Academic Program Proposal

Date Proposal Activated	Institution and Proposal	Degree Awarded	Academic Program Name	Objection Deadline	MHEC Final Action	Final Decision Date
	Univeristy of Maryland, University College Proposal	Doctor	Business Administration	7/13/2018	Approved	7/16/2018
Business Administration Program Description
UMUC currently offers a Doctor of Management (DM) as well as an Area of Concentration (A.O.C.) in Community College Policy and Administration within the DM. Upon approval of the DBA, UMUC will discontinue the stand alone DM and only offer the DM with the A.O.C. in Community College Policy and Administration. UMUC students currently pursuing the standalone DM will be permitted to complete the program or convert to the new DBA; new students will not be admitted to the DM. <br> <br>With this change, UMUC's doctoral degrees will more closely reflect program design and market trends for careers associated with these two degrees. This proposal establishes a doctorate of professional practice, which is the final program in a complete vertical degree pathway within UMUC beginning with the bachelor's in Business Administration, continuing with the master's in Business Administration, and culminating with the proposed OBA degree. Retaining the A.O.C. in CCPA under the DM is the best fit for that program given that the needs and expectations of Community College management and administration remain closely aligned with the DM's emphasis on the development and mastery of managerial and administrative capacities. This content is signaled by the Doctor of Management degree, which is a more widely recognized credential in higher education administration and leadership than the DBA. <br> <br>Designed for executive-level working professionals, the DBA emphasizes management theory and strategic thinking, organizational leadership and change, research and innovation, and sustainability in the global business environment. Through applied research and analysis of real world management issues, DBA students gain sophisticated knowledge for the executive level of management. The DBA cohort structure promotes close, interactive partnerships among students, faculty, and staff and a supportive network for lifelong learning. Given the hybrid structure of the program (online, asynchronous, with residencies) students benefit from exposure to national and global perspectives and experiences with geographically diverse classmates and faculty. The DBA provides students the research and management competencies necessary to acquire, appraise, analyze, apply, and assess information for complex evidence based decision-making. <br>