West Coast University

1. Completion of a minimum of 48 semester credit hours (44 hours of courses, 24 hours of dissertation research) with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00.

• Enrollment in DBA classes is limited to students admitted to the DBA program. 
• Each DBA student must complete the following program of study, including specific core, major, and minor courses, seminars, electives, and doctoral dissertation research:
• Students must register for 12 dissertation research credits per semester during the first year of the dissertation. After the first year, students must register for a minimum of one dissertation credit hour each semester until the dissertation is completed. Permission of the DBA Director must be obtained prior to registering for any courses numbered 891, 895, 896, or 899.

2. Selection of a major advisor and an advisory committee.

• As the student progresses toward the research phase of the program, the student will select a major research advisor. In consultation with the major advisor, the student will select at least three additional Graduate Faculty members to comprise the advisory committee. Of these three members, one must be a member of the Graduate Faculty within the student's major area of specialization, and another must be a Graduate Faculty member from outside of the College of Business and Management. The major advisor and the composition of the advisory committee may change during a student's program of study due to changes in faculty availability and/or changes in a student's needs or interests.

3. Attendance, where possible, at all doctoral and College seminars.

• Doctoral students at the pre-dissertation stage are encouraged to attend regular dissertation research seminars to hear presentations from faculty members, outside speakers, and doctoral students. Attendance at the dissertation research seminars is mandatory for students in the dissertation stage.

4. Satisfactory performance in the comprehensive examinations.

• Upon completion of formal course work, the student must demonstrate competence in the major and minor areas of specialization by passing the required comprehensive examinations. These written examinations are prepared and graded by the Graduate Faculty making up the Doctoral Committees from the major area of specialization and the minor. These examinations are scheduled and administered by the Director of the DBA Program twice a year and must be completed satisfactorily before beginning the dissertation.

5. Presentation and defense of the dissertation proposal.

• Upon completion of the formal course work and the comprehensive examinations, the student prepares a dissertation proposal in his or her major area of specialization. Upon approval by the major advisor, the student makes an oral presentation and defense of the proposal to the Dissertation Committee and the College of Business and Management Faculty.

6. Presentation and defense of the dissertation.

• Upon completion of the dissertation, the student makes an oral presentation and defense of the dissertation to his or her committee and the College of Business and Management Faculty.