Business Intelligence (D.B.A.)
The mission of the DBA in Business Intelligence is to prepare working professionals for leadership positions in the changing government and business environment with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills for intelligent decision-making, managing change, data analysis, innovation, leadership, and strategic planning for technological impact.
This doctorate program is unique in terms of its relevance to the changing environment in government, business, and nonprofit organizations, which all focus on data-driven decision making. It is designed for business and technology professionals who want to develop their higher-order thinking and research skills by applying theory to practice (applied research).
The program is interdisciplinary with courses and research at the intersection of business, data, innovation, leadership, and technology. Working professionals are given an opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment, with faculty and other students, while critically examining the technology, ethics, management, leadership, policy, teaching, and data science aspects of business.
Marymount’s DBA in Business Intelligence provides graduates with the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to meet the business challenges facing governments, businesses, and nonprofits in this “what’s next?” economy.
The DBA is designed for individuals who have successfully completed at least 36-credits of master’s level business or technology courses and who also have 5 – 20 years of work experience in their field. This is a part-time program designed to be completed over a 3-year timeframe.
Graduates with this highly-applicable terminal degree will be prepared to take leadership roles in academia, business, or the nonprofit community and make a significant impact on the viability of the economy. Students will expand their knowledge of business intelligence, both in terms of its theoretical underpinnings and its practical applications. The focus of the program is applied research, advancing the field of business intelligence, and its applications in the real world.
The DBA in Business Intelligence is an online program. Students are expected to be engaged throughout the program and adhere to the requirements for ethical behavior, respect for others, and appropriate research and writing standards.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Integrate theory and practice to solve emerging business challenges;
- Develop an implementation plan for business intelligence in an organization;
- Develop ethical solutions to complex business and technology problems, including the emergence of artificial intelligence;
- Formulate strategies to integrate business, innovation, leadership and technology;
- Develop new knowledge in business intelligence using applied management research methods;
- Assess effective leadership practices needed for innovation and data-driven decision making; and
- Communicate research findings, in oral and written form, for professional industries.
Admission Requirements
- Application
- Application fee: $40
- Official transcripts for all attempted coursework — must include at least 36 credits of master’s level work in a related field — with a minimum GPA of 3.5 – and considerable work experience. Note: Students whose work experience or master's degree demonstrates gaps in fundamental quantitative or qualitative business concepts may be required to complete one or more MBA level courses (i.e., MBA 512, MBA 522, MBA 515, or MBA 521).
- Resume
- A Statement of Research Background and Interests that describes research-focused coursework, papers, and work-related business projects completed. Please provide evidence of this work and/or college-level writing samples (at least three documents).
- Interview invitation is extended to qualified applicants upon application completion.
Residency Requirements: Students must apply for residency to ensure that they benefit and contribute to the full spectrum of educational and professional opportunities provided by the university. To establish residency, students should interact with faculty and peers by regularly participating in class, attending professional events sponsored by the university or other institutions, and actively using the university’s library resources. The doctoral residency requirements may be satisfied only after admission into the doctoral program and completion of 18 credits of doctoral-level courses over at least three consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
Minimum Grade Requirements: Students in the DBA in Business Intelligence must earn a minimum grade of B- in all courses in the program to earn credit. All graduate students in the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership, and Technology must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Commencement Participation Requirements: DBA in Business Intelligence students cannot participate in the University commencement ceremony until they have successfully defended their dissertation, and successfully completed DBA 850.
Dismissal from Program: A DBA in Business Intelligence student may repeat one (1) grade of F. If a student receives a second F grade, in the same or a different course, they will be dismissed from the program.
Candidacy Requirements: Students must then apply for candidacy in the DBA in Business Intelligence. They may do so after they have completed 24 credits of the 700- and 800-level courses and have met the following requirements:
- completed 24 credits of 700 and 800 level courses with a minimum grade of B- and a minimum GPA of 3.5;
- completed DBA 800, DBA 810, DBA 820, and DBA 830 with a minimum grade of B- in each;
- formed a dissertation committee by submitting both the Dissertation Chair Agreement Form and Committee Formation and Acceptance Form; and
- submitted and defended the final draft of the Dissertation Proposal to the Dissertation Committee and defended with a Pass result.
Dissertation Courses and Enrollment Status: Students enrolled in DBA 830, DBA 835, DBA 840, DBA 845, DBA 850, and DBA 855 are considered to be in dissertation coursework. The program considers dissertation coursework to be equivalent to full-time enrollment.
Degree Requirements - Business Intelligence (D.B.A.)
36 credits
800-Level Courses
Six (6) research and dissertation courses (in this order):
| DBA 800 | Beginning Applied Research in Business Intelligence | 3 |
| DBA 810 | Applied Research Topics and Methods in Business Intelligence | 3 |
| DBA 820 | Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs | 3 |
| DBA 830 | Applied Research: The Dissertation Proposal | 3 |
| DBA 840 | Applied Research: Dissertation Data Collection and Analysis | 3 |
| DBA 850 | Applied Research: Dissertation and Oral Defense | 3 |
Students may extend their proposal preparation timeline to reach candidacy by taking the following 1-credit course (maximum 3 times): DBA 835 Continuing Dissertation Proposal Preparation
Students may extend their proposal preparation timeline to reach candidacy by taking the following 1-credit course (maximum 3 times): DBA 845 Continuing Dissertation Data Collection and Analysis
Students may extend their proposal preparation timeline to reach candidacy by taking the following 1-credit course (maximum 3 times): DBA 855 Continuing Dissertation Preparation
700-Level Courses: Business Electives
Two (2) courses from the following in the business discipline:
| DBA 710 | Strategy in a Changing Business Climate | 3 |
| DBA 720 | Economics for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| DBA 730 | Government as Business | 3 |
| DBA 740 | Managing Organizational Change | 3 |
700-Level Courses: Innovation Elective
One (1) course in the innovation discipline:
| DBA 712 | Fostering Creativity in the Workplace | 3 |
700-Level Courses: Leadership Elective
One (1) course in the Leadership discipline:
| DBA 714 | Ethical Leadership for Success in Uncertain Times | 3 |
700-Level Courses: Technology Electives
Two (2) courses from the following in the technology discipline:
| DBA 716 | Using Data for Business Intelligence | |
| DBA 726 | Risk Management in an Unsecure World | 3 |
| DBA 736 | Maximizing Digital Transformation | 3 |
| DBA 746 | Artificial Intelligence Applications | 3 |