
About this Program
The Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) prepares leaders in business, industry and government to meet the personal and professional challenges of the future.
Program Overview
Preparing Leaders, Transforming Communities
The DBA is founded on the four pillars of leadership excellence: mindfulness, resource stewardship, systems thinking and community commitment. Our program prepares students to guide their organizations—and their communities—through the challenges of the twenty-first century. Students learn to make decisions based not only on financial performance but also on social and environmental criteria. Coursework prepares them to use benchmarking and evidence-based research to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
Through an integrated curriculum that explores holistic values, students are equipped for lives of responsibility, leadership and service. Participants are encouraged to remain lifelong learners who engage in self-assessment, reflection and evaluation.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates are mid-career professionals who hold leadership positions within their organizations or have a strong desire to ascend to that level. They have earned a master’s degree and have at least 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in their career field. Hood College's doctorate programs are now open to both domestic and international applicants.
Cohort Format
The multidisciplinary program is usually completed in four years with three summers dedicated to the dissertation. However, there is flexibility for those individuals who would like to complete the degree in three years. DBA candidates:
- Start and progress together with Doctorate of Organizational Leadership candidates through 27 credits of core courses and 9 credits of research courses, as well as three capstone courses;
- Differentiate their degree pursuits through three electives aligned with their specialization in education, business or psychology and counseling;
- Fulfill additional requirements of the DBA; and
- Adhere to our four-year Course Sequence.
Student Learning Outcomes
At Hood College, we are committed to teaching excellence. Program goals and learning outcomes identify what we expect students to learn. This includes how to think critically and accomplish objectives in courses and programs of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We believe an integrated learning approach that combines a strong grounding in the liberal arts with advanced study in the discipline, combined with internships and research initiatives, is the best way to prepare students for lives of purpose and civic engagement.
Leadership Frederick County
Breaking news! We are #HoodProud to partner and elevate the Leadership Frederick County (LFC) program to the next level. Learn more about the new LFC /Hood Doctoral program partnership here.
View Hood Doctoral Webinar - "How a Professional Doctorate Can Advance Your Career" - recorded 4/21/20
This webinar features a panel of successful Frederick leaders who recently went through the Hood doctorate programs. Learn how a professional doctorate in organizational leadership or business administration will help you meet your personal and professional goals.
2019 Doctoral Cohort Dissertation Titles
Preetha Abraham, D.O.L. - The Mediating Role of Organizational Climate in the Relationship between Leadership Outcomes and Organizational Strategic Planning
Michele Baisey, D.O.L. - The Impact of Participation in an Elementary Behavior Support Program on Students’ Prosocial Behavior, School Functioning and Academic Performance
Linda Chambers, D.O.L. - Disproportionate Suspension and Special Education Identification of African American Students: A Case Study in the Early Elementary Grades
Lura Hanks, D.O.L. - Improving Teacher Effectiveness for Increasing Student Reading Proficiency through a Talent Management Professional Development Model
Eric Louers-Philips, D.O.L. - Leadership Style, Leader–Follower Congruence, & the Implementation of a Cultural Proficiency Initiative
Danny Rumpf, D.O.L. - Principals' Perceptions on Their Experience of the Framework for Teaching Professional Development
Jonathan Spaans, D.B.A. - Roles of Knowledge Diffusion, Emotional Intelligence, and Locus of Control in Facilitating Incremental Innovation Among Middle Managers: An Empirical Investigation
Joshua Work, D.O.L. - A Case Study on Principal Selection Practices and Preparedness of Assistant Principals for Principal Selection Processes
You may also be interested in our Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.
Degrees Offered
- MBA
- DBA
- DOL
Department Offering
Related Graduate Programs
Are you ready to go further?
* Please note that the fall application deadline is May 1st so apply early as applications are reviewed once completed.
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must:
- Complete the online application here.
