Apr 03, 2026  
2026-2027 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2026-2027 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Business Administration, D.B.A.

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Program Description

The D.B.A. in Business Administration prepares experienced professionals to become scholar-practitioners capable of leading organizations through change. Designed for working executives and senior leaders, the program integrates advanced research with practical application, equipping graduates to translate evidence into strategic decisions.

Students explore the global forces shaping organizations, including economic, political, and cultural dynamics that influence leadership and business strategy. Through rigorous coursework in research methods, learners develop the ability to investigate complex organizational challenges using both qualitative and quantitative information. The curriculum also examines ethical leadership, organizational behavior, and governance systems that drive effective institutional performance. Students further customize their academic journey through specializations in Management and Strategy, or Business Economics and Finance.

The curriculum is organized around four integrated areas of study that deepen strategic insight and research capability, including:

The Global Business Environment
Learners examine the economic, political, institutional, and cultural dynamics shaping global markets and organizational decision-making. Through this lens, students develop the strategic perspective required to lead organizations operating within complex international systems.

Research and Analytical Methods
Students build advanced competencies in qualitative and quantitative research methods, learning to investigate organizational challenges and translate data-driven metrics and insights into meaningful leadership decisions.

Leadership and Organizational Systems
Coursework explores ethical leadership, organizational behavior, and governance structures that influence how institutions perform, adapt, and innovate in rapidly changing environments.

Strategic Specialization
Students deepen their expertise through focused study in Management and Strategy, or Business Economics and Finance, allowing them to align doctoral research with their professional interests and industry context.

The D.B.A. program culminates in the design and completion of an original doctoral dissertation, enabling candidates to contribute meaningful scholarship while addressing complex organizational challenges.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates of the Doctorate of Business Administration program are expected to do the following:

  1. Analyze the cultural, economic, and political elements of contemporary global business environments which are relevant to strategic planning and operations.
  2. Demonstrate competency in designing and implementing academic research applicable to various business fields.
  3. Create innovative strategic management solutions for application to complex business problems.
  4. Apply adaptive leadership theories and best-practices which foster continual organizational sustainability and growth.
  5. Critically synthesize and integrate ethical theory and corporate social responsibility best-practices into business strategy and organizational leadership.
  6. Design and demonstrate sophisticated communication strategies in a variety of modalities to persuasively explain complex business information to a variety of stakeholders.

Program Structure and Delivery

Courses are delivered online in an asynchronous and cohort-based structure to foster professional networking and collaboration. Optional synchronous class sessions are offered throughout the program. The program provides structured preparation for the Comprehensive Exam, for dissertation proposal development, and for the completion of the dissertation.

Primer Courses

Students who have not previously completed coursework in economics, finance, or statistics will take 1-3 credits of primer coursework which provides foundational knowledge needed in these disciplines which is required to complete the required program coursework. Primer courses do not count towards degree requirements. 

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Orientation 0 cr.
Area I.  The Global Business Environment 9 cr.
Area II.  Research and Analytical Methods 12 cr.
Area III.  Leadership and Organizational Systems 9 cr.
Area IV.  Specialization Courses 9 cr.
Summative Activity, including 12 dissertation credits 15 cr.
Total 54 cr.

Student Orientation

 

Area I: The Global Business Environment

Area II: Research and Analytical Methods

Area III: Leadership and Organizational Systems

Area IV: Specialization Courses

 Choose a specialization

Business Economics and Finance Specialization

 

Management and Strategy Specialization

 

Summative Activities

 

Faculty

The faculty members for this program have earned doctorate degrees. Faculty are selected for their combination of educational and professional experience and expertise.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a master’s degree in business or management-related area and the following courses with a grade of B or better: Managerial Finance, Managerial Economics, and one semester of graduate statistics.  Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants must complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

  1. Completed application form and,
  2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
  3. A reflective essay which includes:
    1. brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
    2. statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and their reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
    3. description of the areas the applicant considers to be their strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
    4. personal information the applicant wishes to share.
  4. One letter of recommendation that verifies professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability and,
  5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Minneapolis Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN  55404

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