Online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

A background in the basics of business is often a key to making the most of a graduate business or management program. In this foundational course, students can build their business acumen in major functional areas that are essential to business success including business leadership and management, business ethics, the legal environment of business, accounting, finance, economics, quantitative methods and statistics, information systems management, global business, marketing, and strategic management.

Students are provided with a foundation for academic and professional success at Washington Global University and with the requirements for successful participation in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program. They begin by exploring the process of becoming doctoral-level students who pursue individual academic research while engaging in the supportive learning community that Walden offers. Topics covered in this course include communities of care; data analytics; hybrid work; social determinants of health; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students engage in discussion and analyze scholarly literature related to course topics, their personal and professional experiences, and areas of academic interest from a scholar-practitioner approach and from the viewpoint of a global change agent. The focus of the course assignments is on the practical application of APA-compliant scholarly writing and critical-thinking skills and the promotion of professional business practice and academic excellence. Through their assignments, students become familiar with the Washington Global University landscape where support resources and tools are offered. In addition, they focus on their personal and professional development.

Successful business leaders create a positive organizational culture based on personal ethical behavior, ethical expectations, training, and transparency. Business leaders use a range of leadership styles, including transformational, transactional, and servant leadership, based on the organizational situation. Regardless of leadership style, one thing that business leaders have in common is the ability to identify and develop leadership strategies that lend to the success and sustainability of their businesses. In this course, independent scholars cover a wide range of different business leadership topics. Additionally, they focus on the practical application of APA writing, critical thinking, and the integration of professional leadership practice at the doctoral level as they develop sustainable solutions from the global change-agent perspective. Independent scholars examine the relationship between leadership and management, evaluate the impact and utility of the assessment of leadership styles, and analyze different leadership styles. Additionally, they evaluate and investigate various leadership theories, sources of power, and motivation theories to gain a better understanding of the nature and practice of leadership. Independent scholars evaluate organizational stress, analyze ethical dilemmas, and construct an organizational strategy to shape a successful business culture. They assess current articles, engage in online discussions, and complete application assignments based on organizational culture, ethics, strategy, stress, and leadership theories.

Students in this DBA strategy course concentrate on the creation and implementation of business strategies that maximize competitive advantage in the marketplace. Students develop an understanding of why and how individuals and business organizations work together creating sustainable businesses in the global marketplace. They apply models for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of business organizations and identify opportunities and threats resulting from forces shaping the marketplace. Students focus on practical business applications of writing, critical thinking, and classroom engagement in a combination of essay discussions, research assignments, and writing papers to analyze, develop, and defend ideas for strategic and innovative business solutions for sustainability.

In this course, independent scholars have the opportunity to extend their research and general analysis skills as they further explore qualitative research methodology and design types—with emphasis on case-study, pragmatic inquiry, and program evaluation research designs—that they may incorporate into their own doctoral study. Independent scholars learn to focus their analysis on efforts to improve the quality of business practice. They also focus on how to think in an action-oriented manner, as if they were business consultants, so that their own doctoral study work could be applied in action. Finally, they engage in an iterative process of writing their own prospectus application, incorporating feedback from peers and the course instructor.