study are generally three years in length and classes are often delivered using a hybrid approach that leverages the advantages of rich telecommunication technologies, digital course shells and face-to-face interaction. Through this approach, many more qualified and deserving future scholars can benefit from the knowledge available to them and can bring that knowledge to bear in a much wider business context than the traditional PhD offers or affords.

Cost of Instruction

One final point of contrast between the two degrees is cost of instruction. Most PhD programs are fellowship-based and as such, the student is paid a stipend and is provided with all tuition costs borne by their university. In return, the typical PhD student works as a research or teaching assistant or a lab supervisor while studying. The DBA is just the opposite – DBA students pay the costs associated with obtaining the degree but are free to continue to manage and pursue their work and family obligations while completing their studies. Both types of degrees generally qualify for additional financial aid and many students in both types of programs take advantage of such financial help.

So, when viewed in the whole, the two degrees are intended to get the student to a level of scholarly understanding and pursuit but the differences allow for a much wider variety of students and a tailoring of the degree to a broader set of objectives and motivations. Regardless of which direction you choose, the degree is the vehicle to help you reach your stated goals.

Best of luck in your pursuit of the degree!

5 Topics for a DBA Dissertation

DBA Dissertation Topics

• Global Business Politics
• Information Technology Integration
• Business Accountability
• Finance and Accounting
• Social Entrepreneurship

If you choose to become a Doctor in Business Administration, you can count on more career opportunities to move yourself ahead in the business place. While there are many reasons to consider a DBA, such degrees do require a great deal of time and effort.

Resource:  10 Most Affordable Online DBA Programs – Online Ph.D. Business

As part of your pursuit, you will be expected to complete a dissertation, which should explore one of the most pressing issues in the field. Here are five hot topics to consider for a DBA dissertation.

1. Global Business Politics

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected. As more businesses explore international opportunities, the need to adapt to a global marketplace is pressing. It is not merely a question of understanding different markets, but it is necessary to look at the legal and political ramifications of globalization as well. Globalization topics can range from an analysis of emerging economies to the way businesses and governments work together in international contexts. Dissertations about globalization can be enriched with detailed case studies and comparative data.

2. Information Technology Integration

Technology is essential to modern business. Almost every business relies on technology in manufacturing, software development, bookkeeping and more. Therefore, a dissertation on information technology is always a good choice. It is especially useful to look at the way technology can be successfully incorporated into the business structure, analyzing its benefits and the complications. Since technology is always evolving, there are plenty of examples to explore during your research. Examining technology from a managerial point of view can be a particularly useful way to go since it looks at the topic from a higher level. Ecommerce and security are also relevant considerations.

3. Business Accountability

After the turmoil in 2008, the idea of accountability is huge in business. Business leaders are always trying to make more money and reach new consumers, but these goals must be adequately balanced by ethical practices. The world saw too clearly what can happen when businesses let ethical standards slide, and many people are still trying to recover professionally and personally. This is why there is ample space to explore new accountability practices, assessing the best ways to maintain ethical business practices while still pushing ahead with profits.

4. Finance and Accounting

Many businesses also suffered financially after the crash of 2008. For this reason, issues of finance and accounting are worthy of more study. To really push the envelope, consider more advanced types of accounting that look at total assets and not just money. These less tangible assets are increasingly important to modern business models, which is why a method of accounting for them is so useful. Finance and accounting are topics that can be paired with other issues. For example, accountability is often tied to financial issues, and there are plenty of issues surrounding the global pressures on accounting practices. The way these topics intersect can make for a more dynamic dissertation.

5. Social Entrepreneurship

One of the most interesting business trends is  social entrepreneurship . Social entrepreneurship uses business to solve social problems. In these business models, success is not merely measured by conventional profits. Instead, success is marked by social gains. There is more interest than ever in giving back to communities, which is why social entrepreneurship might be an inspired topic. An exploration of hybrid businesses that seek to earn money and give back can be especially noteworthy for DBA students.

These topics are modern and relevant, which make them ripe for further exploration. Whatever you choose, your DBA dissertation can be an important building block for your career goals.

Additional Resources:

Top 10 Best Business Schools

Top 25 Doctoral Programs in Business

Latest Posts

How long is a PhD dissertation? [Data by field]

The final piece of the PhD journey is the PhD dissertation. It takes many years to accumulate enough original and new data to fill out a dissertation to the satisfaction of experts in your field. Interestingly, the PhD dissertation length and content vary significantly based on the field you are studying and the publishing conventions.

A PhD can be anywhere from 50 pages to over 450 pages long. This equates to between about 20,000 words to 100,000 words. Most PhD theses are between 60,000 and 80,000 words long excluding contents, citations and references.

A PhD thesis contains different sections including an introduction, methods, results and discussion, conclusions, further work, and references. Each one of these different sections will vary in length depending on the field of study and your particular topic.

Ultimately, a PhD dissertation should contain as many pages and words as it takes to communicate the results of your multi-year investigation.

It is very rewarding to see your thesis come together as you are writing day after day. When I was writing my PhD dissertation I wrote the sections separately and my heart filled with joy when I finally put them all together and compile them into a single PDF document.

Counting the pages should not be the way to determine a PhD dissertation’s value but it certainly helps when your thesis is starting to look substantial in thickness.

How many pages should a PhD dissertation be?

A PhD dissertation should contain as many pages and words as it takes to outline the current state of your field and provide adequate background information, present your results, and provide confidence in your conclusions. A PhD dissertation will also contain figures, graphs, schematics, and other large pictorial items that can easily inflate the page count.

Here is a boxplot summary of many different fields of study and the number of pages of a typical PhD dissertation in the field. It has been created by Marcus Beck from all of the dissertations at the University of Minnesota.

Typically, the mathematical sciences, economics, and biostatistics theses and dissertations tend to be shorter because they rely on mathematical formulas to provide proof of their results rather than diagrams and long explanations.

On the other end of the scale, English, communication studies, political science, history and anthropology are often the largest theses in terms of pages and word count because of the number of words it takes to provide proof and depth of their results.

At the end of the day, it is important that your thesis gets signed off by your review committee and other experts in the field. Your supervisor will be the main judge of whether or not your dissertation is capable of satisfying the requirements of a PhD in your field.

If you want to know more about how long a Masters’s thesis and PhD dissertation is you can check out my other articles:

• How Long is a Masters Thesis? [Your writing guide]
• How long is a Thesis or dissertation? [the data]

Can a PhD dissertation be too long?

A PhD thesis should contain enough evidence and discussion to report on the most significant findings of your PhD research.

A PhD dissertation should not contain everything that you have done during your PhD. It should only include the data and information required to convince your PhD examining body that wraps up and tells the full story of particular lines of investigation.

Including random results, thoughts, or superfluous explanation can result in a dissertation that is unfocused. I have heard of music PhD is being described as too verbose and physical sciences PhD dissertations as being unfocused.

Therefore, a PhD thesis can be too long if the information it contains does not form a full and cohesive story.

One of my colleagues during their PhD removed an entire chapter from the thesis after writing it as the supervisor said that it needed more experiments to be a full story. They did not want to spend the next six months gathering the data and simply removed the chapter altogether.

How short can PhD dissertation be?

The shortest PhD dissertations are typically found in mathematics.

George Bernard Danzig was an American mathematical scientist who made contributions to industrial engineering and many other mathematical-related fields. An interesting miscommunication led to 1 of the shortest PhD theses ever.

In 1939 his professor wrote two problems on the blackboard and Danzig thought they were homeless assignments. He stated that they were harder than usual but handed in solutions to the surprise of the professor.

They were, in fact, open mathematical problems in statistics.

His professor said to bind the solution to the two problems together and submit them as his thesis – the total thesis length = 14 pages.

Obviously, most PhD theses and dissertations will be so much longer than that!

My PhD dissertation was 256 pages long. It was full of schematics, diagrams, and tables to demonstrate and communicate my findings.

I would say that most people’s PhD thesis experience will be closer to mine than Prof George Bernard Danzig’s.

Why PhD dissertations are typically so long

PhD dissertations are often over 200 pages long.

One of the primary reasons they are so long is that it is a single document that summarises many years of hard work. Also, summarising the research field to date and making sure that all of your references and citations are included so you avoid plagiarism will bolster the word count of the thesis dramatically.

Here are all of the reasons PhD dissertations tend to be so long.

Many years of work

PhD theses or dissertations contain many years of research and analysis.

In many of my YouTube videos I recommend that a PhD student work towards their PhD thesis by doing at least three hours of focused work every work day.

This amount of work quickly adds up.

Of course, not every bit of work makes it into the PhD dissertation but a lot of it does. It can be difficult to work out what to include or leave out of your thesis.

As a PhD student, I perfected the art of turning one experiment into many different types of grafts and schematics to fully explore the limits of my data. The graphs can take up a lot of space in your PhD thesis and, therefore, bolster the page count significantly.

In depth literature review

One of the most substantial parts of a PhD dissertation is the literature review.

The literature review can take up a huge portion of the early part of your PhD dissertation depending on the amount of data and publications in your field.

