Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

When you choose a DBA at TESU, you'll receive benefits that further add to the exceptional value of your degree.

Concierge Student Engagement and Service Model

The school’s Concierge Student Engagement and Service model provides responsive and comprehensive academic and operational support throughout the doctoral program.

Unique Curriculum Design

Our scholar-practitioner and interdisciplinary curriculum is comprised of five unique content domains.

Orientation Research Symposium and Networking: On-site and Virtual

Incoming cohort members participate in a comprehensive orientation introducing students to key dimensions of the university and school of business and management, including, but not limited to; degree program, mentoring, performance expectations, and offer best practices associated with time-management, critical thinking, academic writing, and research. The event includes DBA and Ed.D. degree current students, alumni, mentors, and staff.

Low-cost Educational Resources

TESU provides a portfolio of academic and applied course resources organized using a high-quality cost-effective blend of e-books, articles and Open Educational Resources.

Early Access to the First DBA Course (DBA-8000)

As a DBA student, you'll have a preliminary view and early navigation of Moodle, TESU's learning management system, to get a head start in inspecting the DBA course structure. You'll have access to examine syllabi, modules, grading rubrics, discussion forums, mentor office hours and course resources — all in one place.

Access to Doctoral Scholar-Practitioner Community of Practice Platform

Exclusive to School of Business and Management students, the platform provides academic and professional learning opportunities for you. The repository provides access to innumerable resources and tools to deliver quality business and management education that is industry-relevant and career-enabling.

Dean-Associate Dean Seminar Series

The Dean, Associate Dean and staff delivery focused seminars throughout the academic year. Several seminar series include Dean’s Research Seminar, Academic Writing Seminar, Scholar-Practitioner Field Project, Adjunct Teaching Seminar, Publishing and Presenting Seminar, Accepted Student Seminar Series, and New Student Cohort Seminar.

After successfully completing the Doctor of Business Administration program, you will be able to:

• Integrate financial, operational and cultural data analysis in organizational strategic planning and management.
• Analyze the global competitive environment to plan for sustainable organizational growth.
• Employ interpersonal, instructional and consulting skills to communicate effectively in key industry, education and market related formats.
• Demonstrate ethical behavior in organizational governance, leadership and engagement.
• Synthesize theory, research, technologies and experiential data in making evidenced-based decisions.
• Evidence commitment to and support of diversity, multiculturalism, equity and social justice.

The Doctor of Business Administration degree is composed of Five Domains and sixteen 3 credit courses (48 credit) program.

The Domains are:

• Domain I: Inquiry Systems and Models: Critical Thought and Action in Global Leadership and Organizations (3 Credits)
• Domain II: Integrated Orientations: Leadership, Business and Culture (21 credits)
• Domain III: Leadership, Culture, and Research Methods (9 credits)
• Domain IV: Instructional and Consultative Professional Practice (6 credits)
• Domain V: Scholar-Practitioner Field Project (9 credits)

*DBA-9050: Seminar in Scholar-Practitioner Research
This course can be registered for two (2) consecutive terms. If after two (2) registrations, two (2) eight (8) week registrations, a student has not passed the course, the student will be withdrawn from the program and referred to the dean to determine continuance in the program.

**Scholar-Practitioner Field Project
The final three courses (DBA-9100, DBA-9200 and DBA-9300) can be completed in the 8-week course format. For students requiring additional course time to complete these courses, they can petition the Dean to re-register in a course. Students can register for these courses for three (3) consecutive terms, first (1) registration and two (2) additional registrations. If after three (3) eight (8) week registrations, a student has not passed the course, the student will be withdrawn from the program and referred to the dean to determine continuance in the program.

One 3-credit course per term

Domain I: Inquiry Systems and Models: Critical Thought and Action in the Global Leadership and Organizations – (3 credits)

• Term I
  • DBA-8000: Critical Thought and Informed Action: Models of Decision Making and Organization Achievement (3)

Domain II. Integrated Orientations: Leadership, Business and Culture – (21 credits)

• Term II
  • DBA-8010: The Global Business Context: Trends, Issues and Markets (3)
• Term III
  • DBA-8020: Seminar in Economics and Finance: Models and Matrices of Sustainability (3)
• Term IV
  • DBA-8030: Seminar in Organizational Dynamics: Leadership, Culture and Change (3)
• Term V
  • DBA-8040: Seminar in Strategic Planning and Organizational Effectiveness (3)
• Term VI
  • DBA-8050: Seminar in Marketing and Entrepreneurship (3)
• Term VII
  • DBA-8060: Empirical Entrepreneurship: Data, Technology and Business Intelligence (3)
• Term VIII
  • DBA-8070: Seminar in Law, Ethics and Global Society (3)

Domain III. Leadership, Culture, and Research Methods  – (9 credits)

• Term IX
  • DBA-8800 Cultural Competency in the 21st Century (3)
    -or-
  • OML-8020 Seminar in Leadership and Culture: Organizational and National Perspectives (3)
• Term X
  • DBA-8100 Qualitative Research Method and Application (3)
• Term XI
  • DBA-9050: Seminar in Scholar - Practitioner Research (3)*

Domain IV. Instructional and Consultative Practice – (6 credits)

• Term XII
  • DBA-8080: Teaching Adults: Archetypes, Tools and Tactics - Andragogy Lab (3)
• Term XIII
  • DBA-8090: Organizational Consulting: Process Consultation, Avocation and Business Sustainability (3)

Domain V. Scholar-Practitioner Field Project - Field Research: Research Methods, Application and Completion* – (9 credits)**

