Program Director
Raquel Hurtado
Master · Graduate
M.S. Management, Universidad Americana (UAM), Nicaragua
B.S. Computer Science, Universidad Americana (UAM), Nicaragua
SACSCOC-accredited institution
Doctorate
San Marcos
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
The terminal degree in business — applied research for senior practitioners.
2
years
EN
Language
1
Campus
14:1
Student-faculty ratio
Program information
Get the curriculum, requirements and costs.
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A U.S. degree.
Accredited by SACSCOC — the same commission that accredits universities across the United States.
Earned in Nicaragua.
San Marcos and Managua campuses. No visa, no relocation, no leaving your family behind.
About the program
What you'll
study
The Doctor of Business Administration is the terminal degree in the field, designed for senior practitioners who want to generate knowledge rather than only apply it.
Where the MBA develops advanced practice, the DBA develops research capability: framing a genuine problem in your industry, designing a study that can answer it, and defending the result.
Graduates move into executive leadership, consulting practice at a senior level, and university teaching.
Who it's for
Experienced professionals who already hold a master's degree and want to contribute original applied research to their industry.
Program facts
Duration
3 years
Language
English / Spanish
Format
On campus
Campus
Managua
Intakes
Varies by program and campus — confirm with an advisor
Awarded by
Keiser University, accredited by SACSCOC
Learning outcomes
What you'll
be able to do
Applied research design
Framing an industry problem as a researchable question.
Advanced quantitative methods
Statistical techniques for organizational research.
Qualitative methods
Interview, case and mixed-method approaches.
Scholarly writing
Producing work that survives peer review.
Executive leadership
Theory that informs senior practice.
Dissertation
An original contribution to applied business knowledge.
Curriculum
How the program
is structured
Year 1 · Foundations
Advanced Organizational Theory · Research Design · Quantitative Methods I
Year 2 · Methods
Qualitative Methods · Quantitative Methods II · Strategic Leadership Seminar
Year 3 · Dissertation
Proposal Defense · Data Collection and Analysis · Dissertation Defense
Throughout
Faculty supervision and doctoral colloquia
Course sequence is indicative. Your admissions counselor will confirm the current plan of study.
Career fields
Where this
takes you
Executive leadership
C-suite and board-level roles.
University teaching
Faculty positions in business schools.
Senior consulting
Practice built on research credibility.
Applied research
Corporate and institutional research leadership.
Policy advisory
Industry and government advisory work.
Thought leadership
Publishing and speaking in your field.
Requirements
What you need
to apply
Master's degree
The DBA is a doctoral program. An official transcript showing completed graduate study is required — a bachelor's degree alone does not meet the entry requirement.
Government ID
Cédula or valid passport.
Statement of research interest
The industry problem you intend to investigate.
Professional experience
Senior practitioner experience is expected. Your advisor will review your case.
Process
Four steps
1
Let's talk
A counselor confirms this is the right program for your goals.
2
Complete your file
We guide you document by document. You never do it alone.
3
Get admitted
We review scholarship and financing options together.
4
Start classes
Registration, orientation and your first day as a Keiser student.
Who teaches you
Program faculty
Faculty
109 instructors
Our faculty combines international graduate training with active professional experience in Nicaragua.
Meet the faculty
Small classes
14:1
A 14:1 student-faculty ratio across the university. Class sizes vary by program, but you are taught in a group small enough to be known by name.
Our modelRelated programs
Master's Degree
Master in Business Administration (MBA)
Intensive graduate business education for working professionals — Saturdays in Managua.
View program
Master's Degree
MBA Online
The same SACSCOC-accredited MBA, fully online and fully asynchronous.
View program
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Business Certificate in Management and Leadership
Advanced technical competencies plus the soft skills managers actually need.
View programYour next step
Ready to start?
Talk to an admissions counselor about Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). No commitment, no cost.