Writing an in-depth literature review requires just as much meticulous data analysis and searching as the central part of your dissertation.

Figures and schematics

Some fields end up producing a lot of figures and schematics.

My thesis had many full-page figures of atomic force microscopy experiments with much more explanation on subsequent pages.

As they say, a picture paints a thousand words and a dissertation can really benefit from having many schematics to highlight the important aspects of your findings.

References and citations

The recommended PhD dissertation word count from an institution or university does not include citations, references, or other thesis parts such as summary of abbreviations, table of figures, et cetera.

However, these components of your dissertation can take up many pages and add to the overall thickness of your PhD dissertation.

University formatting rules

University formatting rules will also dictate how you many pages your words take up.

I often get roasted on my YouTube channel for having doublespaced lines and wide margins. Unfortunately, this layout was dictated by my university before printing.

PhD dissertations often end up going into long-term storage and therefore, need to adhere to archival and standardised formatting rules.

Deep in the depths of the University of Newcastle, there is a copy of my thesis on a shelf. The formatting and binding rules mean that my thesis looks like everyone else’s.

Universities will often have their own requirements for PhD dissertation cover colour, quality, and type of paper. Even the quality of the paper can change the thickness of the PhD dissertation significantly.

PhD by publication

It is becoming increasingly common to submit a number of peer-reviewed papers bound together with supplementary information in between instead of a PhD dissertation.

The benefits of this to the researcher and university are:

• More early career peer-reviewed journals for career advancement
• an easier review process – they have already been peer-reviewed
• an early focus on publishing means better research outcomes for the researcher, supervisor, and Department.
• No mad rush at the end to finish a thesis
• continually writing peer-reviewed papers throughout your PhD helps with timely analysis and communication of results

Even though this option has been available to PhD students for a number of years, I have only known a handful of students actually submit their PhD via publication.

Nonetheless, having this option will suit some research fields better than others and lead to a more productive PhD.

Wrapping up

This article has been through everything you need to know about the length of a PhD dissertation and the common lengths of PhD dissertations for various fields.

Ultimately, there is no predefined length of a PhD .

A PhD thesis is as long as it needs to be to convince your examiners that you have contributed significantly enough to an academic field to be awarded the title of Dr of philosophy.

Mathematical and analytical theses tend to be shorter and can be as short as 50 pages (with one of the shortest being only 14 pages long). At the other end of the spectrum, PhD students in anthropology and history tend to produce the longest dissertations.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

A Time Series Geometric Term Structure Model: Indications for U.S. Treasury Yield Curve Interpretation and U.S. Federal Funds Target Rate Forecasting , Danny L. White

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Analyzing the Effect of Sponsorship Disclosure on Social Media Influencer Contribution to Engagement in the Test and Measurement Industry , Todd B. Baker

Moral Virtues: A Quantitative Study on the Impact of National Culture on Integrity , Andrew I. Ellestad

The Barriers to Active and Experiential Learning in Accounting Education , Elizabeth Holbrook

Phenomenological Study of African American Female Partners in Top U.S. Corporate Law Firms , Tony Kelly

Career Shock and Voluntary Turnover Intention among Current Employees in the Public Sector , Charlena Miller

Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, and the Perceived Employability of Traditional Undergraduate Business Students in a Private Midwest Educational Institution , Michele Ryan

Effect of Black- or White-Sounding Name and Impact of Intergroup Contact with Black Individuals on Auditor Judgments , Vanessa J. Tijerina

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Young Adults Who Save for Retirement: A Grounded Theory Study of the Decision-Making Process , Chad Greenwood

How do People Justify not Paying their Taxes? A Study on Moral Disengagement and Tax Evasion , Grace M. Hufff

Identity Work in Aspiring Big 4 Accounting Practice Leaders: Narratives of Personal Reinvention , Michael H. Kinnen

The Impact of Workplace Mentoring on Meaningful Work for People With Workplace Anxiety in the Insurance Industry , Susan L. Nelson

The Impact of Digital Marketing Tactics on the Recruitment of Domestic First-Generation College Students in the Southwest United States , Noelle Seybert

Exploring the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Workplace Violence , Jared W. Snow

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Onboarding Autism Employees in Technology Industry , Heung-For Cheng

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Practices on Brand Trust and Purchase Intention in the Wine Industry , Sarah L. Cooley

A New Model of Opportunity Recognition: Linking Individual Agency, Entrepreneurial Action, and the Innovation Process , Eva M. Fast

Financial Literacy and Behavior in Credit Unions: An Exploration of Member Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior in the Credit Union Model , Peter R. Fisher

Predicting the Financial Vulnerability of U.S. Public Charities: A Test of the Tuckman-Chang Model , Alesha L. Graves

The Strategic Response of Nonprofits to Institutional Pressures: An Intellectual Capital , Mario L. Hicks

Ethical Attitudes of Accounting Faculty and Public Accountants , James Karan

An Analysis of the Impact of an Influencer's Perceived Trustworthiness and Content Quality on Their Follower's Travel Intent , Josh C. McNair

Remote Working and Open Offices: A Phenomenological Study of the Factors Impacting Employee Productivity , Frank Murphy

Rural Coopetition: A Consumer Perspective of Marketing Activities Involving SMEs , Cassandra A. Ritzen

Consumer Behavior and Ad-Evoked Effects in Native Ads: The Role of Congruence and Brand Familiarity , Steven Rydin

The Influence of Type of Implicit EWOM on Purchase Intention , Michael H. Starr

U.S. Marine Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars Diagnosed with PTSD: Perceived Employment Barriers Faced by Marines with PTSD Upon Discharge , Marlon G. Ware

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

The Relationship Among Generational Cohorts, Tenure, Job Categories, and Employee Readiness for Organizational Change in a Healthcare Environment: A Quantitative Study , Jerry S. K. Adatsi

Electronic Health Records: Influencing Performance at Critical Access Hospitals , John Bennett

Millennial Students’ Awareness of Retirement Issues, Their Retirement Preparedness and Future Expectations , Krzysztof P. Bryniuk

Assessing the Impact of Transition from Rules-based to Principles-based Accounting in the Recognition of Revenue: A Study of Public Companies listed in the Russell 3000 Index that Elected the Full Retrospective Method of Accounting , Foday Y. Deen-Conteh

The Impact of Buyer Needs on Perceived Trade Show Effectiveness , RJ Fryan

Self-Determination Theory and Pharmaceutical Salespeople: Does Motivational Orientation of U.S.-Based Pharmaceutical Salespeople Influence Sales Performance? , Brandon Gilbert

A Cord of Three: A Phenomenological Study of Linkages in Interdenominational Interactions in Northwest Wyoming as Informed Through Network and Social Exchange Theories , Timothy N. Gray

Management Succession in a Two-Family-Owned Business: A Case Study , Dwight D. Ham

Factors Motivating Leaders to Volunteer: An Examination of Volunteer Leadership in Long-term Post-Acute Care , Christian Allen Mason

Happiness at Work: A Phenomenological Investigation of Clinic Managers , Jorge Melendez

Can Trait Emotional Intelligence Variables of Well-Being, Self-Control, Emotionality, and Sociability Individually or Collectively Predict a Software Development Engineer's Creativity? , Mwoyondishe Jonathan Mvududu

Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Members at CCCU Institutions , Heather C. Vaccaro

Sticker Price Elasticity as Predictor of Tuition Reset Success: A Quantitative Approach , Robert F. Van Cleef

A Narrative Analysis of Virtue Ethics Among Accounting Professors , Gibran N. Zogbi

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Leading Change: Examining the Relationships between Leadership Style, Organizational Culture and Change Readiness in Christian Universities of the State of Oregon , Dale Seipp Jr.

Doctorum Reciproco: Multi-Generational Professionals and Their Sentimentality Towards Reciprocity , Sal Villegas

Identifying City Attributes for Place Branding that Create Strong Self-Brand Connections , Matthew Vollrath

An Empirical Examination of Formal and Informal Institutional Factors’ Influence on Global Food Industry Sustainability Engagement , Kat Yamamoto

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Entrepreneurship Education’s Impact on Entrepreneurial Intention: A Predictive Regression Model of Chinese University Students , Brian A. Lavelle

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Link Between Job Satisfaction and the Intention to Leave Among Casino Employees , Oliver Wayne Aho

Exploring Factors that Help Students Feel More Connected to Their Online Instructors , Debra Austin

Scoping Job Enlargement with the Cultural Dimension of Individualism: An Industrial , Mark Wm. Cawman

Exceptionally Employable: A Study of the Value of Contrasting Educational Modalities within Christian Liberal Arts Universities in Preparing Students for Employment Suitability , Sam Heinrich

The Impact of CSR Efforts on Firm Performance in the Energy Sector , Robert Lloyd

Public Company Health Insurers and Medical Loss Ratios: An Event Study of Dates Associated with the Affordable Care Act , Rachelle Quinn

Self-Determination and Human Resource Retention: Employee and Volunteer Motivation to Stay in Rural Oregon Nonprofit Organizations , Nicole Richman

