Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Program Requirements

• Admissions Requirements

  The minimum academic requirements to apply to the Doctor of Business Administration Degree Program: An applicant with a Master-level degree and a 2.5 GPA from a regionally or nationally accredited institution can apply to Westcliff University. Master’s degrees obtained outside of the United States will only be accepted if they have been evaluated by a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or another nationally recognized credentialing service. In this case, the listed U.S. degree equivalency will be used.

• Graduation Requirements

  In order to graduate with a concentration, students must take four (4) courses as indicated below under each concentration.

  Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
  Strategic Leadership in the 21st Century
  Information Technology Management
  Applied Computer Science

  Concentration in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (STEM)

  The DBA Concentration in Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA) prepares business executives with the knowledge and acumen to solve complex business problems, enabling organizations to remain competitive in the 21st-century globalized economy. Through the use of data analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) tools, doctoral students will gain valuable insights about customers, competitors, internal operations, and external variables that influence organizational strategy, and will enhance their ability to make better strategic decisions. Doctoral students will analyze business data and be able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations and also become fastidious about future predictions and strategic implementation. The curriculum is purposeful in integrating BI & DA concepts, theories, and practices that are in alignment with industry-recognized professional certifications in BI & DA from Microsoft, tdwi, Google, and Qlik. This concentration builds a strong foundation in executive analytics that will enable doctoral students to utilize business intelligence tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), predictive and prescriptive analytics, and decision support systems.

  BUS 800 Foundations in Analytics for Executives - 3 credit hours
  BUS 801 BI, Analytics, & Decision Support - 3 credit hours
  BUS 802 Time Series & Predictive Analysis for Business - 3 credit hours
  BUS 803 Artificial Intelligence & Prescriptive Analytics* - 3 credit hours

  Concentration in Strategic Leadership in the 21st Century

  Expectations are high for the changes this decade is likely to bring to the workplace. Leadership influencers are forecasting challenges that leaders will face as a new level of workplace transformation continues to be shaped by accelerating technology changes, increasing consumer expectations, and hyper-connectivity. The goal of this concentration is to prepare students to meet these challenges by introducing the concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Work Culture, Employee Experience, Data, Change, Analytics, Diversity, Productivity, Automation, and Well-Being.

  BUS 810 Building Positive Relationships in a Multigenerational Workforce - 3 credit hours
  BUS 811 Emotional Intelligence in Transformational Leadership - 3 credit hours
  BUS 812 Emerging Technology for Effective Leadership - 3 credit hours
  BUS 814 Global Leadership - 3 credit hours

  Concentration in Information Technology Management (STEM)

  The DBA Concentration in Information Technology (ITM) prepares doctoral students with the knowledge and acumen required to attain roles as senior directors and executives, leading functional information technology systems and business-related technology divisions and/or units. The ITM concentration curriculum is designed to enable business and technology administrators to lead and manage enterprise-wide IT projects and to solve complex business and IT problems. Emphasis is placed on projects that ensure digital assets security as well as on developing the expertise to implement a governance and management enterprise IT infrastructure. Modern and advanced topics in ITM such as data analytics in project management or investigated. Doctoral students will gain valuable insights into the strategic frameworks needed to sustain competitive advantage through the use of IT and other emerging technologies. This concentration has its design roots in the Project Management Institute (PMI) Guide to the Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), so qualified candidates can be prepared to sit for industry-recognized certification(s) (CIO Magazine ranked the PMP as the top PM certification worldwide) such as the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), and/or the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP). In addition, qualified candidates can be prepared to sit for the industry-recognized certification for the Certified Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) credential and/or the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential. At the enterprise-level, organizations must rely on senior directors and executives to ensure that industry standards regarding the compliance and governance of IT infrastructure are in place and adhered to. Thus, a purposeful effort to align part of the curriculum with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), an accepted Information Systems Knowledge and Practice platform, has been made to ensure graduates have the essential knowledge needed to administer enterprise IT governance. Finally, the ITM concentration delves into advanced IT topics such as Business Intelligence (BI) and the enterprise-level management of information systems (MIS) to ensure that graduates have a meaningful, substantial, and momentous impact on the organization through a holistic technology leadership approach.

