The Doctor of Business Administration is offered by NCU is 21 areas of specialization. These specializations were
developed so our Learners could elect to focus in depth on a particular aspect of the Business discipline. Learners who complete
18 semester credit hours in an area of specialization may have that specialization recorded
on their diplomas. The specializations are:
Accounting is both the language and the geography of business. The Advanced Accounting curriculum is designed
to equip accountants with the foundation in comparative accounting practices, applied accounting research and
systematic inquiry enabling careers as Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, forensic accountant, auditor,
controller, financial anylyst, Chief Financial Officer, professor of accounting, or other role in this expanding field.
The Applied Computer Science Specialization is the discipline of designing methods for solving
problems by means of computers. The curriculum is designed to provide preparation for professional
careers in the areas of Software and Network Administration. Admission is open to holders of any
Bachelor's degree or the equivalent who have computer and industrial or business experience.
With a rise in the asymmetric threat posed by terrorist organizations, along with increased commercial espionage and the
unpredictable threat of violent, deranged individuals, the need is greater than ever for a disciplined approach to
corporate infrastructure security and facility protection. The Business, Corporate, and Campus Security curriculum
explores the unique vulnerabilities that can be exploited against corporate installations and commercial and college
campuses, in the context of prevention, response and incident management.
This specialization provides learners skills to work as a research and development specialist in
a variety of industries including banking and finance, technology, and marketing; depending upon
employment experience and prior undergraduate and graduate study. It is also an excellent credential
for persons who want to teach quantitative and research courses in business, economics, and
management programs at the collegiate level. The specialization is a unique blend of “research
traditions” and methodologies from economics, finance, history, marketing, operations science, and
statistics.
This specialization is designed to meet the demand in business and industry for computer security
professionals who are trained in cyber-terrorism, computer forensics and computer security. Learners
will study current techniques in data preservation, identification, and extraction and will perform
forensic analysis of systems using popular examination toolkits. Learners will also be exposed to
common practices involved in forensic investigations and evidence handling, and will become informed
in federal and state privacy, intellectual property, search and seizure, and cyber-crime laws. In
conjunction the topic of cyber-terrorism will be explored in depth including material on terrorism
in general and the specific targets vulnerable to hackers and terrorists. Courses will also cover
appropriate computer security programs and the appropriate management of them from a law enforcement,
private security, management and government perspective.
The criminal justice system is now a global multicultural network connecting distinct legal traditions
and codes; both domestically and internationally. The modern CJ manager must possess the necessary
skills to operate within a worldwide venue; coordinating the efforts of local, State, Federal, and
multinational organizations and international resources at home and abroad.
The electronic commerce specialization is designed for Learners who want to become proficient in
conducting business on the Internet and/or the World Wide Web. Online marketing, Web-based applications,
enabling methodologies and tools for online payment and transactions are included in the curriculum.
The lifeblood of every organization - private, public, religious or corporate - is its financial
resources. Managers must know how to manage and allocate resources in order to ensure long-term
profitability and organizational health. This specialization concentrates on developing these essential
skills.
With the growing concern over health care and the economical delivery of health care services,
there is an increasing requirement to bring managerial expertise to the health care industry.
Health care administrators are in demand at entry and for advanced managerial positions in hospitals,
in health maintenance organizations, in health insurance companies, and in governmental, public
health, voluntary, and social service agencies. This specialization develops the essential managerial
perspective and skills for this industry.
The Homeland Security program is designed to prepare senior management of law enforcement, public
safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for positions of executive
leadership in the general field of homeland security. Courses will span the spectrum of management,
budgetary rules, personnel and critical issues relating to crisis management and terrorism.
Homeland Security: Leadership & Policy
Homeland Security comprises a complex of public and private programs, agencies, companies and
industries, all serving in turn an interconnected web of international, national, state, local and corporate
policy. This vast and growing edifice relies upon managers and leaders who are current in topics ranging
from terrorism, strategy, and intelligence to emergency management and critical infrastructure security issues.