Understanding Business Education: Examining the Effect of the Application of Strategic Learning Among Diverse Business Disciplines , Dan Thoman

Pre-Certification Interprofessional Education: Ideal vs. Reality Patient Safety Curriculum , Edward E. Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Marketing Channel Attitudes of Chinese Business-to-Business Companies: An Empirical Buyer Behavior Study for U.S. Companies Marketing to Chinese B2B Customers , Jonathan Cooley

Corporate Social Responsibility: Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Costa Rican Hotel Tourist Industry , Michelle Flynn Osborne

A Phenomenological Investigation of Factors Leading to Success in Diverting Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use at a Rural Critical Access Hospital Using the Patient Centered Medical Home Model , Paul Gratton

An Investigation of the Trends in Pricing for Christian Higher Education and Its Relationship to Perceived Quality , Richard Holaway

Understanding the Process Small Businesses Use to Capture, Convert, and Integrate Survival Knowledge , Frank Marshall

Encouraging Ethical Behavior in the Workplace by Way of the Classroom: Examining the Use of Social Media in Marketing Ethics Instruction to Influence Millennials‘ Perception of Workplace Ethics , Traci Thomas Pierce

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

The Lived Experience of College Choice , Ryan Ladner

The Management of a Turnaround after an Ethical Breach in a Public Institution of Higher Education , Ashley Stark

Nontraditional Students in Management and Accounting Programs: Investigating the Relationship between Personality and Major Satisfaction in the Community College Setting , Brad Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Empirical Study on the Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Organizational Climate of Innovation , Virlena Crosley

Undergraduate Education Background and Ethical Decision Making , Ian H. King

Understanding Consumers' Thoughts and Feelings about Financial Literacy and How Financial Literacy Affects Their Lives Using the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) , Belle Marie

Dissertations from 2013 2013

An Exploratory Study of the Role of Values in Microeconomic Decision-Making and the Implications for Organizations and Leaders , Holly A. Bell

Later Life Career Transitions: Exploration of Factors and Turning Points that Influence Career Transitions in Later Life , Estle Harlan

The Role of Creativity in the Ethical Orientation of Oregon CPAs , John D. Porter

Dissertations from 2012 2012

Exploring the background and motivations of social entrepreneurs , Timothy A. Lucas

Dissertations from 2011 2011

Organizational culture and brand : A grounded theory assessment of employees' enablement to live the brand at a best place to work , Tyler Laird Magee

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Programs: DBA Doctoral Study

Dba doctoral capstone templates.

• Instructions for Using the DBA Doctoral Capstone Templates Applies to all DBA templates

Traditional Capstone Path

• DBA Research Project Template

Use the DBA Research Project Template for:

• Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry (started AFTER 10/30/23)
• DBA Traditional Doctoral Study Template

Use the DBA Traditional Doctoral Study Template for:

• Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry (started BEFORE 10/30/23)
• Qualitative Case Study (started BEFORE 10/30/23)
• Quantitative Research Project (Anonymous Survey)

Portfolio Capstone Path

• Portfolio Qualitative Program Evaluation Template
• Portfolio Quantitative Secondary Data Analysis Template

Consulting Capstone Path

• Consulting Capstone Template (started AFTER 10/30/23)
• Consulting Capstone Template (started BEFORE 10/30/23)

To prepare for the form and style review, use the following checklist, which is the same checklist we use when we review capstone manuscripts and the checklist we return to the student and committee along with their completed review.

• Form and Style Review Checklist (APA 7)

About the DBA Doctoral Study

Access samples of published DBA doctoral studies through the Walden library website under Databases. You can also access the Office of Research and Doctoral Services's Doctoral Capstone and Project Resources for additional information on the DBA doctoral study process. For proposal, dissertation, thesis, or doctoral study questions, contact [email protected]

Doctoral Capstone Template Guidance

To accompany the doctoral capstone template document, here is some information to note when first beginning to use the template.

• The document may contain various front matter elements (i.e., two title pages, the abstract, a Dedication page, and an Acknowledgements page), a Table of Contents (TOC), Lists of Tables and Figures, the document body text, a References list, and Appendices.
• Students should ensure that the text in brackets [ ] on the two title pages is changed to reflect their own information and then remove the brackets. This includes the title, name, degrees earned, degree program, and date of anticipated completion.
• Begin using the template by copying and pasting the text from a working document into the appropriate headings of the template and references to the reference list.

How to tag headings (so that headings show up in the TOC):

• Most headings are already placed into the document. Headings students add (i.e., primarily for the literature review and results chapters and sections) should be added by creating a new heading and tagging it so that it appears in the TOC when updated.
• Add a heading by first ensuring that the pilcrow [ ¶ ] is turned on—this allows the writer to see hidden formatting in the document that should not be deleted (e.g., page breaks and section breaks).
• Add the heading by placing the cursor where the heading should be inserted and creating a hard return.
• Then type the text for the heading and highlight it with the cursor, ensuring that you do NOT highlight the pilcrow.
• Once the text is highlighted, choose the appropriate APA Style heading from the Styles box on the Home tab. This is called tagging a heading. HINT: The Styles tab may need to be expanded by clicking on the small box with the arrow at the bottom of the Styles section. 

How to update the TOC (to bring in new headings and update page numbers):

• Once new headings have been added or text created or inserted such that the page numbers have shifted, the TOC should be updated.
• Update the TOC by clicking on it with the cursor so that the section becomes grey.
• Then, right click (or control click on a Mac) and choose “Update field.”
• Depending on whether headings or just text has been added, choose “Update entire table” or “Update page numbers only.”

Template and Formatting Resources:

• Form and Style Document Formatting Expectations , including information on APA, margins, pagination, etc.
• SMRTguide on Fixing Errors in the TOC
• Academic Skills Center (ASC) Capstone Template Formatting Videos
• For questions regarding layout formatting in the doctoral capstone, contact [email protected]  
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Online Dissertation Milestones

Online Dissertation Milestones for Doctoral Programs (PhD/EdD/DBA)

Dissertation milestones mark the progress of a doctoral candidate’s progress toward completing the dissertation and are major components that contribute to the completion of a doctoral program (PhD/EdD/DBA).

The Online Dissertation Milestone – Activity Guide is available at  https://my.fiu.edu/ , under your Student environment, in the Tasks tile. For academic guidance,  make sure to communicate with your academic advisors and/or Graduate Program Director prior to initiating dissertation milestones. It is essential to communicate with your academic advisors and obtain approvals prior to the submission of any dissertation milestone.

The submission of all online dissertation milestones must follow registration, good academic standing, and deadlines requirements. Hence, be sure to comply with all requirements such as guidelines, timelines and deadlines for all dissertation milestones. Furthermore, do make sure to include all required documents, as instructed on each dissertation milestone. Incomplete dissertation milestones will be returned.

To ensure timely progress of your submission, do make sure to monitor the status of your Online Dissertation Milestone(s) at https://my.fiu.edu/. It is essential to communicate with your academic advisors (i.e., major professor, entire committee, graduate program director), so you can keep track of their approvals as well as any comments or observation they note on your milestones.

For Online Dissertation Milestone(s) received at UGS in a timely manner, do allow time for review and approval. If anything is needed, the appropriate UGS team member will reach out accordingly.

General Dissertation Milestones described below:

Program for Doctoral Degree and Application for Candidacy

• Complete all coursework and required number of credits.
• Pass all comprehensive and qualifying examination(s), as established by each academic department. These may include language requirements or other departmental requirements (if any). If the dissertation proposal is part of candidacy, this must be submitted prior or at the same time. Consult with your academic department.
• Maintained a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
• Cleared any incomplete grade(s).
• Any transfer of credits must be reflected in the FIU transcript prior to submission of this dissertation milestone.
• In general, doctoral students advanced to candidacy with a minimum of 60 graduate credits.
• Approved candidacy is required to commence dissertation credits enrollment.
• Due at UGS five days prior to the first day of classes in the term in which dissertation credits enrollment will commence. Keep in mind that if there are any issues related to any received milestone, the UGS will reach out to the graduate program director or major professor, if applicable. * Program for Doctoral Degree and Application for Candidacy that are “Pending UGS” indicate that these will be approved once the end of the term grades are posted to FIU transcript. This means that once the end-of-term grades are posted, the UGS will review that all grades are in. If all enrollment is graded, the Application for Candidacy will be approved. 

Appointment of Dissertation Committee

• Establish dissertation committee by mutual agreement with the student and major professor or co-major professors prior to submission.
• Must meet the University’s minimum composition requirements, refer to  https://policies.fiu.edu/files/780.pdf .
• Include a 250-Word abstract of your proposed research project (Approximately a one-page, double-spaced document in a Word or PDF format attachment).*
• Include the expertise of your proposed dissertation committee and how it relates to your proposed research project (in the “Enter Expertise” fields you must state how their expertise will contribute to your proposed research project).*

* Please make sure to provide the 250-Word Abstract (one-page, double-spaced document) and in the “Enter Expertise” fields clearly explain how your proposed dissertation committee will contribute to your proposed research project. Otherwise, this online form will be returned. You will be able to submit a new Appointment of Dissertation Committee accordingly.

Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

• Complete original research proposal (5 page maximum plus references).
• Complete required Responsible Conduct of Research Certification (RCR).
• At the time of your proposal submission at UGS: IACUC, IRB, IBC approvals must be current and valid for at least one year.
• Original memo must be attached, and if applicable, amendment/renewal memo must be attached. The student’s name must be included in either the original memo or the amendment or renewal memo.
• For all information about RCR, online research training, refer to https://gradschool.fiu.edu/rcr/

Preliminary Approval of Dissertation and Request for Oral Defense

• Written dissertation must conform to the standards of presentations as described in the University Graduate School manual for Electronic Theses and Dissertations.
• Public Presentation of dissertation to the University Community to be held on a business day during the regular term
• Do make sure to meet internal committee, departmental, and college deadlines. These are earlier than UGS deadlines.
• Due at UGS by no later than three weeks prior to the proposed date or by the defense deadline as set in the UGS calendar (whichever date is the earliest).

Click Here to Learn about the Request for Oral Request Process: https://gradschool.fiu.edu/oraldefensesubmission/

Final Electronic Dissertation Approval

• Final written dissertation for preservation in the University’s Digital Commons.
• For SACS accreditation, a full version of the Curriculum Vitae must be provided (this is different from the 2-page VITA).
• For PhD candidates, a Certificate of Completion from Survey of Earned Doctorates is required. Complete this at https://sed-ncses.org/login.aspx .

Click Here to Learn about the Final ETD Process: https://gradschool.fiu.edu/the-final-etd-process/

Important –  Please be advised that towards the end of the term (check academic calendar), you will receive an email from us with instructions to upload your final manuscript to Digital Commons. Hence, it is essential to submit your online Final ETD to us by no later than the due date.

Deadlines Chart

Quick Login Access Instructions for Online Dissertation Milestones

Step 1 – Log into PantherSoft to access online dissertation milestones

• Log into your Campus Solutions at: https://mycs.fiu.edu/psp/stdnt/?cmd=login and select your FACULTY Environment.

Step 2 – Click on the Approvals Tile to access any online dissertation milestone available for your review

• Make your decision by either selecting the Approve button OR to return, click on the Send Back to Student button (For Major Professors) or Return to Major Professor button (For GPDs and Deans)

Please note that returning online dissertation milestones will restart the review/approval process. The information entered won’t be lost as it will be available for edits.

• For your convenience, any online dissertation milestone available for your review is listed in the menu on the left side of the screen. If you have more than one, click on the one you wish to select.

• Note that the selected online dissertation milestone will appear in the center of the screen.

• Click on the down arrow at the top right of the screen to view a history of the online dissertation milestones you may have approved.

Step 1 – Log into your my.fiu.edu to initiate your Online Dissertation Milestones (Please see Screenshots on pages 1 and 2 of the manual, as well as how to navigate online dissertation milestones).

• Log into: https://my.fiu.edu/ – Please make sure to select your Student environment • Select Tasks tile and under the To Do List, click on any of the PENDING dissertation milestones (i.e. Diss Committee / Diss Proposal / App for Candidacy / Diss Req Oral Defnse / ETD Approval) that you wish to initiate • Click on prompt, Proceed to Dissertation Activity Guide , to begin your online dissertation milestone

Step 2 – Review populated information to ensure accuracy.

• Please keep in mind that you can either Save or Submit your online dissertation milestone • To navigate across all forms, click on the Previous or Next buttons at the top right • To exit, click on the Exit prompt at the top left

Step 3 – To submit, click the Submit button at the top, and it will be routed to the next level of approver. Otherwise, use the Save button, to save your dissertation milestone form until is ready for submission.

Step 4 – Please do keep track of your online dissertation milestone(s) by checking your To Do List. It is your responsibility to ensure that your online dissertation milestones are received on a timely manner.

Important : Please be advised that if you filed a hard copy milestone form, and it shows as approved on your To Do list, this will not be reflected in the current online dissertation milestones. Should you need a copy of any previously filed dissertation form, please reach out to your academic department.

• Log into your Campus Solutions at: https://mycs.fiu.edu/psp/stdnt/?cmd=login and select either your FACULTY Environment or Campus Solutions Environment.

Step 2 – Click on the Approvals Tile to access any online dissertation milestone ready for your review

• Make your decision by selecting the Approve button

Note : Be advised that no special link is required to access online dissertation milestones. Although an automated notification is sent out, no special link is needed. For all committee members, including Non-FIU, to access and approve, only Steps 1 and 2 are needed.

All FIU systems require Two-Factor Authentication. If you need to update your telephone number, contact the university’s Information Technology division at 305-348-2284 or via chat at https://fiu.service-now.com/sp?id=get_help_portal .

• For your convenience, any online dissertation milestone ready for your review is listed on the left side menu of the screen. If you have more than one, click on the one you wish to work on.

• Click on at the top right of the screen to view a history of the online dissertation milestones you may have approved.

Processing Appointment of Non-FIU members:

• Processing the appointment of non-FIU committee members does require additional time. Upon receipt of an Appointment to Dissertation Committee that includes a Non-FIU member, UGS will contact the FIU Human Resources (HR) and FIU Division of Information Technology (IT) directly to request a Panther ID and access to Campus Solutions.

• Be advised that it takes approximately 4-5 weeks to receive this access from HR and IT. Once they provide these approvals and access, the UGS will email IT credentials to Non-FIU committee member(s). Once this is completed, the workflow approvals of the appointment of dissertation committee will commence.

Online Dissertation Milestones Guides

• Training Guide for Doctoral Students
• Training Guide for Faculty
• Quick Instructions for Doctoral Students
• Quick Instructions for Committee Members
• Quick Instructions for Major Professors, Graduate Program Directors, and College Deans

Should you have any questions, please contact the UGS at  [email protected]  or (305) 348-2455.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is a dissertation.

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

• An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
• A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
• A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

Frequently asked questions: Dissertation

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.

Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:

• Plan to attend graduate school soon
• Have a particular topic you’d like to study more in-depth
• Are considering a career in research
• Would like a capstone experience to tie up your academic experience

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:

• A restatement of your research question
• A summary of your key arguments and/or results
• A short discussion of the implications of your research

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.

For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the discussion section and results section
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion …”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g., “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a  literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr. for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like PC, USA, or DNA), then you can use the abbreviated version from the get-go.

Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations that you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, with items in alphabetical order, just after your table of contents .

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA-Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .

If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organized. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction .

You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:

• Your  interpretations : what do the results tell us?
• The  implications : why do the results matter?
• The  limitation s : what can’t the results tell us?

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.

The results chapter of a thesis or dissertation presents your research results concisely and objectively.

In quantitative research , for each question or hypothesis , state:

• The type of analysis used
• Relevant results in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics
• Whether or not the alternative hypothesis was supported

In qualitative research , for each question or theme, describe:

• Recurring patterns
• Significant or representative individual responses
• Relevant quotations from the data

Don’t interpret or speculate in the results chapter.

To automatically insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

• Apply heading styles throughout the document.
• In the references section in the ribbon, locate the Table of Contents group.
• Click the arrow next to the Table of Contents icon and select Custom Table of Contents.
• Select which levels of headings you would like to include in the table of contents.

Make sure to update your table of contents if you move text or change headings. To update, simply right click and select Update Field.

All level 1 and 2 headings should be included in your table of contents . That means the titles of your chapters and the main sections within them.

The contents should also include all appendices and the lists of tables and figures, if applicable, as well as your reference list .

Do not include the acknowledgements or abstract in the table of contents.

The abstract appears on its own page in the thesis or dissertation , after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .

An abstract for a thesis or dissertation is usually around 200–300 words. There’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check your university’s requirements.

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

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• Doctor of Business Administration
• Dissertations

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

Explore past dissertations from members of the Doctor of Business Administration program at Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

2024 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Principles in Organizations: The Role of Leadership and Impacts on Corporate Financial Performance
• Dissertation: African Energy Crisis: Designing Sustainable Solutions
• Dissertation: Predictive Accuracy of Performance in Knowledge Work: Comparison of Human Judgment, Regression and Artificial Intelligence Models
• Dissertation: Individual-Level Factors Affecting the Success of New Product Development Teams
• Dissertation: Thriving Together: The Virtuous Cycle of Business for Good, Positive Leadership, and Employee Well-Being
• Dissertation: The Concept of Awe and Its Role in Idea Creation
• Dissertation: At the Boundary of Risk and Uncertainty: Behavioral Insights Into Enterprise Risk Management
• Dissertation: Telemedicine's Evolutionary Sociotechnical Fit
• Dissertation: What Are the Impacts of Leader Political Skill on Organizational Change?

