Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana, United States

The Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program at IWU allows students to demonstrate their mastery in solving real-world business problems through an Applied Doctoral Project (ADP). While a dissertation is the capstone of a research-based Ph.D. program, the ADP serves as a capstone for the IWU DBA. The distinction of the ADP is that students integrate evidence-based scholarly research in a consultative manner aimed at identifying a significant problem, formulating a solution, and presenting a proposal to a real organization . The ADP Experience employs a problem-based learning framework to guide the researcher-consultant process that is beneficial for professional practice as a consultant, practitioner, or scholar. Students are also uniquely advantaged when assigned a research chair who serves as their mentor and coach—from start to finish in the program—to ensure the project meets the rigorous standards worthy of a terminal degree in business.