Executive DBA Frequently Asked Questions

As this is a professional doctorate, most students will have a management position in industry. We employ a Practicum Research Project (PRP) that focuses on a situation or problem in your work that you want to address but may not wish to be published. If you desire to publish it, your advisor will guide you in that direction. 

The PRP requires the following: 

• Identify a situation that cannot be addressed with intuition alone, and requires careful and rigorous analysis. 
• Find some previous research that addresses problems in this realm. 
• Use that research to inform your own approach and research expectations. 
• Find a database or collect your own original data to address the problem. 
• Analyze the data in an appropriate and rigorous way. 
• Draw conclusions from that analysis. 

During your first two years in the Katz DBA program, you will likely have conversations with your professors either inside or outside of class in conjunction with some of your class assignments. You can ask any of your professors to serve as your PRP Advisor, or you can ask if they can recommend others who specialize in the context of your PRP or the methods you choose for the project. The PRP Advisor can provide advice on any of the steps of the PRP (see the FAQ “Is there a thesis requirement” for details). 

Watch this video to learn more.

Visit tuition.pitt.edu for tuition rates. Rates listed do not reflect the program cost of $3,000 per credit.

A limited amount of financial aid is available. 

Individuals pursuing the DBA program should have 8+ years of professional management experience and currently work in a middle-to-top management position. A baccalaureate and masters degree from an accredited college or university is required for admission with the professional work requirements included. Applicants with a master’s degree from an approved institution can transfer up to 27 credits into the Executive DBA program. Candidates must submit an application, resume, professional essay, official transcripts, and two letters of reference.

Many of our admitted students are funded directly through their employer. We encourage you to talk with your employer about available funding for your Executive DBA.   

If significant funding is not available through your employer, there is a limited amount of financial aid available. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive a “Financial Support Plan” form to complete and submit. The admissions committee will review your plan and determine if and how much financial support is available and applicable.  You will also be given additional resources about external financial support including Federal loans and external grants. 

Our DBA courses are held on weeknights in the fall and spring. These courses will be offered in a “Hyflex” hybrid format, which can be taken in person, online, or any combination of the two. This means that you can take courses from anywhere.

You must, however, be in attendance while each class is held (three evenings per week during each semester). We have found that the weeknight “Hyflex” approach is more effective and conducive for learning than the rushed weekend-a-month format that some programs hold. Those sessions tend to overload and fatigue students. Our approach will enable you to acquire the knowledge in smaller chunks and to complete assignments along the way. You will have your weekends free from scheduled DBA courses throughout the program. 

There will be no courses during the summer, but we do hold a Summer DBA Research Symposium that will be scheduled in advance. 

The DBA Research Symposium, to be held in-person on Pitt’s campus during the summer, will focus on workshops dedicated to helping you with your research in general and the capstone Practicum Research Project (PRP), in particular. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your PRP faculty Advisorand share your work with other DBA students. Specific dates will be forthcoming. 

Watch this video to learn more.

The DBA program is designed for students to spend about 7.5 hours in-class or watching material in preparation for class. Additionally, students can expect 2 hours of additional time outside of class hours to complete course work.  The total estimated time per week for the DBA program is 15 hours for the fall and spring semesters.  There are no courses in the summer, but there is the one-week required summer residency. 

Watch this video to learn more.

Members of the military are encouraged to apply. In the first cohort, we have active military members who are successfully balancing their courses and their military responsibilities.