2023 Dissertations

• Dissertation:  Do Emergency Physicians Treat Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Differently? A Mixed-Methods Integrative Paper
• Dissertation: Reliability and Resilience at U.S. Hospitals During the Global COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study on the Effect of Leader and Team Behavior on Crisis Response 
• Dissertation: The Experience of American Frontline Health Care Workers with Electronic Medical Records Technology During the Time of COVID-19: A Phenomenological Inquiry Following the Systems Approach
• Dissertation: The Impact of Business Unit (BU)-Information Technology (IT)-Relationships on Business Transformations: A Mixed Methods Study
• Dissertation: Cognitive Load, EHR Use, and Psychological Stressors Influence on Decision-Making Performance Within Healthcare
• Dissertation: Are Food Banks Impacting Food Retail? Examining the Relationship Between Hunger Relief Distributions and Retail Transactions in a Local Food Environment 

2022 Dissertations

• Dissertation:  Factors Influencing the Advancement Of African American Women In Banking: “Yet None Have Advanced Into The C-Suite Of The Top Four U.S. Banks”
• Dissertation:  Embodied Awareness, Embodied Practice: A Powerful Path to Practical Wisdom
• Dissertation:  The Dynamics and Impacts of Conference Change in Intercollegiate Athletics: A Strategy Group and Institutional Analysis  
• Dissertation:  Heuristics and Bias in New Venture Valuations
• Dissertation:  Mixed Methods Study Examining Organizational and Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Management of Pet Populations in Shelters
• Dissertation:  Factors Influencing Academic Engagement: A Social Support Perspective
• Dissertation:  Latino Entrepreneurship in the United States: A Fresh Perspective
• Dissertation:  The Effect of Supply Chain Strategies on Direct-to-Consumer Industry Evolution: A Mixed-Methods Study
• Dissertation:  Building Character and Leading Through The "Eyes of Others:" A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Ethical Decision-Making  
• Dissertation:  Unveiling the Arab Mind: What are the Characteristics of Leaders Who Need to Capture Followers' Hearts and Minds?

2021 Dissertations

• Dissertation: System Influence Framework: IT Project Managers’ Influence to Form Critical Stakeholder Alignments and Promote Value Realization
• Dissertation: A Mixed-Method Study of Investigating the Effects of Organizational Preparedness of Supply Chain Management Performance in the Food and Manufacturing Industry
• Dissertation: Managing Successful Strategic Turnarounds: A Mixed Methods Study of Knowledge-Based Dynamic Capabilities
• Dissertation: Price Wars and Managerial Sensemaking: A Mixed-Methods Study
• Dissertation: Integrative Ecosystem Management: Designing Cities and Co-creating the Flourishing Ecosystem
• Dissertation: Effectiveness of Nonprofits on Factors That Influence the Social Aspects of Well-Being in Food Deserts
• Dissertation: Managing Scholar/Practitioner Tensions in Professional Programs: A Study of Library and Information Science Faculty
• Dissertation: Three Studies of Unexpected Organizational Decisions: Some Commonalities in Decisions to Report Workplace Violence and Decisions of Scope in Audit Testing for Complex IT Environments

2020 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Operational Excellence and Organic Revenue Growth
• Dissertation: Breakthrough Teams & Innovation in Orbit: Entrepreneurial Group Initiatives in Established Organizations
• Dissertation: The Human Side of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Inquiry Into the Factors Influencing M&A Outcomes
• Dissertation: Coaching and Development as Part of a Manager-Subordinate Relationship: A Mixed-Methods Study of Tools, Dynamics and Outcomes
• Dissertation: Role of a CEO in the Era of Technology Disruption: Influence on Timing of Adoption
• Dissertation: Why Do People Bribe and Is It Worth It? A Mixed Methods Study of Bribing Antecedents and Outcomes in Former Soviet Countries
• Dissertation: Cross-Functional Team Performance: Inquiry, Identity and Shared Reality
• Dissertation: Managing Rational Divergence: Testing the Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Technique on Collaborative Versus Competitive Behaviors in a Game Theoretic Setting
• Dissertation: Equity and Justice For All: The Absence of Subjective Well-Being for the African American Male
• Dissertation: How Do Professionals Find Life Meaning?
• Dissertation: Do You Have the "S" Factor for Service Innovation? How Stewardship Contributes to Service Innovation Capabilities in Service-Dominant Logic
• Dissertation: Coaching Millennials
• Dissertation: Antecedents Of Radicality And Commercial Success Outcomes In SBIR Projects
• Dissertation: Omni-Brand: The Paradox of Global Acceptance and Local Authenticity
• Dissertation: What drives individual decision-making of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Designing the Framework of Entrepreneurial Relationship Management (ERM) for Strategic Actions and Effective-Decision Making
• Dissertation: Building Big Data Analytics as a Strategic Capability in Industrial Firms: Firm Level Capabilities and Project Level Practices
• Dissertation: The Influence of Individual, Organizational and Contextual Factors on Saudi Women Career Commitment and Satisfaction in Nontraditional Occupations
• Dissertation: The Patient Perspective: Exploring the Influence of Social Interactions on Chronic Disease Outcomes
• Dissertation: Hyperconnectivity Giveth and Taketh Away: Reconciling Being an "Always-On" Empowered Consumer and Privacy in an Era of Pervasive Personal Data Exchanges
• Dissertation: Inspirational Professors, Their Emotional Intelligence and its role on Relational Climate
• Dissertation: Emergent Learning in Digital Product Teams
• Dissertation: Improving Job Satisfaction for Nurses in Acute Healthcare Facilities through Engagement and Teamwork
• Dissertation: Leadership and Practices for Strategic Adaptation in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
• Dissertation: A Mixed Methods Study Exploring How IRS Special Agents Choose Cases for Investigation

2018 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Green Investment and Organizational Performance: Evidence from the Nigerian Pulp and Paper Industry
• Dissertation: Antecedents of Managerial Moral Stress: A Mixed Methods Study
• Dissertation: Purposing: How Purpose Develops Self-Organizing Capacities
• Dissertation: The Changing Landscape of Finance in Higher Education:  Bridging the Gap Through Data Analytics
• Dissertation: Barriers and Facilitators of Growth in Black Entrepreneurial Ventures: Thinking Outside the Black Box
• Dissertation: Honorable Mavericks: A Mixed-Method Study of what Influences Subsidiary Managers Compliance with Headquarters Instructions
• Dissertation: Fifteen Minutes of Shame: A Multilevel Approach of the Antecedents and Effects of Corporate Accounting Scandals
• Dissertation: What Really Matters to NFL Fans: The Effects of Team Performance and Self-confidence on Fan Commitment and Purchase Intention
• Dissertation: Crossing the Quality Chasm: A Mixed Methods Study of Physician Decision-Making when Treating Chronic Disease
• Dissertation: The Power of Relationships: Navigating the Dance of Change through Executive Coaching
• Dissertation: Learning Within and During IT/IS Projects: Its Process, Antecedents, and Outcomes
• Dissertation: The Complexity of Change: The Middle Managers’ Emergent Contributions
• Dissertation: STEM Entrepreneurs: Educating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Underrepresented Minorities (URM) and Non-Minorities for Job Satisfaction and Career Success
• Dissertation: Mixed Methods Study of Factors Influencing  Business to Business (b2b) Sales Performance: The Role of Design Attitude
• Dissertation: Making Heads and Tails of Distributional Patterns in Private-Equity-Owned Companies: A Value-Creation-Type and Industry-Based Analysis
• Dissertation: The Professional Development Mindset

2017 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Legislators as Leaders: Investigating and Elucidating the Influence of Gender, Religious Beliefs, and Mindfulness on Legislative Decision Making
• Dissertation: Purpose Matters to Leaders at a Personal and Company Level
• Dissertation: Forecast Revision as an Antecedent to Strategic Change
• Dissertation: An Examination of Followers' Upward Influence
• Dissertation: Empowering the 99%...One ESOP at a Time! A Mixed Method Study of Employee Owned Company Acquisitions
• Dissertation: Factors Contributing to Sustainable Brand Growth
• Dissertation: Looking Beyond Culture: Determining Success Factors for Transnational Multiparty Collaboration
• Dissertation: Bringing Social Innovation to Scale: Leveraging Relational Capital and Risk-Taking Behaviors of Actors in Complex Ecosystems
• Dissertation: Positive Impact: Factors That Drive Businesses Toward Shared Prosperity, Environmental Regeneration and Human Wellbeing
• Dissertation: The Role of an Ethos of Sustainability: The Hidden Value of Intangible Resources
• Dissertation: What is Retirement in the 21st Century?
• Dissertation: The Potency of Informal Learning in Paid and Non-Paid Work: A Mixed Study
• Dissertation: Strategy as Configuration: Recursive Organization of Strategy Implementation Factors and Their Effect on Strategy Execution Effectiveness
• Dissertation: Are we Having Fun Yet?: What is the Relationship Between Mentoring, Fun at Work and Job Satisfaction?
• Dissertation: Senior Information Technology (IT) Leader Credibility: Knowledge Scale, Mediating Knowledge Mechanisms, and Effectiveness