This specialization provides a unique opportunity for practitioners and academic specialists to research and
explore new concepts and methods of providing security for governments and the public, and provides senior
level homeland security professionals the opportunity to apply theory and emerging concepts to realworld issues
through innovative approaches to complex problems.
Throughout history the challenge to managers has been to manage the organization's human resources
to achieve peaceful, productive and profitable organizational outcomes. This specialization studies
the interrelationships between human resources and the business organization, equipping the manager
to function as a HRM specialist in business, industry, and service organizations.
The Industrial/Organizational Psychology program trains Learners to work in a variety of settings.
This program prepares Learners for research and field experience. Within the industrial and organizational
program, the Learner is expected to become competent in theory, research, and applications of psychology
as they relate to human behavior in organizations. The program emphasizes the contributions of both
industrial and organizational psychology to the understanding of people in their world of work. Training
is received in conducting basic and applied research, and in the applications of theory and research to
organizational and human resource management problems in organizations.
The "global economy" requires that domestic and foreign business managers have the knowledge of cultural,
economic, political and legal environments of business and the necessary managerial skills for making
management decisions in an international context. This specialization focuses on the essential elements
required to understand and manage international organizations.
Management authority, Peter Drucker states: "Managers are needed to convert the disorganized resources
of men, machines, material, money, time and space into useful and effective enterprise." The MBA program
is for the manager-generalist who must understand how the key parts of an organization function and
interrelate. Effective enterprise results when the manager-generalist organizes the efforts of specialists
in order to accomplish organizational outcomes. The Management Specialization presents managers and
prospective managers with the conceptual overview of modern theory and practice in each of the key areas.
The Management Information System (MIS) specialization is a user-friendly graduate specialization designed
for administrators and managers. It is for managers who recognize that success in today's competitive
environment requires an understanding of management and how managers use computer information systems
to enhance the management process and business outcomes. The MIS specialization combines and applies
the best from both disciplines: computer systems and management. Admission is open to holders of any
Bachelor's degree or the equivalent who have industrial and/or business experience and who recognize
that managers need expertise in both management and information systems. Knowledge of computer programming
is not a requirement.
Technology drives productivity, lowers cost, and drives competitiveness. Conventional managerial styles
do not adapt well to managing the highly skilled technology driven professional in a technology based
environment. Engineers and scientists moving toward technical management responsibilities while
maintaining identity in their technology need to establish the skill set and managerial style that will
enable them to generate and transfer knowledge for making and implementing decisions which provide
leadership in the management of engineering and technology. This specialization focuses on
integrating practical technical experience with management theory and practice.
The Marketing Specialization (graduate level) moves beyond fundamentals by focusing upon marketing
management and marketing research. The courses provide learners the opportunity to enhance existing
skills and knowledge and to gain new skills and knowledge germane to effectively managing the entire
scope of the product life cycle in a strategically-sound, systematic, ethical, and legal manner.
Organizational Leadership (OL) appeals to Learners who are focused on developing the competencies required
of organizational leaders. The strategically crafted courses serve to enhance Learner’s commitment to
the understanding and practice of leadership. Grounded in research, facilitated by leadership practitioner
faculty and customized for maximum professional impact, the NCU Leadership course of study is designed
for those who aspire to become collaborative change agents.
Managers possessing the wide range of skills in public administration are meeting the challenges in
government management at the local, state and federal levels. For practicing public administrators
as well as those seeking entry into public administration, this specialization focuses on acquiring
the administrative knowledge and skills in such diverse areas as budgeting, government relations,
personnel policies, politics, and urban planning.
The Sports Management & Leadership specialization was created to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding
and changing multi-billion dollar sports industry, providing Learners an opportunity to expand their
knowledge. NCU's programs are delivered completely online to meet today's hectic schedules of educators
and administrators.
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President and Founder of Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW) serves as a faculty
mentor. Sports leaders are invited by Dr.Lashbrook, throughout the year to participate in audio chats,
giving the students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the real world of sports. For information
regarding Sports Management Worldwide:
www.smww.com
This link will take you to the SMWW Landing page where you will find more information on the program
and the application process: www.ncu.edu/smww.