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Programs

Doctor of Business Administration

As data accessibility and new technology reshape how organizations operate, staying competitive requires continuously advancing your knowledge. Through Simon’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, you’ll sharpen your business acumen, master cutting-edge tools, and unlock new career and teaching opportunities. You'll also earn the highest terminal degree from a highly ranked business school while gaining a powerful new approach to navigating and solving complex business challenges.

The Simon Business School DBA program will launch in the summer of 2026.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Doctor of Business Administration website.

AdmissionsLink to section

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

Required Application Materials

  • Resume and work history
  • Two required essays (250–500 words)
  • College transcripts
  • Two references
  • $90 application fee (waived for qualifying candidates)
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores (international applicants)

AcademicsLink to section

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

Simon’s structured, 54-credit curriculum, teaches students to conduct doctoral-level research and tailors their studies to their career and interests.

DBA Curriculum

Years One and Two

Foundation and review courses:

  • MSM 491: Math Review
  • GBA 511: Probability, Statistics, and Regression Analysis
  • MGC 502: Writing for Research

Research methods courses:

  • CIS 533: AI and Machine Learning for Business
  • GBA 523: Econometrics and Causal Design
  • GBA 521: Research Methods
  • GBA 549: Business Fundamentals Paper

Core topics and seminar courses:

  • DBA 511: Core Topics 1
  • DBA 512: Core Topics 2
  • DBA 565: Core Thesis Seminar

Elective courses:

Selected from a range of Simon’s program offerings.*

*PhD courses may require instructor permission.

Year Three

In the third year students focus on their thesis and learning alongside a small group of students with similar interests. Students will also be mentored by a Simon faculty member whose expertise is relevant to their chosen thesis topic.

Students can also may opt for a nontraditional thesis.

Tracks

Practice Track

The primary track for the program, the practice track focuses on applying DBA-level research and cutting-edge tools to solve real-world business challenges.

Teaching Track

The teaching track emphasizes instruction and action-based learning. This track is intended for those who want to launch a teaching career at a business school or bolster their credentials as a current business instructor.

To earn the teaching track designation, a student must meet four additional requirements:

  1. Complete DBA 501
  2. Complete DBA 502
  3. Complete a research paper related to instructional design and delivery techniques or research related to curriculum and instruction, such as an action-learning project while teaching a lab, workshop, or course module under advisor guidance
  4. Complete a thesis related to instructional design and delivery or research related to curriculum development*

*As students may complete a nontraditional thesis option, the teaching track allows for a modification of the research methods requirements; specifically, students can substitute DBA 501 and DBA 502 for one or both of CIS 533 and GBA 523. This modification is not a requirement for the teaching track.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

Core Course Titles

  • CIS 533: AI and Machine Learning for Business
  • DBA 511: Core Topics 1: Strategy and Organizational Structure
  • DBA 512: Core Topics 2
  • DBA 565: Core Thesis Seminar
  • GBA 511: Probability, Statistics, and Regression Analysis
  • GBA 521: Research Methods
  • GBA 523: Econometrics and Causal
  • GBA 549: Business Fundamentals Paper
  • MGC 502: Writing for Research
  • MSM 491: Math Review

Elective Course Titles

  • DBA 501: Innovative Teaching for Business Educators
  • DBA 502: Instructional Observation and Insights

*Students will have the ability to choose other Simon courses to fill out their elective requirement depending on their area of interest and specific track that they have chosen.