2016 Dissertations

• Dissertation: The Intersection of Auditor Independence, Objectivity, and Integrity in High Risk Audit Conditions
• Dissertation: Characteristics of Effective  Leadership of Community College Presidents - A Mixed Method Analysis
• Dissertation: Cultural Factors:  Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not – Innovation Drivers in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises
• Dissertation: Igniting the Fire: The Impact of Anticipatory Entrepreneurial Passion on Effort and Affect in Nascent Entrepreneurs
• Dissertation: Frontline Employee Role Passion and the Impact on Service Encounters
• Dissertation: An Original Microgrid Business Model Determines Conditions for a New Asset Market
• Dissertation: Sustainable Value And Eco-Communal Management: Systemic Measures For The Outcome Of Renewable Energy Businesses In Developing, Emerging, And Developed Economies
• Dissertation: A Theory of Micro-Level Dynamic Capabilities: How Technology Leaders Innovate with Human Connection
• Dissertation: When is Earnings Guidance a Treacherous Servant?
• Dissertation: Routines of New Venture Conceptualization: Evidence and Extension of an Entrepreneurial Dynamic Capability
• Dissertation: Remote and Onsite Knowledge Worker Productivity and Engagement: A Comparative Study of the Effect of Virtual Intensity and Work Location Preference
• Dissertation: Who We Are Matters: The Identity of the Information Technology Organization and Outsourcing Success
• Dissertation: A Theory of Steering Committee Capabilities for Implementing Large Scale Enterprise-Wide Information Systems
• Dissertation: Financial Stress in an Adaptive System: From Empirical Validity to Theoretical Foundations
• Dissertation: Experiential Workplace Design in Knowledge Work Organizations: A Worker-Centered Approach
• Dissertation: Understanding the Journey of Inner-City Communities to a Sense of Community and Well-Being
• Dissertation: Deliberate Disruption: How Corporate Leaders' Break the Liability of Expertise
• Dissertation: The Role of Mentorship in Developing Leadership Ready Gen X and Gen Y Females
• Dissertation: Antecedents and Outcomes of Perceived Creepiness in Online Personalized Communications
• Dissertation: The Effects of Visual Analytic Strategies on Organizational Decision Making

2015 Dissertations

• Dissertation: What Influences the Economic Model In the Private and Public Sectors In the Two Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai? A Comparative Study 
• Dissertation: Design Attitude and Social Innovation: Empirical Studies of the Return on Design
• Dissertation: Attentional Change Decisions: Exploring the Role of Attention in Shaping Change Decisions: A Mixed Methods Approach
• Dissertation: Interprofessional Teams in Healthcare: A Mixed-Methods Study
• Dissertation: Helping Top Talent To Thrive: The Significance of Relational Capacity, Teamwork and Organizational Support
• Dissertation: Narrative Shock: Helping North Korean Defectors Narrate Their Lives Fully in South Korea
• Dissertation: Team Adaptation and Mindful Boundary Management: The Dynamics of Internal and External Balancing
• Dissertation: The Collaboration Blueprint: Designing and Building Effective Strategies for Innovation and Rejuvenative Collaboration
• Dissertation: Developing the Next-Generation Leadership Talent in Family Business: The Family Effect
• Dissertation: Creating Customer Love: How Organizations Can Engender Positive Affect in Online Product-Centered Communities
• Dissertation: Playing to Win: Dynamics of Teams That Innovate
• Dissertation: Organizational Commitment - A Requisite for Quality of Life in Assisted Living.
• Dissertation: Promethean Framework and Measurement Instrument: Career Development, Maintenance and Transitions in Convulsive Economic Cycles
• Dissertation: Cohesion, Flexibility, and the Mediating Effects of Shared Vision and Comparison on Engagement in Army Acquisition Teams
• Dissertation: Title How Hackers Think: A Mixed Method Study of Mental Models and Cognitive Patterns of High-Tech Wizards
• Dissertation: Procedural Rationality as a Means for Evidence-Based Management in Conflicted Decision-Making:  A Mixed-Methods Study
• Dissertation: Disempowering the "Robin Hood" Fraudster: Empathetic Pathways Weaken Regulators and Enable Fraudulent Behavior – A Framework For Redesigining Controls
• Dissertation: Organizational Adoption of Social Media Technologies: A Mixed-Methods, Multi-Level Study of Effects on Productivity and Work-Home Life Balance
• Dissertation: Trust by Design: The Affective and Cognitive Antecedents Among African Americans, Building Long-Term Business Relationships
• Dissertation: Thriving in Transition: Cognitive, Social & Behavioral Resources For Times of Change

2014 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Towards Flourishing: How Sellers Can Forge Stronger B2B Relations and Increase Buyer Loyalty
• Dissertation: Improving the Capacity for Strategic Anticipation: How Upstream, Downstream and Lateral Immersion Contribute to the Capacity to Anticipate Strategic Moves
• Dissertation: Does Upper Echelons Team Dynamic Matter? The Criticality of Executive Team Behavior in Economic Value Creation
• Dissertation: Facilitating Radical Innovation in Consumer Electronics and Information Technology Industries
• Dissertation: Staying Alive: The Experience of In Extremis Leadership
• Dissertation: The Significance of Influence in Our Current Work Environment: Understanding and Exploring the Shift and Emergent Domains
• Dissertation: Understanding Managerial Influences:  A Mixed Methods Study of employee engagement, well-being, and performance
• Dissertation: Factors That Influence Firms' Environmental Performance: An Examination of Large Companies
• Dissertation: Title A Theoretical, Empirical and Practical Approach to Academic Knowledge Production and Job Satisfaction: The Role of Academic Alignment
• Dissertation: Equine-Assisted Experiential Learning: Implications for Management Development and Education
• Dissertation: Bridging the Medical Knowledge and Practice Gap: Antecedents of Successful Scientist Physician Collaboration
• Dissertation: Supply Chain Management Performance: Factors Contributing to Successful Risk Mitigation & Resiliency
• Dissertation: A Theory of Overload and Equivocality Effects on Learning during Knowledge Transfer within Policy Making Dyads

2013 Dissertations

• Dissertation: A Theory of Viral Growth of Social Networking Sites
• Dissertation: Socio-Cognitive Foundations of Entrepreneurial Venturing
• Dissertation: The Belief System and Behavior of Financial Advisors After a Market Disruption
• Dissertation: Relationships Matter, Even for CPAs
• Dissertation: Designing Successful Social Ventures: Hands-On Feedback-Seeking Engagement with Stakeholders to Unravel What to Do Next
• Dissertation: Pricing Capabilities and Firm Performance: A Socio-Technical Framework for the Adoption of Pricing as a Transformational Innovation
• Dissertation: Coming Out and Being Out in the C-Suite: The Experiences of Openly Gay and Lesbian Executives
• Dissertation: The Impact of Social Competencies and Role Factors on the Relational Construction of Identity and Participation of Physician Leaders
• Dissertation: Credibility: A Foundation for All Leaders
• Dissertation: Why We Care: The Mediating Effect of Positive and Negative Emotional Attractors on Social Responsibility
• Dissertation: Systemic Corruption: A Multi-Theoretic, Multi-Level and Mixed Methods Analysis of the Interplay among Institutional Logics, Strategic Agency and Reward Expectancy

2012 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Tenure, Charisma and Conflict in Venture Backed Teams
• Dissertation: Decision Making in the Corporate Boardroom: Designing the Conditions for Effectiveness
• Dissertation: How and To What Extent Does Collaboration Affect Employee and Cross-Functional Team Performance?
• Dissertation: Women Persisting in the Engineering Profession: A Paradoxical Explanation Adapting Intentional Change Theory
• Dissertation: Organizational Agility and Complex Enterprise System Innovations: A Mixed Methods Study of the Effects of Enterprise Systems on Organizational Agility
• Dissertation: How a Learning Orientation, Modern Portfolio Theory and Absorptive Capacity Contribute to University Endowment Performance
• Dissertation: A Multi-Level Investigation into the Antecedents of Enterprise Architecture (EA) Assimilation in the U.S. Federal Government: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Research Study
• Dissertation: The Impact IT Professionals Have On Performance: What Differentiates Superior from Average Performers and Understanding How to Keep Them Engaged

2011 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Pluralistic Diversity in Voluntary Associations on College Campuses: A Multi-Method study
• Dissertation: Managing the Unexpected: Detecting, Preventing and Mitigating Surprises in the Banking Industry
• Dissertation: The Strategic Decision-Making Process of the Board and Its Impact on Decision Outcomes
• Dissertation: Worlds Connected and Worlds Apart: Postures and Dependencies Influencing Government - Agency Relations
• Dissertation: A Multi-Method Exploration of the Role of Legitimacy in Cross-Sector Partnerships for the Natural Environment
• Dissertation: Knowledge Sharing in Bioscience Clusters: Nature, Utilization and Effects
• Dissertation: Impact of School Leadership on Academic Achievement in Kenyan Secondary Schools
• Dissertation: Non-Financial Perspectives on Family Firm Performance
• Dissertation: The Great Recession and Nonprofit Endurance: Framing the Mission-Defensive Paradox
• Dissertation: The Global Financial Crisis: Bankers Shaken, But Some Awaken

