Doctor of Business Administration
Elevate your career with a Smith DBA
The Smith Doctor of Business Administration program (DBA) provides an exceptional opportunity to master advanced research skills, empowering you to tackle complex, real-world business problems. Tailored for experienced executives and academic professionals, this highly selective program emphasizes applied research to enhance your expertise in your chosen business domain.
Understanding that our candidates are typically high-achieving professionals with busy careers, the DBA offers maximum flexibility and customization through convenient weekend and evening classes. Dedicated students can complete the program in as little as three years, balancing their professional commitments with academic growth.
Testimonials
Our first-year DBA students are benefiting greatly from the program's curriculum, flexibility and supportive faculty. Meet them below to hear their unique perspectives and discover why they chose the Smith DBA.
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Areas of Specialization
The DBA program currently offers three areas of specialization: Information Systems, Management and Organization and Marketing. They are developed in response to evolving demands in the business world and aimed at elevating Smith DBAs to prominent leaders of their respective industries.
Business analytics expertise with an expansion on project management.
Marketing analytics and consumer behavior from an industry and management perspective.
Human behavior at the individual and organizational levels and its impact on organizational outcomes.
Featured Program Faculty
Experience a truly transformative educational experience with the research-driven curriculum and personalized mentorship of the Smith DBA program.
Information Systems
Tejwansh (Tej) Singh Anand
Il-Horn Hann
Marketing
Judy Frels
P. K. Kannan
Jie Zhang
Management & Organization
Sheetal Singh
Jennifer Carson Marr
Curriculum
The DBA curriculum is carefully curated to be practice-focused, with segments in research methodology, analytics, legal and ethical issues in big data management, and regulatory structure.
Students will take 42 credits in the following categories: Research Tools and Methodologies (10–12 credits), courses in the student’s major field of study (22–24 credits), and practice-focused elective courses (10–12 credits). All students must complete 12 credits of the capstone project research in addition to the coursework for graduation eligibility.
Courses
Research Foundations: 18 credits Weekend In-Person
Required/Elective Courses: 18 credits Flex (In-Person/Online)
Individual Research: 18 credits (Customized)
Total Credits: 54
Year 1
Fall – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations: Quantitative Research Methods (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations: Economics for Business Research (3) (Weekend)
BDBA: Data Processing and Analysis in Python (3) (Flex)
Spring – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations – Causal Methods in Business Research (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations- Theoretical Foundations of Digital Organizations (3) (Weekend)
Data Mining and Predictive Analytics (3) (Flex)
Summer – I (2 credits)
Special Topics in IS Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Year 2
Fall – II (10 credits)
Research Foundations: Executive Decision Making in the Age of AI (3) (Weekend)
Data Science – Big Data for Business (3) (Flex)
Special Topics: Electives (2) (Flex)
Special Topics in IS Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Spring – II (9 credits)
Research Foundations: Emerging Technologies Research Foundations (3) (Weekend)
Special Topics: Advanced Electives (Choice of 3 electives) (6) (Flex)
Summer – II (2 credits)
Special Topics in IS Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Year 3
Fall – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Spring – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Research Foundations: 18 credits Weekend In-Person
Required/Elective Courses: 18-20 credits Flex (In-Person/Online)
Individual Research: 16-18 credits (Customized)
Total Credits: 54
Year 1
Fall – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations: Quantitative Research Methods (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations: Economics for Business Research (3) (Weekend)
Customer Analysis (3) (Flex)
Spring – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations – Causal Methods in Business Research (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations- Theoretical Foundations of Digital Organizations (3) (Weekend)
Special Topics: Electives (3) (Flex)
Summer – I (2 credits)
Special Topics in Marketing Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Year 2
Fall – II (9/10 credits)
Special Topics: Advanced Electives (9-10) (Flex)
Spring – II (9/10 credits)
Special Topics: Advanced Electives (9-10) (Flex)
Summer – II (3 credits)
Special Topics in Marketing Research – Customized Research Study (3) (Custom)
Year 3
Fall – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Spring – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Research Foundations: 18 credits Weekend In-Person
Required/Elective Courses: 18-20 credits Flex (In-Person/Online)
Individual Research: 16-18 credits (Customized)
Total Credits: 54
Year 1
Fall – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations: Quantitative Research Methods (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations: Economics for Business Research (3) (Weekend)
OB Foundations (3) (Flex)
Spring – I (9 credits)
Research Foundations – Causal Methods in Business Research (3) (Weekend)
Research Foundations- Theoretical Foundations of Digital Organizations (3) (Weekend)
Strategy Foundations (3) (Flex)
Summer – I (2 credits)
Special Topics in M&O Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Year 2
Fall – II (9 credits)
Executive Decision-Making in the Age of AI (3) (Flex)
Leading with a Strategic Mindset (2) (Flex)
Competitive & Collaborative Negotiations (2) (Flex)
Innovation & Product Development (2) (Flex)
Spring – II (10 credits)
Decision Modeling (2) (Flex)
Organizational Change (2) (Flex)
Entrepreneurship (2) (Flex)
Systems and Design Thinking (2) (Flex)
Special Topics in M&O Research – Customized Research Study (2) (Custom)
Summer – II (3 credits)
Special Topics in M&O Research – Customized Research Study (3) (Custom)
Year 3
Fall – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Spring – III (6 credits)
Capstone Research Project (6) (Custom)
Admissions
- Cover letter (please submit as Description of Research/Work Experience in the application)
- Statement of purpose
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts of undergraduate degree and any graduate-level degrees if applicable
- GMAT/GRE test scores: optional
- Marketing: 2 letters of recommendation; IS: 3 letters of recommendation
October 1, 2024
November 1, 2024
December 15, 2024
January 15, 2025
March 14, 2025
April 30, 2025
Rolling Admissions after April 30th
Our program is projected to cost approximately $150,000 plus university mandatory fees for three years. The program charges per credit during traditional semesters.
Contact Us
For all inquiries about the DBA, contact DBAadmissions@umd.edu. Please provide a brief description of the following information in your email inquiry:
- Education background
- Work experience
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DBA degree and how does it relate to your career objectives?