Overview

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at International American University (IAU) is a professional doctoral degree designed for experienced business professionals, managers, executives, and business degree holders seeking advanced knowledge and practical expertise in business administration, leadership, management, research, and strategic decision-making. The program combines advanced business theory with applied research and professional practice, enabling students to address complex organizational and business challenges.

The program is designed for professionals who want to advance their careers, strengthen strategic leadership capabilities, develop innovative solutions to business challenges, and apply evidence-based knowledge in real-world organizational environments. Students explore contemporary business issues through advanced coursework, case studies, research, analytical projects, and doctoral-level study.

Learning Outcomes

Students in IAU’s Doctor of Business Administration program will learn to:

• Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills appropriate for professional and executive business environments.
• Apply critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills to complex business and organizational challenges.
• Evaluate contemporary theories and practices in business administration and management.
• Design, conduct, and evaluate applied business research in a selected area of specialization.
• Formulate research problems and develop appropriate literature reviews, research methodologies, and research designs.
• Analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative research data and communicate findings effectively.
• Apply advanced leadership, management, and strategic decision-making principles to organizational development.
• Develop evidence-based solutions to complex business problems and organizational challenges.
• Evaluate ethical, social, and professional responsibilities in business decision-making.
• Integrate advanced business knowledge and research findings into practical organizational strategies.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Associate of Business Administration (ABA)

Associate of Information Technology (AIT)

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA in Business Analytics (MBA-BAn)

MBA in Management Information Systems (MBA-MIS)

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Doctor of Management (DM)

Check out the full curriculum                                 Visit programme website

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

GPA

2.5/5, 2.0/4, 50/100%

English requirements

IELTS

6.5+

Schedule for a IELP test!

TOEFL

80+

PTE

58–61

Duolingo

105+

iTEP

3.9+

TOEIC

720+

Scholarships Information

The Public Sector

Deadline Not Specified

$1,000 USD

Public Service Scholarship

Merit Based

Read more about eligibility →

International American University
Los Angels, California

Rotary Foundation

Deadline Not Specified

Up to $30,000

Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholarship

Read more about eligibility →

International American University
Los Angels, California

FDU

Deadline Not Specified

Up to $27,000 per year

Scholarships for International Students

Read more about eligibility →

International American University
Los Angels, California

The Aga Khan Foundation

Deadline Not Specified

50% grant/50% loan basis

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship

Read more about eligibility →

International American University
Los Angels, California

Visa information

F-1 Visa Application Overview

If an F-1 applicant is currently abroad, and does not yet have a valid U.S. student visa, the applicant generally applies for one at the U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it is generally more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.

The F-1 applicant should apply for his/her student visa well in advance of the date they would like to depart for IAU. Remember that they are required to show proof of having paid the Federal SEVIS (I-901) fee when they appear for their visa interview. Holiday and vacation periods are very busy times at the US embassies and consulates worldwide, and it is important for them to have their visas in time to arrive and begin orientation and registration activities no later than the start date on your Form I-20. Appointments are now mandatory for all student visas, and some U.S. embassies and consulates require that appointments be made at least four to eight weeks in advance. The actual visa interview may be as early as 120 days prior to his/her planned arrival date in the United States.

All U.S. embassies and consulates have a website where you can read the latest information on visa procedures.

Click here to locate the embassy or consulate near you.
Click here for information on waiting times for student visa appointments.
Click here for more information on how to obtain a visa.
Click here for more information on Study in the States.

Before Applying for Student Visa

The following ten points are from Gerald A. Wunsch and Martha Wailes and are reprinted from the website of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Carefully read all these points before applying for your student visa. You are well advised to consider the following matters prior to your visa appointment, as you may be asked about each item.

1. Ties to Home Country:  Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the USA. Ties to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person’s situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance.

2. Strategy for the Interview: Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the USA. Ties to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person’s situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance.

3. English: Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview.

4. Speak for Yourself: Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf.

5. Know Your Program and How It Fits to Your Career Plans: If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the USA relates to your future professional career when you return home.

6. Be Concise: Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the consular officer short and to the point.

7. Supplemental Documentation / Finances: It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2–3 minutes of interview time, if you’re lucky.

8. Not All Countries are Equal: Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the USA.

9. Employment: Your main purpose of coming to the USA should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

10. Dependants Remaining at Home: If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your home country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the USA in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

Work Permit

Find out all you need to know about work permit regulations for studying part-time (during studies) and full-time (after studies) in this country.