2010 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Causal Ambiguity and Its Impacts on Firm Performance
• Dissertation: Exploring Sustained Collaborations: Activities and Behaviors That Make a Difference
• Dissertation: Adoption of High Trust-High Risk Technologies: The Case of of Computer Assisted Surgery
• Dissertation: Bridging Structure-Agency Divide: A Structurational Approach to Institutional Adaptation and Innovation
• Dissertation: The Effect of Social Factors on Project Success Within Enterprise-Class System Development
• Dissertation: Nonprofit Leaders and Their Organizations: Routes to and Repertoires for Effectiveness
• Dissertation: Drivers of Employee Engagement and Teamwork Performance
• Dissertation: Payoffs of Championing "Tough Issues": Why Corporations Need to Nurture Quixotic Champions at the Board and Within Senior Management Teams
• Dissertation: Improving the Effectiveness of Microfinance in Reducing Household Poverty
• Dissertation: How Many Hands Does a Team Have? Developing Ambidextrous Teams in Academic Medical Centers
• Dissertation: The Delicate Balance of Organizational Leadership: Encouraging Learning and Driving Successful Innovation
• Dissertation: Dare to Restore Trust and Drive Loyalty in Distrust-Dominated Environments: A Stakeholder Perspective
• Dissertation: The Impact of Charisma on Employee Volunteer Programs

2009 Dissertations

• Dissertation: A Study of the Impact of Informational Complexity, Transparency and Stewardship on Decision Usefulness: The Users' Perspective
• Dissertation: Generative Characteristics as Antecedents to Engagement
• Dissertation: Managing Commitment as Antecedents to Engagement in Faith-based Organizations: Chinese Protestant Churches in the United States
• Dissertation: When Practice and Theory Conflict: Do Performance Incentives Drive Management Behaviors in Mergers and Acquisitions?
• Dissertation: Ethical Ideologies and Decision Making Among College Student Athletes
• Dissertation: The Role of Human Capital in Predicting Business Outcomes
• Dissertation: Inside the Outsourcing of Innovation
• Dissertation: The Role of Organizational Learning in Renewing Competitive Advantage
• Dissertation: The Private Sector and Anti-Terrorism Spending for Physical Security
• Dissertation: Unraveling Adaptive Selling: An Empirical Analysis of Underlying Relational Behavior
• Dissertation: Design and Discovery: The Structure and Function of a Research Network
• Dissertation: Into the Family and Business Nexus: Succession and Daughters in Family Owned Businesses
• Dissertation: Executive Leader Development: Mentoring in U.S. Government and Commercial Organizations
• Dissertation: An Examination of the Antecedents and Consequences of Accreditation in the Nonprofit Sector
• Dissertation: Beyond Financial Transparency and Institutional Structure: Emergent Forms of Accountability in the New Era of Responsibility

2008 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Developing a Regional High Tech Environment: What Factors Matter
• Dissertation: The Impact of the Internet on Airline Fares
• Dissertation: Managing Multiple and Interacting Congregations Within the Same Church: The Case of Chinese Protestant Immigrant Churches in North America
• Dissertation: Heaven, Hell and Everything In Between: How Do Authentic Leaders' Values Contribute to Organizations in Which Followers Flourish?
• Dissertation: They're Making All the Wrong Decisions: Managing Cognitive and Emotive Balance
• Dissertation: The Pathfinder Leader and Complex Decision Making: The Role in Collective Action Governance
• Dissertation: College Environments as Enablers and Barriers to Youth Entrepreneurship
• Dissertation: The Role of Learning and Care Giving Style in Practitioner-Patient Co-Production of Therapeutic Outcomes
• Dissertation: Effective Leadership of Financial Service Firms: A Study in Resonance and Emotional Intelligence
• Dissertation: Selling Money: Success Factors for Financial Advisors
• Dissertation: Role Engagement in Co-operative Organizations: A Relational Framework for Understanding Board Commitment
• Dissertation: Virtual Teams: Can They Be More Effective
• Dissertation: Commitment to Change as Dynamic Push-Pull Alignment of Messages
• Dissertation: The Impact of Organizational Destruction in Social Capital
• Dissertation: The Duplicity Effect: Professional Investment Decisions for Others Versus Self
• Dissertation: You Can Change Strategies in a Conversation: Decision Making in Innovation in the Durable Goods Industry

2007 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Disconnected: A Consumer Study of Mobile Telephone Technology Rejection in the United States
• Dissertation: The Social-Technical Project Manager Practices That Motivate Knowledge Sharing and Learning in Information Technology Project Team Environments
• Dissertation: Social Change – Making the Improbable Possible through Collaboration: A Series of Studies on NGO Collaboration in South Africa
• Dissertation: Employee Reactions to Mergers and Acquisitions - The ‘ME-I Syndrome’; Avoiding ‘Merger-Enabled-Individualism’
• Dissertation: Service Feature Considerations for Developing Consumer Satisfaction in Online Environments
• Dissertation: Studies in Workplace Behaviors and Organizations
• Dissertation: Transitioning from Staff Nurse to Nurse Manager-A Change in Identity
• Dissertation: Resilience in Action: Exploring Constructive Transitions Among Mid-Career Leaders
• Dissertation: Change Leader Retention and Career Development: The Role of Social Capital and Balancing Commitments
• Dissertation: Venture “TERROIR” Can We Define It ? VC Decision Processes for Investing in Genesis/ Pre-seed ICT Entrepreneurial Teams
• Dissertation: The Effects of Ownership, Control Rights and Experience on Joint Venture Success
• Dissertation: Social Entrepreneurship: Creating Impact in the Social Sector
• Dissertation: An Investigation of Electronic Medical Record Technology Adoption by Family Practice Physicians

2006 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Three Aspects of Social Change Management: Project Ownership, Ethical Project Transfer and Economic Correlate
• Dissertation: Corporate Governance in the Era of Sarbanes-Oxley
• Dissertation: The Practice of Medical Error Reporting
• Dissertation: The Social Construction of the Interactive Practices of Multicultural Professionals
• Dissertation: Practicing Pragmatic Collaboration: The Challenge of Recognizing and Managing Rational Divergence
• Dissertation: Focusing on the End User: Promoting the Successful Deployment of Workplace Programs and Initiatives
• Dissertation: Exploration of Social Capital in the Context of Elected Public School Officials
• Dissertation: A Journey with the End in Mind: An Examination of How Advance Planning May Influence End-of-Life Decisions
• Dissertation: Innovative or Expendable Human Capital: The Effect of Labor Market Choices, Career System Practices and Self-Directed Career Orientation on Organization Outcomes
• Dissertation: Immigrants Transnational Activities for Home Community Development: The Nigerian Immigrants in the United States
• Dissertation: Factors that Facilitate Entrepreneurship Among Students and Nascent Entrepreneurs
• Dissertation: An investigation of Customer Perceived Value, Exchange Partner Trustworthiness and Service Perceptions in e-Commerce
• Dissertation: Impact of Knowledge on Electricity Markets

2005 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Corporate Responses to Accounting Regulation
• Dissertation: Information Technology Adoption by Middle Managers: The Case of Trial Court Judges
• Dissertation: Strangers in the Commons: Understanding and Measuring Successful Aging for Low-Income Seniors in Affordable Housing
• Dissertation: Adolescent Leadership Development: The Role of Authoritative Parenting and the Mediating Effect of Psychological Autonomy and Mastery Orientation
• Dissertation: Trust, Education and Development in Jamaica, 1950-2000
• Dissertation: The Link Between Governance Responsibilities and Performance in Healthcare Organizations: A Trustees Perspective
• Dissertation: Nonprofit Intrapreneurship: How Nonprofit Managers Facilitate and Balance Entrepreneurial Activity
• Dissertation: All Cake and No Icing: An Exploration of Female Executive Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector
• Dissertation: A Framework for Maximizing Board Member Outcomes in Nonprofit Organizations
• Dissertation: The Impact of Electronic Medical Records on the Doctor-Patient Relationship in Hospitals in Japan, Korea and the United States: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

2004 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Sparks of Innovation: Observing the Elements that Lead to Creative and Innovative Success
• Dissertation: Pastoral Leadership and Parish Vibrancy
• Dissertation: A Tale of Two Colleges: The Fiscal Crisis of the 1990's Strategies for Managing in Uncertainty
• Dissertation: Converting Highly Legitimized Structural Barriers into Vehicles of Change: A Case for Transformational Leadership in Liberal Arts Colleges
• Dissertation: The Social Capital of Nonprofit Leaders
• Dissertation: Synthesizing Managerial Agency and Institutionalism in Manufacturing Facilities
• Dissertation: The Evolving Nonprofit Board: Relational Practices and Effective Governance
• Dissertation: Entrepreneurial Emergence: The Challenge of Growth in Urban Contexts
• Dissertation: Change On the Frontlines: A Perspective from the Trenches
• Dissertation: Perspectives on Life Insurance Selling, Retirement Savings among African Americans and Precautionary Saving of Blacks compared to Whites
• Dissertation: Managers, Micro-entrepreneurs and Performance Outcomes: Lessons from Two Worlds
• Dissertation: Trust in Project Management Relationships
• Dissertation: Free at Last? Culturally Rooted Differences in the Workplace Experience
• Dissertation: Organization and Empowerment: Policy, Practice and Outcome - The Study of Development Organizations in St. Lucia, West Indies

