Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) Major in Business Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree develops applied research skills, subject mastery in data analysis, and theoretical business frameworks to efficiently solve complex business problems. The DBA’s 54-credit-hour curriculum enables managers in mid- and upper-level positions to be able to identify, integrate, and utilize relevant information to make informed evidence-based decisions. The DBA program offers experienced business professionals the unique opportunity to develop an advanced decision-making mindset that can be applied in a broad range of business areas.

Application Requirements

Application requirements consist of institutional and program requirements for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Additional information and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website.

Unless otherwise noted on The Graduate College program page, AI tools can only be used to correct spelling and grammar errors in application materials.

Institutional Requirements

Institutional requirements are the minimum standards for admission to any graduate program at Texas State. These include:

Completed online application
Nonrefundable application fee
- Degree Programs (Doctoral and Master’s)
  - $55 fee, or
  - $90 for applications with international credentials
- Post-Baccalaureate Programs (Certificate, Certification, Non-Degree, and Visiting)
  - $20 fee, or
  - $60 for applications with international credentials
Official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted. Final transcripts showing degree completion are required before the student may register for their second term of enrollment.
GPA requirements (a higher GPA may be listed in the Program Requirements)
- Doctoral programs require a 3.00 overall GPA or a 3.00 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
- Master’s and Specialist programs require a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
- Post-Baccalaureate programs require a 2.50 overall GPA or a 2.50 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)

Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list. Some programs may restrict acceptable tests or require higher scores than the institutional scores; this will be noted in the Program Requirements.

official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall if taken on or before January 21, 2026
official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 4 overall if taken after January 21, 2026
official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
official Texas State Intensive English Program score of 90% or higher in the highest-level course (level 5)

The institution does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

In addition, applicants must submit:

completed online application
$55 non-refundable application fee

$90 non-refundable application fee for applicants with international credentials
completion of a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a business-related area from an accredited college or university (In rare circumstances, an applicant with a significant amount of management and leadership experience may be admitted without a master’s degree.)
seven years or more of professional business experience
official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted

competitive GPA
GRE or GMAT not required
resume/CV outlining education, professional and technical achievements, scholarships/grants, publications/presentations, other accomplishments.
statement of purpose outlining the applicant’s personal history and goals that are relevant to obtaining this doctoral degree
three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s skill and potential in this degree program

TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS Scores

Non-native English speakers who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver:

official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of

19 listening
19 reading
19 speaking
18 writing

official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and

minimum individual module scores of 6.0

official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

Additional Information

A committee including the doctoral program director will conduct a holistic review of all applications. Applicants are independently reviewed and ranked by each member of the committee based on a defined set of criteria. The committee then meets to discuss the top-rated applicants, possibly eliminating some, and to come up with a final list of top-ranked applicants for interviewing. Based on the results of the interview, the committee re-ranks the applicants and produces a final list for admission.

Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) degree with a major in Business Administration requires 54 semester credit hours.

Any student enrolled in a graduate degree program in the McCoy College of Business Administration can earn no more than two grades of C or lower. Even if the grade of C or lower was replaced with a higher grade as a result of repeating the course, the original grade counts as a “strike” under this policy. Upon earning the third C (or lower), the student is automatically placed on academic suspension and permanently dismissed from the degree program without any possibility of readmission to their program or another degree program in McCoy College. The 3 C Policy takes precedent over probationary status. If a student earns a third C, they are automatically dismissed from their program permanently; even if probation does not occur.

Course Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
B A 7301	Business Research Foundations	3
B A 7302	Business Research Methods I	3
B A 7303	Business Research Methods II	3
B A 7304	Business Analytics Research	3
B A 7305	Applied Econometrics	3
B A 7306	Experimental Design and Survey Methods	3
B A 7310	Organizational Theory and Group Dynamics	3
B A 7311	Analysis of Corporate Policy	3
B A 7360	Dissertation Design and Proposal	3
B A 7312	Global Business Issues	3
or B A 7313	Decision Making under Uncertainty
Prescribed Electives
Choose 9 hours from the following:		9
B A 7351	Research Seminar in Analytics
B A 7353	Strategic Marketing Analysis and Applications
B A 7354	Natural Language Processing in Business and Finance
B A 7355	Accounting Analytics for Decision Making
B A 7356	Human Resource Management Analytics
Dissertation
Choose a minimum of 15 hours from the following:		15
B A 7199	Dissertation
B A 7299	Dissertation
B A 7399	Dissertation
B A 7599	Dissertation
B A 7699	Dissertation
B A 7999	Dissertation
Total Hours		54