  BUS 820 Business Intelligence & Information Systems - 3 credit hours
  BUS 821 Management Information Systems & Advanced IT - 3 credit hours
  BUS 822 Information Technology Project & Portfolio Management - 3 credit hours
  BUS 823 Governance of Enterprise IT Initiatives - 3 credit hours

  Concentration in Applied Computer Science (STEM)

  The DBA Concentration in Applied Computer Science (ACS) prepares doctoral students with the knowledge and acumen required to attain roles as senior directors and executives, leading functional computer science, software, information systems, and technology business-related divisions and/or units. The ACS concentration curriculum is designed to enable technology administrators to lead enterprise-wide initiatives in software engineering and computer science that incorporate relevant, current, and emerging technologies for the purpose of sustaining competitive advantage, while expanding and adapting new computer science and industry standards, frameworks, and best practices. Part of the ACS curriculum is aligned with the International Information System Security Certification Consortium’s (ISC)2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) certification, and CompTIA’s Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification, so qualified candidates can be prepared to sit for these industry-recognized certifications. Graduates will be prepared to establish and direct long-term strategic goals, policies, and related procedures for the organization’s technology and software development programs. This exciting concentration delves into software engineering concepts, Business Intelligence (BI), analytical tools to support organizational decisions, software security design principles, and examines the virtual and augmented world of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and various Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI) in preparation for the next wave of a more dynamic interconnect between humans and machines.

  BUS 801 BI, Analytics, & Decision Support - 3 credit hours
  BUS 830 Software Engineering Concepts - 3 credit hours
  BUS 831 Security in Software Design & Development - 3 credit hours
  BUS 832 Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Design - 3 credit hours

  Concentration in Web Development & Applications Management Concentration

  The Full Stack Coding Bootcamp offered by Westcliff University is a multidimensional certificate program that bridges a path for students who want to pursue careers in the growing and exciting field of web development. The program focuses on creating dynamic and interactive experiences through a rigorous full stack coding curriculum. Students pursuing this program will gain the necessary skills for front-end and back-end development, all while preparing them for success in the professional world.

  WEB 840 Front End Web Development - 4 credit hours

  WEB 841 Back End Web Development - 4 credit hours

  WEB 842 Advanced Full Stack Web Development - 4 credit hours

• Practical Learning Experience Requirements

  Westcliff University requires all students enrolled in doctoral-level degree or certificate programs in the College of Business to successfully complete a Practical Learning Experience (PLE) as a graduation requirement. Westcliff University degrees and certificates are designed to prepare students for the professional workforce, and the knowledge and skills learned throughout their program are directly applicable to the industries to which they are associated. Practical learning allows students to further refine the associated knowledge and skills through guidance, oversight, and feedback from industry experts and professionals while also building a stable network and gathering references to support their career needs. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded to them in practical learning and maximize their potential career placement or advancement upon graduation.

  The doctoral PLE requirement is satisfied by completing a credit-bearing internship course that is assessed on a Credit/No Credit basis. During practical learning, students engage in empirical experiences, in addition to participating in assigned course activities. This practice reflects Westcliff’s commitment to a practical and relevant education and the value of applied, experiential learning. Students who have this experience demonstrate a more successful transition into a new career or career advancement. Students are encouraged to complete as many PLEs as their schedules will permit in pursuit of the completion of their program(s).

  Doctoral practical learning opportunities exist on- and off-campus. Off-campus practical learning requires prior University approval, and F-1 students must have Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization to participate in off-campus practical learning. Students are responsible for developing and demonstrating the skills necessary to be successful in a PLE. In addition to contemporary and growing industry knowledge, students should also be prepared to demonstrate professionalism, effective communication (written, oral and digital), and integrity while engaged in practical learning. The faculty facilitating internship courses associated with Practical Learning Experience assess these qualities and provide valuable feedback regarding their development to students throughout each experience. Students may reach out to Career Services with any questions about practical learning at the doctoral level.

Program Information

• Required Courses

  Doctor of Business Administration Core Course Requirements - 60 Credit Hours Total

  Students must complete the following required courses by the end of Year 1 (19.5 credit hours total):

  DOC 700 - Doctoral Common Foundation - 3 credit hours
  LDR 700 Leadership and Creative Solutions Implementation - 3 credit hours
  MGT 700 Managing People and Organizations - 3 credit hours
  FIN 700 Financial Risk Management - 3 credit hours
  MKT 700 Marketing Strategy & Consumer Behavior - 3 credit hours
  RES 700 Business Research Methods I - 4.5 credit hours
  RES 701 Doctoral Prospectus -  3 credit hours

  Students must complete the following required courses by the end of Year 2 (19.5 credit hours total):

  Concentration Course I - 3 credit hours
  Concentration Course II - 3 credit hours
  ECO 700 Business in a Global Economy - 3 credit hours
  ORG 700 Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Development - 3 credit hours
  RES 702 Business Research Methods II - 4.5 credit hours
  RES 703 Doctoral Literature Review - 3 credit hours

  Students must complete the following required courses by the end of Year 3 (21 credit hours total):

  Concentration Course III - 3 credit hours
  Concentration Course IV - 3 credit hours
  DIS 900 Doctoral Dissertation Course I - 3 credit hours
  DIS 901 Doctoral Dissertation Course II - 4.5 credit hours
  DIS 902 Doctoral Dissertation Course III - 3 credit hours
  DIS 903 Doctoral Dissertation Course IV - 4.5 credit hours

• Program Concentrations

  In addition to the core requirements, students choose a concentration within the Doctor of Business Administration program. In order to graduate with a concentration, students must take four (4) courses, totaling 12 credit hours in the area of their concentration while at Westcliff University in addition to all of the Doctor of Business Administration core course requirements.

