Pace University

The Doctor of Professional Studies (DPS) Program in Business at Pace University is an executive doctorate that enhances the career options of successful business executives and professionals. For over 35 years, graduates have achieved leadership positions in business organizations, provided advice as consultants on general and specialized issues to institutions around the world, and succeeded as faculty members who teach and research contemporary business issues. The program attracts:
• Managers who wish to combine their business experience with high intellectual capacity and curiosity;
• Practitioners who need to creatively confront business challenges;
• Professionals who seek a broad understanding of business environments;
• Individuals who want advanced education on a part-time basis; and
• People who wish to share their business insights and expertise by teaching and publishing in a university environment.

The program equips graduates with the conceptual insights, analytical skills, research methods, and innovative perspectives needed to anticipate, understand situations and affect change in business as practitioners, consultants or scholars. Candidates acquire breadth and depth of knowledge applicable to contemporary business issues, while applying the research process to tackle emerging business problems in new ways.

Program Mission
As an executive doctorate in business, the DPS program maintains high academic standards and focuses on theory and research that is valuable to practitioners. Over 40% of DPS graduates obtain full-time positions in colleges and universities.

The DPS program enables successful business managers and professionals to expand, conceptualize, generalize and communicate their expertise so that they can be effective in senior line or staff managerial positions, consulting engagements, or faculty assignments in teaching-oriented business schools.

Program Curriculum
Doctoral candidates complete 19 courses (57 credits) of advanced graduate study that build on a master of business administration (MBA) or similar degree. The curriculum has four distinct, but integrated, components that proceed concurrently throughout the program.

The first component explores the broad conceptual foundations of business and management, integrates the disciplines of business, and examines current conceptual and theoretical issues (four courses).

The second component establishes a thorough understanding of the theoretical and empirical issues in two of the following concentrations: international economics, finance, international business, management and marketing (four courses each).

The third component develops business research skills to systematically identify and analyze complex problems using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies (three courses).

The fourth component, consisting of four courses, guides candidates through the preparation and defense of a dissertation.

Educational Delivery and Schedule
Innovative design and convenient scheduling enable business managers and professionals to continue their careers while completing the DPS program with limited intrusion on their normal work schedules. Doctoral seminars meet monthly on campus, while candidates participate continuously and asynchronously on the Internet with user-friendly courseware. Weekly reading and writing assignments drive the rhythm and progress of these seminars.

Candidates can complete the program in four years of part-time study. During the first three years, they come to campus for an all-day "Executive Friday" once each month from September through July. In addition, candidates attend class one evening per week from September through early May. During the fourth year, they meet individually with members of their dissertation committees at mutually convenient times and intervals.

Candidates begin the program in September and complete most of the doctoral seminars together as a learning cohort that also becomes a support group and professional network. Seminars designed to support the development of research skills and dissertation topics begin in the first semester and continue throughout the program.