The DBA program is designed for those qualified individuals who wish to gain academic credentials beyond a master’s degree in the above stated areas in a competency-based education model (CBE). The program will be delivered via a distance learning format using a faculty model designed on a 1 to 1 faculty/student relationship that will promote and involve substantive faculty/student interaction. The faculty will engage students through a variety of multimedia presentations, conversations, and qualitative and quantitative feedback. Each course will require successful completion of up to 7 CBE tasks/assignments that must be completed at the Mastery level before a successful completion of the course is earned.
Jobs/Career Paths
Individuals who earn their DBA degree have multiple career or job paths they could follow. The most common career choices include:
C-Level Executive Officer: C-suite executives, including the CEO, COO, CFO and CMO, are responsible for oversight of an organization, including determining and/or implementing initiatives and leading senior management. A DBA degree provides superior preparation for current and future C-Suite leaders.
Consultant: Consultants are paid to assess a problem, challenge or opportunity and provide strategic action plans and initiatives to align business goals and outcomes. A DBA degree is ideal for consulting work given the experience in research and data analysis.
Business/Market Analyst: Analysts assess strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in order to recommend improvements and solutions to help organizations enhance performance and gain competitive advantage.
Organizational Management: These professionals are responsible for understanding organizational goals and creatively aligning human and capital resources to influence behavior and achieve results. Positions within the HR field are also a possibility.
College or University Educator: Higher education faculty members plan and implement curriculum, teach and evaluate students in order to help them expand their skill set and knowledge in a particular subject matter or discipline. Individuals with a DBA degree could pursue higher education opportunities on a fulltime or part time basis.
Entrepreneurship: Corporations value innovative leaders. A doctorate in business can provide tools to support and develop your entrepreneurial spirit and leadership skills in an established company or at a start-up.
Why would someone choose this program over others?
The South College program design focuses on providing students with real world practical applications and exercises in which they can demonstrate their prior knowledge and understanding and application of new knowledge and skills that can and will be directly applied to their current and future career opportunities. The mastery-based Doctor of Business Administration program will allow students to accelerate their learning through demonstration of their current knowledge and skills already gained from previous education or experience.
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates.
*** SACSCOC approval of the South College MSA program is pending***
The School of Business and Technology at South College has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Specialized Accreditation for the DBA specifically is in process.
How to be successful in the program and field?
Set timelines and goals for completing competencies.
Stay connected to Faculty Mentor
Ask Questions
Be proactive
Why would someone choose this career path?
A doctoral degree serves as a differentiator in the job market vs those who have a Bachelors or a Master’s Degree. Geared for someone who is looking for leadership opportunities, roles in higher education, or executive roles within organizations.
Program Length/Program Start Dates
The program consists of 10 total courses, and the rate at which students can earn the degree depends on their ability to master the competencies. Many students will complete the degree within 18-24 months.
Curriculum Detail: Built by subject matter experts in each specialization, through a true backwards designed model off of industry standards. The DBA is partnering with Strut Learning to build the Doctoral Degree through it’s platform, which specializes in CBE design and implantation.
Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and submitted to the Commission by October 15 each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.
*The career options listed above are a small sample of potential job titles, and are not meant to be comprehensive. Students may or may not find employment in these positions. Job growth statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014–2024 projections. Note that the Bureau does not publish estimates for all job titles, so in some cases these numbers are an approximation based on similar job titles.
I chose South College because it came highly recommended from mentors of mine, the faculty is second to none, and the program fits my ever-changing lifestyle. I also chose it because of the flexibility. My wife is still serving in the United States Air Force on Active Duty, and this means that we move when they tell us to move.
- Shawn Domm, Doctor of Physical Therapy
One of the major reasons I chose South College was for the smaller class sizes. It allows more one-on-one time between students and professors, which enhances the learning experience for me.
- Elizabeth Frerichs, Bachelor of Science in Health Science
I went to college originally straight out of high school with the intent of majoring in musical performance with a concentration in theoretical studies. I was not prepared to for college at that point, so I decided to gain some experience and maturity by joining the work force full-time. After working for 10 years, I felt it was time to try school again.
- Adam Hatcher, Bachelor of Business Administration
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