• Term XIV
  • DBA-9100: Scholar-Practitioner Field Project I - Research Methods, Project Identification, Framing and Site Preparation (3)
• Term XV
  • DBA-9200: Scholar-Practitioner Field Project II - Research Methods Supervised Practicum: Data Collection and Analysis (3)
• Term XVI
  • DBA-9300: Scholar-Practitioner Field Project III - Project Completion, Presentation and Publishing (3)

Total Credits: 48

Dr. Eric T. Brey

Education

• Ph.D., Purdue University
• M.S. and B.A., Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Dr. Eric T. Brey focuses his work on the implementation of customer-centric strategy and service design influences on organizational success. He has been recognized for innovation as an AT&T Technology Fellow and an extraordinary marketing mind by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), while being quoted in various international media outlets on his research and work on customer needs. He has received numerous scientific awards for his research and has been published in various top-tier journals for the same work. Brey currently serves as an advisor to the Chief Marketing Officer Council. As a teacher-scholar passionate about engaging with industry, he has had the privilege of working with Fortune 500 companies, globally-based companies, international associations and numerous governments through the world.

Dr. Cheryl Chance

Education

• Ph.D., Global Leadership (Corporate and Organizational Management), Lynn University
• M.S., Health Care Management and Policy, New School University
• M.S., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Wilmington University

Dr. Cheryl Chance has been with Thomas Edison State University since 2009 and has contributed to developing the health care management program. She has held leadership roles in higher education, including at Kaplan University, Lincoln College, and Independence University. Dr. Chance has also taught at various institutions, such as SUNY Empire State College and Colorado State University Global Campus.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Chance has held executive positions in healthcare and human services organizations, including Director of Social Services at Life Care of PSL and Director of Support Services at Unity House of Cayuga County. She also served as Unity House Board of Directors president from 2009 to 2012.

Dr. Chance is also a licensed therapist in Delaware and Florida, where she operates a private practice. Her research interests include online classroom success and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals.

Dr. John Machnic

Education

• Ph.D. Economics (Public Finance, Public Choice, Urban and Regional Economics), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• M.A. Economics and Political Science, Ball State University
• B.A. Political Science, Niagara University

Dr. John Machnic is a business consultant and educator with significant experience in private industry as a chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as well as with nonprofits, having served as an executive director for two different organizations. His academic interests include research methods, economics and finance. Machnic has developed online courses for Wester University, Capella University and Thomas Edison State University.

Dr. Garry McDaniel

Education

• Ed.D. (Human Resource Leadership), The University of Texas, Austin, Texas
• M.Ed. (Guidance and Counseling), Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
• B.S. in Education (Environmental Management), Texas State University

Dr. Garry McDaniel is the MBA Academic Director and professor of leadership, management, organizational change, business communication and coaching at Wroclaw School of Banking in Wroclaw, Poland. He is an executive board member for the International Coaches Union and frequent presenter at workshops and conferences across Europe and the Middle East. Garry led the global leadership and management training programs for a $4 billion semi-conductor company. Garry has written six books including Conflict Management in Healthcare: Creating A Culture of Cooperation, The Dog’s Guide to Your Happiness: Seven Secrets for a Better Life from Man’s Best Friend, High Performance Coaching Activities, and Team Activities for Coaches.

Dr. Erin Rybicki

Education

• DBA, Thomas Edison State University
• J.D., Delaware Law School
• M.Ed., Widener University
• B.A., Rowan University

Dr. Erin Elizabeth Rybicki is a professor, author, and attorney. She currently teaches at Thomas Edison State University and serves as a tenured Associate Professor of Business Law & Legal Studies at Mercer County College. Previously, Dr. Rybicki was faculty and Assistant Director at Delaware Law School, where she received the Widener University LEI Faculty of the Year award twice. She has extensive experience in assessment, external accreditation, and chairing reviews for Middle States and the American Bar Association.

A licensed attorney with a strong focus on personal finance, Dr. Rybicki advocates for accessible business education and emphasizes teaching personal finance and money management to college students. Her work often explores the intersection of business and law. Since 2017, she has been a staff editor for the Atlantic Law Journal. A frequent conference presenter, Dr. Rybicki is passionate about sharing her expertise in business, legal, and personal finance education.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Rybicki is a business consultant and co-author of Legal Ethics, 4th ed. (Cengage). She is committed to accessible education and has developed numerous OER courses in business, law, and ethics.

Dr. Paul Sam

Education

• Ph.D. in Organization and Management (Specialization: Information Technology Management), Capella University
• MBA, Amberton University
• Master of International Business, University of St. Thomas
• B.S. in Economics and Finance, University of Texas-Dallas

Dr. Paul Sam is chief operating officer for a Global Energy Company and an educator with significant experiences in leadership, global business, project management, information technology development and management. His 29 years of management includes executive positions managing global projects in Fortune 100 companies. Academic interests include project management, international business, information technology and operations management. Sam's research interests include global cultures, business intelligence (BI), global supply chain and information technology (IT). Sam says he uses formative evaluation technique to locate areas for improvement in his students and uses learning/teaching adjustments to correct any observed areas of opportunity.

• A total of six (6) doctoral level credits; equivalent courses and/or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) may be transferred to the DBA degree.
• Doctoral-level course equivalent transfer credit and /or PLA credit accepted only through evaluation and approval by the Dean, School of Business and Management or designate.

• Students admitted to the DBA degree program progress through the DBA curriculum with the cohort to which they were admitted.
• Students earning a C grade in a course will follow the C grade policy.
• The program must be completed within seven years of admission into the program.

• DBA students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good standing at TESU to be certified for graduation.
• All program requirements must be successfully completed, including the final Scholar-Practitioner Field Project.