  Strategic Leadership for the 21st Century - The Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Strategic Leadership for the 21st Century prepares students for the high expectations and changes decade is likely to bring to the workplace. Leadership influencers are forecasting challenges that leaders will face as a new level of workplace transformation continues to be shaped by accelerating technology changes, increasing consumer expectations, and hyper-connectivity. The goal of this concentration is to prepare students to meet these challenges by introducing the concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Work Culture, Employee Experience, Data, Change, Analytics, Diversity, Productivity, Automation, and Well-Being.

  DBA STEM Concentration Options

  In the Doctor of Business Administration degree program, students have the option to apply one (1) or two (2) undergraduate concentrations from the College of Technology and Engineering to satisfy the requirement to have a concentration.

  To complete a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Cybersecurity or Information Technology Management (ITM), students must complete 15 credit hours total. To complete a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Web Development & Applications Management, students must complete 18 credit hours total.

  Applied Computer Science (ACS) - The Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Applied Computer Science (ACS) prepares doctoral students with the knowledge and acumen to lead computer science and software initiatives that incorporate relevant, current, and emerging technologies for the purpose of sustaining competitive advantage in a computer science framework. This exciting concentration delves into software engineering concepts, Business Intelligence (BI), analytical tools to support organizational decisions, software security design principles, and examines the virtual world of Human Computer Interaction (HCI).

  Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA) - The Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA) prepares business executives with the knowledge and acumen to solve complex business problems, enabling organizations to remain competitive in the 21st-century globalized economy. Through the use of data analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) tools, doctoral students gain valuable insights about customers, competitors, internal operations, and external variables that influence organizational strategy, and enhance their ability to make better strategic decisions. Doctoral students in this concentration analyze business data with the specific intent to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations while becoming fastidious about future predictions and strategic implementation. Students develop a strong foundation in executive analytics using critical business intelligence tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), predictive and prescriptive analytics, and decision support systems.

  Cybersecurity - The Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Cybersecurity covers the different cyber-threats in today’s digital age and how we can implement the best technical and business security practices to mitigate and counter these risks. Cyber security can be defined in a nutshell, as follows: It is the set of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs, and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. Cybersecurity knowledge becomes a cornerstone in the development of individuals and teams that are prepared to protect governmental, military, and commercial institutions from cyber-attacks. Graduate students will complete one additional graduate level assignment in each course.

  Information Technology Management (ITM) - The Doctor of Business Administration Concentration in Information Technology Management (ITM) prepares business & IT executives with the knowledge and acumen to solve complex business and IT problems, manage IT initiatives, ensure digital assets security, and have the expertise to implement governance and management of the enterprise IT infrastructure. Doctoral students will gain valuable insights into the strategic frameworks needed to sustain competitive advantage through the use of IT and other emerging technologies. This concentration has its design roots in the Project Management Institute (PMI) guide to the Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) accepted Information Systems Knowledge and Practice platform.

  Web Development & Applications Management - The Full Stack Coding Bootcamp offered by Westcliff University is a multidimensional certificate program that bridges a path for students who want to pursue careers in the growing and exciting field of web development. The program focuses on creating dynamic and interactive experiences through a rigorous full stack coding curriculum. Students pursuing this program will gain the necessary skills for front-end and back-end development, all while preparing them for success in the professional world.

   

   

• Course Catalog and Student Handbook
  Student Handbook/Catalog

Scholarship Opportunities

• Scholarship Application

  As a Westcliff student, you have access to a powerful network of support from staff, faculty, alumni, and many others who take pride in investing in you. Scholarships are made possible by generous benefactors who are passionate about supporting your success.

  Apply Now
• Scholarship Application Deadlines

  2023-2024 Academic Year Calendar

  Semester	Session	Scholarship Deadline	Start Date	End Date
  FALL	Session 1	07/07/23	Start: 8/28/23	End: 10/22/23
  	Session 2		Start: 10/23/23	End: 12/17/23
  SPRING	Session 3	11/17/23	Start: 01/08/24	End: 03/04/24
  	Session 4		Start: 03/05/24	End: 04/28/24
  SUMMER	Session 5	03/16/24	Start: 05/06/24	End: 06/30/24
  	Session 6		Start: 07/01/24	End: 08/25/24