hybrid
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) (AACSB Accredited)
Drucker School of Management and EHL Hospitality Business School have joined forces to offer you the Doctor in Business Administration (DBA). We’ve designed the program for accomplished senior executives who seek to lead by example and with impact, and to create positive change in their organizations and their own lives. This program is an intellectual pursuit that empowers you to engage in meaningful discussions on global leadership, business, and societal challenges driven by cross-disciplinary thinking, original research, and strategic insights.
Prioritizing a human-centered philosophy, the program incorporates the timeless ideas from Peter Drucker, enriched with the customer and people centric principles of hospitality management from EHL as well as cutting-edge research in management. You will, therefore, explore the intersections between leadership, organizational behavior, humanities, and various business disciplines to navigate global challenges with a people-first mindset. The DBA is an exclusive forum where senior leaders come together with faculty experts around a shared purpose: to build thriving, functioning organizations and societies.
Loading...
You will develop rigorous (yet relevant) research skills and master complex concepts, enabling you to engage in informed dialogue on topics of your choice. You’ll amplify your career (and this includes your career-transitions) by maximizing your impact within your current organization, while opening new doors in academia, consulting, and thought-leadership. You’ll also gain an exclusive international network of like-minded senior leaders to challenge and support you along the way.
The DBA enhances your expertise and leadership skills, allowing you to make a greater impact in your current career or explore new opportunities which may be adjacent to your existing career path or – indeed – be off the beaten track. You decide. We feel certain that our graduates will receive an extra-boost of confidence enabling you to take the next level as business leaders, shaping practices and driving innovation; university instructors, contributing to teaching and research; consultants, offering expert advice to organizations and policymakers; speakers, presenting original ideas at conferences; and board members, guiding organizational strategy and oversight. You may also wish to consider applying for faculty positions on the Professor of Practice level at Drucker or EHL upon successful completion of the program. Are you ready?
Our DBA program is designed for:
64 units
required units
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) (AACSB Accredited)
degree awarded
Hybrid
modality
Fall
program start
3 years | part time
estimated completion time
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Digital transformation of organizations, human resource management, emotional intelligence in digital environments.
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, team dynamics, communities of practice.
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Digital consumer behavior, product and service configurators, customer feedback systems, and sustainable marketing.
Professor at Universita Della Svizzera Italiana, Adjunct Professor & Director of the Sustainability Lab at EHL
Research Interests
Innovation under resource constraints, sustainable marketing, branding, consumer behavior.
University Professor
Research Interests
Organizational Justice, Employee Attitudes and Motivation, Leadership
Professor of Cultural Studies and History
Chair, Cultural Studies Department
Research Interests
Modern Spain, 19th- and 20th-century Europe, Genocide and racial thought, Museums and commemoration, Memory
Full Professor
Research Interests
Strategic management, sustainable leadership, knowledge management, and organizational learning.
Peter F. Drucker Chair in Management and the Liberal Arts
Research Interests
Client Management, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Strategy
Professor of Art Theory and History
Roland Reiss Endowed Chair in Art
Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts
Research Interests
Art, Art media, Painting, Contemporary Art, Art Criticism, Museums and Creativity
Academic Director, MBA Programs
Clinical Full Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, Teams, Organizational theory, Leadership, Corporate governance, Power and influence
Full Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, employee empowerment, organizational citizenship behavior, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Henry Y. Hwang Dean, Drucker School of Management
Professor of Marketing
Research Interests
Retailing, branding, influence strategies, marketing public policy
Ito Chair of International Business and Professor of Management
Research Interests
Design Thinking, Competitive Strategy, International Business, International Trade, and Foreign Direct Investment
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Strategic and crisis communication, corporate social responsibility, corporate reputation, and higher education.
University Professor
Research Interests
Public Policy, Economic Strategy, Institutional Reform, Corruption
Clinical Full Professor
Research Interests
IT and Innovation, Healthcare Information Technology, Economics of Information systems, Cyber Security and Innovative Technologies in Higher Education
The program includes a detailed assessment plan to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with AACSB accreditation standards.
University Requirements | |
---|---|
Application Fee | $80 (fee is non-refundable) |
Official Transcripts | Undergraduate/graduate Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission. Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU. International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts. |
English Proficiency Exam | Required (international applicants only) In general, a valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL (min. score 95), IELTS (min. 7.0 with no sub-score less than a 6.5), Pearson PTE (min. score 66), Duolingo English Test (min. score 125) is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. However, English proficiency may also be assessed during the admissions interview. The examination is not required for the following applicants:
International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements. |
Resume | Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume. |
Program Requirements | |
---|---|
Statement of Purpose | Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals. |
Academic Prerequisites | A bachelors degree is required. A master’s degree is preferred. Candidates should have a minimum of ten years of full-time professional work experience in leadership. |
References | Please provide three references that can attest to your work ethic, research experience, and/or readiness for graduate study. A letter of recommendation is not required from your references, but they may be contacted for additional information during the application review process. |
Interview | Required Upon review of your application, you may be invited for an interview, which is required for admission. An admission decision will not be issued until the interview is complete. |
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Fall 2025
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2025
Final Deadline (International) – July 5, 2025
Final Deadline (Domestic) – August 1, 2025
Classes begin – August 25, 2025
Tuition is based only on the units you are required to take to achieve the DBA. Depending on whether you have a prior graduate degree, the units you are required to take to complete the program may range from a minimum of 48 units to a maximum of 64 units (see degree requirements or talk to a recruitment advisor).