2003 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Individual Behavioral Competencies & Organizational Constraints: Some Insights From Health Care
• Dissertation: From Sitting on Top of the World to Crunched in the Back of the Bus: The Transformation of the U.S. Domestic Airline Industry From 2000 Through 2003
• Dissertation: Stakeholders and Organizations: A Three Part Approach to Better Understandings of Who and What Counts
• Dissertation: Research Reports: Strength of Strong Ties: Two Studies on EVA in Cyclic Markets
• Dissertation: Beyond the Requirements: Using Technology and Implementing Service Learning
• Dissertation: What Tangled Webs We Weave: A Comparative Study of Cooperation, Coping, and Networking Strategies of Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs
• Dissertation: Customer Service Satisfaction in Inter-Cultural Service Encounters
• Dissertation: Research Into the Effectiveness of an Alternatives to Violence Program in a Prison System
• Dissertation: A Qualitative Analysis of the Historical and Social Significance of the African American Male Oral Tradition: A Study in Linguistic Anthropology
• Dissertation: Leadership Pathways: How Leaders Communicate, Network, and Find Success in Diverse Environments
• Dissertation: Reciprocal Learning in Teams: Relational Practices for Securing the Best From Leadership Volunteers in Nonprofit Organizations

2002 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Workforce Development in a Small Manufacturing Organization
• Dissertation: Forces Shaping the Extent of Markets: An Exploration of Wholesale Distributors in Latin America
• Dissertation: The Meaning of Decision and Choice to a Leader in a Nonprofit Organization
• Dissertation: Another Thrice-Told Tale: Strategy Formation, Accountability, and Competent Governance in a Nonprofit Organization
• Dissertation: Study of Direct Internet Selling by Airlines in the U.S. Air Travel Distribution Industry
• Dissertation: The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Work Team Cohesiveness and Performance
• Dissertation: Political Economy and Price Ratio Changes: Electric Industry Under Transition
• Dissertation: Understanding the Characteristics of an Effective Physician-Hospital Contractual Arrangement from a Dyadic Perspective
• Dissertation: The Connected Celebrity and Nonprofit Advertising

2001 Dissertations

• Dissertation: A Study of the Impact of Ohio’s Instructional Support Funding Process On Institutional Behavior At Two-Year Colleges
• Dissertation: The Contributions and Status of Women Inside Directors in Fortune 1000 Companies
• Dissertation: The Influence of Self-Development, Experimental Learning and Networking on the Career Satisfaction of EMBA Graduates
• Dissertation: Toward A Theory of Technical Change
• Dissertation: More Than Directing Money: Theories in Use for Helping Distressed Communities as Practiced by Independent Foundations

2000 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Money and Theology - It's Not an Oxymoron!!
• Dissertation: Parental Choice of Elementary Schools Within the Cleveland Catholic Diocese and Its Implications for the Financial Policies of Diocesan Schools
• Dissertation: Business Is War: An Investigation Into Metaphor Use in Internet and Non-Internet IPOs
• Dissertation: Theoretical Aspects of the Japanese Institutional Relations Model and Its Effectiveness for Corporate Governance in the Context of Globalization
• Dissertation: Sensemaking in a Hospital Strategic Planning Process
• Dissertation: Strategic Alliance Decisions: The Interpersonal Experience of Alliance Building

1999 Dissertations

• Dissertation: Environomics: Managing Environmental Change from Rio de Janiero to Buenos Aires (Via Berlin and Kyoto
• Dissertation: Habitus Wars and Field(s) of Dreams: Using Bourdieu to Reframe the Sense of a Crisis
• Dissertation: Managers in the Middle: A Study of Long Term Care Regional Managers Dealing With Organizational Stress
• Dissertation: The Relationship of Error-Based Experimental Learning to Organizational Change: How and Why What We Learn May or May Not Change How We Behave
• Dissertation: Back to the Future: A Search for Economic Progress or Roots? A Comparison of Experiences Between African American Entrepreneurs in the United States
• Dissertation: The Quest for Sustainable Leadership: The Importance of Connecting Leadership Principles to Concepts Of Organizational Sustainability
• Dissertation: Achieving Potential in Hospital Mergers
• Dissertation: Mill Creek: A Case Study Applying Actor Network and Transformational Leadership Theories to Urban Housing Development

1998 Dissertations

• Dissertation: America in the 21st Century: Finding Harmony Between Economic and Social Goals
• Dissertation: The Social Construction of Workforce Development Organizations in Singapore and Penang, Malaysia
• Dissertation: The Marketplace of Management Ideas
• Dissertation: The Changing Face Of Money: Will Electronic Money Be Adopted in the United States?
• Dissertation: Ordinary Canadians: Identity of Time and Place
• Dissertation: Straight to the Heart: Cleveland Leaders Shaping the Next Millennium
• Dissertation: Capacity Building: An Appreciative Approach
• Dissertation: The Structure of Management Practices and the Formation of Coping Habitus

• Formatting Your Dissertation
• Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

• Application for Degree
• Credit for Completed Graduate Work
• Ad Hoc Degree Programs
• Acknowledging the Work of Others
• Dissertation Advisory Committee
• Publishing Options
• Subject, Invention, and Patents
• Submitting Your Dissertation
• English Language Proficiency
• PhD Program Requirements
• Secondary Fields
• Year of Graduate Study (G-Year)
• Master's Degrees
• Grade and Examination Requirements
• Conduct and Safety
• Financial Aid
• Non-Resident Students
• Registration
• Residence Halls
• Student Groups

When preparing the dissertation for submission, students must meet the following minimum formatting requirements. The Registrar’s Office will review the dissertation for compliance and these formatting elements and will contact the student to confirm acceptance or to request revision. The Harvard Griffin GSAS resource on dissertation formatting best practices expands on many of the elements below.

Please carefully review your dissertation before submitting it to ProQuestETD. The Registrar’s Office will email you through ProQuest if they have identified major formatting errors that need correction. Students will be provided with a brief extended deadline to make only the requested formatting updates.  

• Embedded Fonts : If fonts are not embedded, non-English characters may not appear as intended. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that fonts are embedded properly prior to submission. Instructions for embedding fonts can be found on the Dissertation Formatting Guidance resource .  
• Thesis Acceptance Certificate: A copy of the Thesis Acceptance Certificate (TAC) should appear as the first page. This page should not be counted or numbered. The TAC will appear in the online version of the published dissertation. The author name and date on the TAC and title page should be the same.  
• Title Page: The dissertation begins with the title page; the title should be as concise as possible and should provide an accurate description of the dissertation. The author name and date on the TAC and title page should be the same. Do not print a page number on the title page. It is understood to be page  i  for counting purposes only. 
• Abstract : An abstract, numbered as page  iii , should immediately follow the copyright page and should state the problem, describe the methods and procedures used, and give the main results or conclusions of the research. The abstract will appear in the online version of the dissertation and will be made available by ProQuest and DASH. There is no maximum word count for the abstract.  
• Preliminary pages (abstract, table of contents, list of tables, graphs, illustrations, and preface) should use small Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). 
• All pages must contain text or images.  
• Count the title page as page i and the copyright page as page ii, but do not print page numbers on either page. 
• For the body of text, use Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) starting with page 1 on the first page of text.
• Page numbers must be centered throughout the manuscript at the top or bottom. 
• Every numbered page must be consecutively ordered, including tables, graphs, illustrations, and bibliography/index (if included); letter suffixes (such as 10a, 10b, etc.) are not allowed. 
• It is customary not to have a page number on the page containing a chapter heading. Check pagination carefully. Account for all pages. 
• Copyright Statement: A copyright notice should appear on a separate page immediately following the title page and include the copyright symbol ©, the year of first publication of the work, and the name of the author: © [ year ] [ Author’s Name ]. All rights reserved. Alternatively, students may choose to license their work openly under a Creative Commons license. The author remains the copyright holder while at the same time granting upfront permission to others to read, share, and—depending on the license—adapt the work so long as proper attribution is given. (If a student chooses a Creative Commons license, the copyright statement must not include the “all rights reserved” disclaimer and should instead indicate the specific Creative Commons license.) Please note: The copyright statement applies only to the student’s own work; the copyright status of third-party material incorporated into the dissertation will not change. Do not  print a page number on the copyright page. It is understood to be page  ii  for counting purposes only. 
• Abstract 
• Table of Contents 
• Front Matter 
• Body of Text 
• Back Matter 

Students can refer to the resource on Dissertation Formatting Best Practice Resource for information on best practices for front and back matter

Individual academic programs may require additional formatting elements to meet the standards of a specific field or discipline. Students are responsible to ensure that their Dissertation Advisory Committee is in support of the final formatting as signified by the sign off on the Thesis Acceptance Certificate. Any deviation from these requirements may lead to rejection of the dissertation and delay in the conferral of the degree. 

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