Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program described in this catalog is currently pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). These programs are not yet authorized for enrollment, and no students will be admitted until formal approval has been granted. 

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is Reinhardt University's applied doctoral degree for business and organizational professionals who seek to advance their expertise, lead at the executive level, and contribute original applied research to their fields. The DBA is offered in three concentrations and requires 54 credit hours, comprising 39 hours of coursework and a 15-credit Applied Doctoral Capstone sequence.

The Reinhardt University DBA is delivered entirely online, allowing working professionals to advance their credentials without interrupting their careers. All synchronous requirements, including consultations, advising, and final defenses, are conducted via web conferencing. There is no on-campus residency requirement.

Concentrations

The DBA is currently available in the following concentrations:

• General Business
• Healthcare Administration
• Organizational Leadership & Change

All DBA students complete the same Doctoral Business Core and Research & Analytics Core regardless of concentration. Students then complete nine credits of Applied Specialization coursework in their chosen concentration, followed by the Applied Doctoral Capstone.

Program Coordinator

Dr. Tony Daniel, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP

Associate Professor of Business, MBA Coordinator

770-720-5638

ADD@reinhardt.edu

Mission

Rooted in Reinhardt University's commitment to educate the whole person with challenge and care, the Doctor of Business Administration program prepares scholar-practitioners to lead at the executive level, advance evidence-based solutions to complex organizational challenges, and contribute original applied research to their fields. Grounded in rigorous inquiry, ethical leadership, and a commitment to professional excellence, the DBA develops business and organizational professionals who can drive meaningful, sustainable change across industries and institutions.

Admission Requirements

See Graduate Studies Admission — Common Policies for application procedures, admission statuses, holistic review criteria, and English proficiency requirements.

Admissions Standards

All DBA applicants must hold an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Admission is determined by academic profile and professional background as described below.

Provisional Acceptance — DBA

Students admitted provisionally must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their first 9 credit hours of DBA coursework. Failure to meet this standard may result in academic probation or dismissal from the program. See Academic Standards & Satisfactory Progress for full details.

Preliminary Acceptance — DBA

Students admitted on a preliminary basis must submit a final official transcript confirming degree conferral to the Office of Admissions by the end of their first semester of DBA enrollment. Full acceptance is contingent on receipt of this transcript.

English Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official scores from one of the following:

• TOEFL: 80 or higher (internet-based)

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Business Administration program will be able to:

1. Apply advanced theoretical frameworks and current research to the analysis of complex organizational and business challenges.
2. Design and conduct rigorous applied research using appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods to generate evidence-based solutions.
3. Synthesize scholarly and professional literature to situate organizational problems within the broader field of business and management.
4. Develop and communicate evidence-based recommendations for improving organizational performance, strategy, and leadership effectiveness.
5. Demonstrate ethical leadership and professional conduct in the application of research to business and organizational decision-making.
6. Lead transformative change initiatives that advance organizational excellence, innovation, and sustainable competitive advantage.

Academic Performance

See Academic Standards & Satisfactory Progress — Common Policies for the full academic performance policy, including GPA requirements, the F Rule, academic probation, and dismissal procedures.

DBA-Specific Academic Standards

Advising

DBA students are assigned a faculty advisor upon admission. The faculty advisor guides the student through degree planning, course selection — including advisor-approved elective selections for General Business concentration students — and academic progress review. Upon advancement to candidacy, the student will work with a Doctoral Capstone Committee consisting of a minimum of two members:

• Committee Chair — A Reinhardt University faculty member who meets Reinhardt University faculty credentialing policies
• Methodological Expert — A faculty member or qualified professional with demonstrated expertise in the research methodology employed by the candidate's project

Additional committee members may be appointed beyond this minimum. See Advising & Doctoral Committee Formation — Common Policies for full committee formation policy.

Transfer Credit

See Transfer Credit — Common Policies for the full transfer credit evaluation policy and Prior Learning Assessment statement.

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) — Transfer Credit Policy

Maximum Transfer Credit

Students may transfer a maximum of 15 credit hours into the DBA program. 

Grade Requirement

Transfer courses must have been completed with a grade of "B" or better.

Recency

Transfer coursework must have been completed within 7 years of the student's projected DBA start date.

Non-Transferable Coursework

The following are not eligible for transfer credit in the DBA program:

• The Applied Doctoral Capstone sequence (DBA 887, DBA 888, DBA 889, DBA 890)
• Research & Analytics Core courses, unless a direct content match is confirmed by the Registrar
• Doctoral Business Core courses, unless a direct content match is confirmed by the Registrar

Capstone Requirements

Applied Doctoral Capstone

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) requires the completion of an Applied Doctoral Capstone. The Applied Doctoral Capstone is grounded in a problem of practice — a significant, persistent challenge within the candidate's professional or organizational context that warrants systematic inquiry and evidence-based intervention. The problem of practice serves as the organizing focus for all four capstone components, from initial identification through final defense.

Advancement to Candidacy

A DBA student advances to doctoral candidacy upon the successful completion of all pre-capstone coursework requirements — 39 credit hours across the Doctoral Business Core, Applied Specialization, and Research & Analytics Core components — with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and no unresolved academic deficiencies.

Upon advancement to candidacy, the student:

• Establishes the Doctoral Capstone Committee (see Advising & Doctoral Committee Formation)
• Registers for the Applied Doctoral Capstone sequence (DBA 887–890)
• Is subject to the continuous enrollment requirement through degree completion

See Qualifying Examinations & Advancement to Candidacy — Common Policies for full candidacy requirements.

Capstone Grading

DBA Applied Doctoral Capstone courses are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory model. The following grades apply:

Component-Specific Completion Standards

• Capstone I (DBA 887): Satisfactory completion of the problem identification and literature review component. A grade of "S" in Capstone I indicates the student has produced a scholarly foundation sufficient to advance to proposal development.
• Capstone II (DBA 888): Satisfactory completion indicates the student's research proposal has been reviewed, defended, and approved by the Doctoral Capstone Committee. The proposal defense is a formal, synchronous presentation before the full committee. A grade of "S" in Capstone II serves as the committee's formal approval to proceed to data collection and analysis.
• Capstone III (DBA 889): Satisfactory completion indicates that the student has completed data collection, analysis, and solution development and that the Committee Chair has determined the student is reasonably prepared for a successful final defense. A grade of "S" in Capstone III serves as the Chair's formal endorsement that the student is cleared to schedule the final defense.

Defense Format & Outcomes

The Applied Doctoral Capstone sequence includes two formal defenses, both conducted via synchronous web conference:

• Proposal Defense — conducted at the conclusion of Capstone II, prior to advancing to data collection
• Final Defense — conducted at the conclusion of Capstone III, upon the Committee Chair's formal endorsement of defense readiness

The Proposal and Final Defenses are open to all members of the Reinhardt University community.

Defense Outcomes

Graduation Requirements

See Graduation & Degree Conferral — Common Policies for the full graduation eligibility policy, application for graduation procedures, degree conferral timeline, and commencement information.

DBA-Specific Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation from the DBA program, a student must have:

• Completed all 54 required credit hours of the DBA curriculum
• Earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Successfully defended the Applied Doctoral Capstone (DBA 890)
• Resolved all incomplete grades, academic deficiencies, and academic integrity matters
• Met all financial obligations to the University
• Submitted a completed Application for Graduation to the Office of the Registrar