Business executives seeking to advance their knowledge and focus on an in-depth solution to a business problem will soon have a new, effective option at Loyola Marymount University. In fall 2024, LMU College of Business Administration will add a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, offering an integrative and transformative experience that shapes seasoned working professionals into innovative problem-solvers and globally responsible leaders. Applications are currently being accepted for the inaugural cohort class.
“The DBA furthers LMU’s status as a leading publicly engaged research institution,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon. “This program will transform accomplished industry experts into applied researchers who can use evidence-based decision-making to solve some of the most complex challenges facing the business world today.” LMU has an R2 Carnegie Classification for research.
The new DBA program will develop outstanding applied researchers dedicated to advancing business, policy, and society through impactful contributions to research and practice. Tailored for accomplished professionals, LMU’s part-time, hybrid program enables candidates to pursue a research-based degree while maintaining their professional trajectory.
“The DBA is an important new direction for the college,” said LMU CBA Dean Dayle Smith. “We look forward to equipping doctoral candidates with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to truly transform their organizations and/or the communities in which they live, applying research to address some of the most significant business challenges of our time.”
The LMU DBA is designed to be completed in three years, with the first two years focused on coursework and seminars to develop skills in research inquiry and analysis. The third year is focused on research and the dissertation.
While both a DBA and a Ph.D. are terminal degrees focused on research, a Ph.D. is designed to contribute primarily to theoretical discovery, whereas a DBA centers on practical application — using research to address contemporary business challenges. In addition, the LMU DBA can be completed while maintaining professional work in three years, whereas a Ph.D. requires students to study full time for four to seven years.
“The new DBA program will widen our research interests and strengthen our ability to pursue innovation in graduate and professional education,” said David Sapp, dean of Graduate Education. “Loyola Marymount University is now the destination for business education at every level, leading the way in developing leaders prepared to make an important impact across the country and around the world.”
To learn more about the LMU DBA and admission requirements, visit cba.lmu.edu/dba.
