An Executive DBA curriculum engineered for leaders

For those who require it, the program offers 27 hours of MBA-level coursework to get you up to speed. Of the 27 credit hours, 3 total credit hours are fulfilled through two MBA in-residence experiences:

• First Year In-Residence (BUKD-X503): Kelley On Campus is an intensive introduction to the Kelley Direct program and your MBA-level coursework. Held on Indiana University’s beautiful Bloomington campus, this course is required near the start of the program.
• Second Year In-Residence (BUKD-X513): Students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of topics and formats for their second year in-residence. These are uniquely designed twice a year, with options in Bloomington and a major US city. Students enroll during their second year following completion of the foundational prerequisite courses.

Each in-residence experience will have a $1,000 fee.

There are two required in-person EDBA residencies, each worth 3 credit hours. These intensive cohort-based experiences provide students with opportunities to network with other high-performing executives in a variety of industries.

• Special Topics In-Residence I (BUKD-X703, 3 credits): This residency focuses on executive presence. It takes place from October 21 to 26 in Bloomington, Indiana, to kick off the program and equip students with the communication and presentation skills needed to succeed at the C-suite level.
• Special Topics In-Residence II (BUKD-X713, 3 credits) This residency focuses on topic exploration and begins the thesis project. Students will be matched with an advisor. This takes place during the summer term in the second year.

Each in-residence experience will have a $1,000 fee.

There are two statistics and research methods courses, and one thesis development course counting for a total of 9 credit hours. These courses target practitioners and focus on helping them understand the research process as well as how to run statistical analyses and interpret data for the purposes of conducting their own research.

The thesis development course will focus on writing and communicating research findings.

There are six courses counting for a total of 18 credit hours focused exclusively on strategy and leadership content. Six of those hours are special topics courses reflecting emerging areas of conversation in the research literature as well as applied practice.

There are a total of 9 credit hours dedicated to the thesis project. This time is spent working closely in a one-on-one context with an expert faculty advisor on every step of the thesis research project (which will be required for all students to complete). From ideation and framing the problem to collecting data, analyzing it, and writing results to presenting in front of a committee—students will have significant latitude in choosing their topic with support from their advisor.