Students will advance to candidacy after they have completed all required and elective course work (except for dissertation credit hours) and successfully defended their dissertation proposal. Once all requirements are met, the doctoral program director will forward the Application for Advancement to Candidacy form to the Dean of The Graduate College for review and approval.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 on all coursework undertaken in the doctoral program is required for admission to candidacy. Grades below a B on any graduate coursework cannot be applied toward the doctoral degree. Incomplete grades must have been cleared before approval for advancement to candidacy can be granted. No credit will be applied toward a student’s doctoral degree for coursework completed more than five years before the date on which the student is admitted to candidacy. This time limit applies to course credit earned at Texas State as well as course credit transferred to Texas State from other institutions.

All doctoral students must complete a dissertation that consists of original research and demonstrates mature scholarship and critical judgment in addition to familiarity with tools and methods in the chosen area. The dissertation project must adhere to the dissertation proposal and cover the topic approved by the student’s dissertation committee.

After being admitted to candidacy, students must be continuously enrolled for dissertation hours each semester until the defense of their dissertation. At least 15 semester credit hours of dissertation research must be taken after having advanced to candidacy. All candidates for graduation must be enrolled in dissertation hours during the semester in which the degree is to be conferred, even if they have already satisfied the minimum dissertation hours.

Once the dissertation has been completed, a final exam (referred to as the dissertation defense) on the dissertation must be conducted. The dissertation defense cannot be scheduled until all other academic and program requirements have been fulfilled. A complete draft of the dissertation must be given to the members of the dissertation committee at least one month before the defense. However, students are highly encouraged to provide drafts earlier so that the committee members can provide feedback, which the student, in consultation with the dissertation advisor, will address in later drafts to ensure that the dissertation is defendable, and each committee member is satisfied before the dissertation defense takes place.

The dissertation defense consists of two parts. The first part is a public presentation of their dissertation research. The second part of the defense immediately follows the public presentation. It is restricted to participation of the student’s dissertation committee and entails an oral examination of the dissertation research. Approval of the dissertation requires positive votes from the student’s dissertation advisor and from the majority of the remaining members of the dissertation committee. Notice of the defense presentation will be publicly posted at least two weeks in advance.

If the dissertation defense is not approved, the student will have the option of taking a second and final dissertation defense in the following semester. Students who do not pass the dissertation defense the second time will be dismissed from the program.

The results of the dissertation defense must be recorded in the Dissertation Defense Report Form and submitted to The Graduate College before the Dean of The Graduate College can give final approval of the dissertation. This form can be downloaded from The Graduate College’s website. The student must submit his/her dissertation to The Graduate College for final approval. The guidelines for submission and approval of the dissertation can be obtained from The Graduate College.

Ideally, students will successfully complete the dissertation defense by the time 54 semester credit hours have been accrued. The doctoral program will review each student annually to ascertain his/her progress towards the degree and will consult the student’s dissertation advisor and dissertation committee on this matter as needed. Any student who does not pass the dissertation defense by the time 66 semester credit hours have been accrued will be dismissed from the program.

Courses Offered

Doctoral level courses in Business Administration: B A

Business Administration (B A)

B A 7199. Dissertation.

This course supports the completion of the doctoral dissertation through original research and scholarly writing in business administration under the direct supervision of a dissertation advisor. Students synthesize relevant literature, design rigorous research methods, and analyze data to address complex business problems. Emphasis is placed on developing a well-structured dissertation that clearly communicates research findings and scholarly contributions. Students also prepare to defend their work by critically evaluating and justifying research decisions and outcomes. Continuous enrollment is required during each long semester while conducting dissertation research.

1 Credit Hour. 1 Lecture Contact Hour. 0 Lab Contact Hours.
Course Attribute(s): Exclude from 3-peat Processing
Grade Mode: Credit/No Credit

B A 7299. Dissertation.

2 Credit Hours. 2 Lecture Contact Hours. 0 Lab Contact Hours.
Course Attribute(s): Exclude from 3-peat Processing
Grade Mode: Credit/No Credit

B A 7301. Business Research Foundations.

This course introduces students to research design theory, methodology, and its application in empirical business research. It focuses on both theoretical comprehension of research methods and practical skills for conducting research. The primary aim is to equip students with essential knowledge and skills for designing and evaluating research projects. Topics taught include positivism vs. interpretivism, quantitative and qualitative research distinctions, critical research literature evaluation, formulating research questions, study design, and effective findings communication. This course lays the groundwork for students to conduct rigorous and impactful research within business administration.