- Have previous institution submit an official e-transcript for a completed master’s degree. Applicants must have completed a master’s degree with a minimum 3.25 GPA and taken at least one course in statistics. E-transcripts should be sent to the Hood Graduate Admissions via Parchment or emailed to gofurther@hood.edu.
- Submit a résumé that demonstrates a minimum of 8-10 years of progressive professional work experience.
- Submit two letters of recommendation: one from your employer that speaks to your professional work experience and leadership skills, the second from an individual who can attest to your leadership skills.
- Submit a 400- to 500-word personal essay that describes what attracts you to this doctorate program.
- Submit a 500- to 750-word essay in response to one of the following prompts:
- What is the role of leadership in an organization as it focuses on challenges and issues of the twenty-first century?
- Leadership is often defined as the “art of influence.” What lessons have you learned from a leader you admire?
- Compare and contrast your leadership style with that of a leader you admire and respect.
- Describe how sustainable leadership (economic, social and environmental) fits with your personal paradigm of leadership.
- Provide one of the following admission elements:
- Standardized test scores (SLLA, GRE, GMAT or MAT).
- Evidence of master’s level culminating research experience (capstone project, thesis, field work or action research project).
Once applications have been submitted for initial review, eligible applicants will be invited for a virtual interview with the doctoral review committee as part of the application process.
Program Requirements
The doctoral programs (DOL/DBA) require 60 credits beyond the master’s degree. They consist of 27 credits of core coursework, 12 credits from a specialization tier, 9 credits of research methodology courses, and a 12-credit applied research-based capstone dissertation project.
Research Methodology Tier
To address the research tier, all candidates complete the following three research methodology courses for a total of 9 credits:
LEAD 620 | Qualitative Research in Social Sciences-Theory and Design | 3.0 |
LEAD 621 | Statistical Methods for Social Science Research: Design and Analysis | 3.0 |
LEAD 622 | Fundamentals of Evidence-Based Management Theory, Research, and Application | 3.0 |
Core Leadership Tier
Courses delivering the 27 core credits are designed to provide every cohort member with a common set of understandings about key elements of effective organizational leadership. This tier of courses includes the following:
LEAD 601 | Seminar in Leadership Theory and Practice | 4.0 |
LEAD 602 | Seminar in Ethics and Leadership | 4.0 |
LEAD 603 | Leading and Managing Human Capital | 3.0 |
LEAD 604 | Leadership and Strategic Communication | 3.0 |
LEAD 605 | Seminar in Leading Strategic Change and Transformation | 4.0 |
LEAD 606 | Financial Stewardship for Leaders | 3.0 |
LEAD 607 | Leadership, Advocacy and Policy | 3.0 |
LEAD 608 | Sustainable Systemic Leadership | 3.0 |
Additional Requirements for DBA candidates
• Six approved management workshops.
• Conference presentation (local, regional, national, or international).
• Experiential opportunity with a faculty member.
• Paper publication (or preparation of paper to be published).
Specialization Tier
Candidates who enter the doctoral program come from many different sectors, including business, education, non-profits, the military and government. In order to provide a flexible program that meets the personal and professional needs of candidates, the specialization tier provides opportunities to develop more specialized study. Course selection guided by the candidate’s goal of enhancing understanding of their industry or building new content development in a complementary area. Candidates will work closely with their faculty adviser and select courses to support their personal and professional goals. Candidates will identify courses at the end of year one coursework and submit a declaration of specialization form to the doctoral program director for approval. Year two coursework will include the specialization courses outlined in the declaration form. Candidates will complete their specialization coursework no later than fall semester of year three.
All candidates will select one specialization from the following:
General Leadership
Education Leadership
Business Leadership
Government Leadership
The 12 specialization credits are selected by candidates from among the graduate course offerings within the disciplines of counseling, economics & business administration, and education; the selection of specialization courses is subject to the approval of each candidate’s adviser and program director. With similar approval, appropriate courses from other departments may also meet this requirement. Candidates complete all course requirements for each of the three courses in this series and, in consultation with their adviser, design and conduct a project related to each course. These projects will involve either the candidate’s employer or a local organization. Their goal will be to help inform the candidate concerning the ultimate subject of his/her research-based capstone experience. Up to 6 credits beyond the master’s degree may be transferred toward meeting this requirement with the approval of the adviser.
