Enrolling in this program

Program eligibility requirements

The DBA Admissions Committee reviews the complete application, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Admission criteria include:

• An earned MBA or equivalent management-related master's degree or completion of DBA-level MBA Math.
• Course credits and professional experience in areas related to business and/or business administration.  Students must have 20 credits of master’s level coursework in the following areas: a) organizational behavior, b) management information systems, c) finance, d) organizational strategy, e) accounting, f) economics, g) marketing, h) operations management, i) project management, j) research methods, and/or k) statistics.
• Five years of professional experience.

If you wish to apply for the program and wish to include coursework outside of the following areas listed in a) through k) above, you must include a rationale paper that helps to elucidate the connection between the DBA program and the coursework in question. Use this rationale paper to explain how the coursework is applicable to the 20-credit admissions requirement and/or DBA program more generally; consider including such things as course syllabi, course descriptions, or other material evidence that would help to strengthen your argument. 

• The ideal applicant will have earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average.
• The ideal applicant will have a GMAT or GRE scores above the 51st percentile.

Students seeking admission to the DBA program may complete required prerequisite courses in the College of Management without being admitted to a COM graduate program if they meet the following criteria:

• Have earned an MBA or management-related master's degree
• Achieved a 3.0 GPA in their master's degree program
• Have completed at least five years of professional work
• Indicate in writing an intent to apply for the DBA program in a specific year

Application instructions

Deadlines

November 15, March 15, July 1
Application deadlines will not be waived.

The next cohort will be admitted in fall 2018.

Application review

Completed application files are reviewed three times per year. The College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee will review all completed application files immediately following each of the three posted deadlines. Applicants should allow 7-10 business days after the posted deadline that has been met for their completed application to be reviewed.

Application packet

To be considered for full admission to the Doctor of Business Administration, applicants must submit both parts of the application packet (and part three if applying as an international student.) All application materials become the property of Metropolitan State University and are not returned.

Part one

• Online Application - You will use your Minnesota State StarID to complete the application. If you don't have a Minnesota State StarID, you may create one at the beginning of the application.
  • You are strongly encouraged to use the online application, but if you'd rather use the paper application, you can fill out the Graduate Application Form and mail it to the Graduate Studies Office.
  • Non-refundable application fee
• Current fee of $20 is waived for graduates of Metropolitan State.
  • Pay online using the online application, or send a check to the Graduate Studies Office mailing address below.
• Official transcripts
• Transcripts must show a baccalaureate and master's degree or equivalent earned from a regionally accredited institution with grade-point average or narrative description describing courses completed.
• Transcripts from ALL schools attended after high school and from any graduate or professional programs are required.
• All transcripts from non-U.S. schools must be evaluated (course-by-course) by either ECE (preferred) or WES.
• Electronic transcripts should be sent to graduate.studies@metrostate.edu
• Paper transcripts should be sent directly from the sending institution (preferred) to:

• Metropolitan State University
  Attn: Graduate Admissions
  700 East Seventh Street
  Saint Paul MN 55106

Part two (Option 1 or Option 2) - please choose one option.

Option 1

• GMAT/GRE scores
  • Verifiable documentation of completion of GMAT quantitative, writing, and overall scores or GRE quantitative, verbal reasoning, and overall scores.
• Current vita or resume
  • A vita documenting extensive professional work experience with significant responsibilities or significant full-time post-secondary teaching responsibilities.
  • Using StarID, upload via Applicant Portal
• Goals Essay
  • A double-spaced word-processed paper of approximately 1000 words.
  • Using StarID, upload via Applicant Portal
• Two professional references
  • Two reference letters, preferably one from a professional practitioner and one from an academic faculty member or administrator.

Option 2

• Current vita or resume
  • A vita documenting extensive professional work experience with significant responsibilities or significant full-time post-secondary teaching responsibilities.
  • Using StarID, upload via Applicant Portal
• Two professional references
  • Two reference letters, preferably one from a professional practitioner and one from an academic faculty member or administrator.
• Criterion Writing Essays
  • Two double-spaced essays of approximately 1000 words.
  • To be completed in the online writing site Criterion. For further information and directions, please use the Instructions for Criterion Essays below.
  • Instructions for Criterion Essays (PDF)
• Quantitative preparation
  • Completion of the Doctoral-level MBA Math.
  • To be completed in the online program MBA Math.
  • All sections must be completed at doctoral-level proficiency. For further information and directions, please use the Instructions for Doctoral-level MBA Math below.
  • Instructions for Doctoral-level MBA Math (PDF)

Questions about applying to the DBA program?

Please contact graduate.studies@metrostate.edu (preferred) or call 651-793-1302.