Select three of the following:
COUN 500L | Human Development as a Lifelong Process | 4.0 |
COUN 502L | Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling | 4.0 |
COUN 503L | Lifestyle and Career Development | 4.0 |
COUN 506L | Research and Program Evaluation | 4.0 |
ECON 560L | Managerial Economics | 4.0 |
ECMG 578L | International Financial Management | 4.0 |
EDUC 502L | Technology for Literacy, Leadership & Learning | 4.0 |
EDUC 513L | School Law | 4.0 |
EDUC 514L | Administration of Student Services | 4.0 |
EDUC 581L | Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 4.0 |
EDUC 582L | Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 4.0 |
EDUC 584L | Systemic Change Processes for School Improvement | 4.0 |
EDUC 586L | Principles of Educational Supervision | 4.0 |
LEAD 675 | Independent Study | 4.0 |
LEAD 699 | Special Topics in Org. Leadership | 4.0 |
MGMT 562L | Financial & Managerial Accounting | 4.0 |
MGMT 563L | Marketing Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 565L | International Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 566L | Information Management & Technology | 4.0 |
MGMT 568L | Accounting Information Systems | 4.0 |
MGMT 569L | Project Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 570L | Marketing Analysis for Managers | 4.0 |
MGMT 572L | Supply Chain Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 576L | Advanced Financial Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 577L | Portfolio and Investment Management | 4.0 |
ECMG 578L | International Financial Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 580L | Strategic Cost Management | 4.0 |
MGMT 581L | Financial Statement Analysis | 4.0 |
MGMT 582L | Negotiation & Conflict Resolution | 4.0 |
MGMT 587L | Public Administration | 4.0 |
Candidates design a capstone dissertation research project to address a challenge within their working context, organization or community. The project incorporates leadership-based research, the working context of the candidate and the impact of effective leadership. The capstone credits are distributed across three semesters of three different 4-credit classes:
LEAD 630 | Capstone I: Theoretical Framework | 4.0 |
LEAD 631 | Capstone II: Research Proposal | 4.0 |
LEAD 632 | Capstone III: Project Defense | 4.0 |
Comprehensive Examination: Students will sit for a comprehensive examination that tests their grasp of the first four leadership core classes and the three research methods courses. Comprehensive exams are completed in the spring of year two of the program.
Portfolio Evaluation: Students will be required to maintain a portfolio of their work in Chalk and Wire. The major assignment from each class must be submitted to Chalk and Wire. This collection of assignments will comprise the student portfolio, which will be reviewed at the end of the second year by a faculty team. In addition, students are required to submit a statement indicating their plans for future research and capstone work at the end of the first year. This statement will also be reviewed by a faculty team.
The Andrea Scott International Graduate Scholarship Program is available to international doctoral applicants who have a valid IELTS Academic score within the last 2 years and plan to study topics related to higher education leadership and educational access and equity. Awards are for $5,000 (payable in U.S. dollars only) annual tuition scholarship renewable for 3 years pending good academic standing.

Doctoral Cohort 6
Fall 2021 doctoral cohort with program faculty.
Program Contact

Program Director

Doctoral Program Administrative Assistant

Director of Graduate Admissions

Doctoral Alumna Focus | Mary C. H. Weller, DOL '21
"Hood College’s DOL program was the right place at the right time for me. When I entered, I had no idea just how important my study at Hood College would be!"
- Academics
- Alumni Relations
- Education
- Business

Doctoral Alumna Focus | Simarjeet (Simi) Sandhu, DOL '21
"The program taught me that leaders must be the voice of those who are voiceless. The Kisaans in India are being silenced and in many cases are helpless. As a leader, I find it my duty to advocate for the Kisaans and be their voice"
- Academics
- Alumni Relations
- Education
- Business

Doctoral Alum Focus | Jonathan Spaans, DBA'19
"The program had the most impact on my ability to investigate, solve and implement complex solutions to problematic production and infrastructure issues."
- Academics
- Alumni Relations
- Education
- Business