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Management of Engineering and Technology
This specialization is designed to offer you the opportunity to advance your skills and knowledge related to how technology is used to manage data and lead organizational operations. You will explore the synergism between technology and business practices to improve organizational outcomes, and gain a better understanding of how different business practices and technology align. You will also learn to conduct in-depth analysis of principles of productivity, quality management, productivity using technology and environmental systems management, and examine concepts in systems control, business planning, forecasting and personnel management.
General Degree Requirements
Admission to a doctoral program at NCU requires a master's degree from an accredited institution.
The PhD program may be completed in 60 credits. Up to an additional 15 credit hours will be allowed as needed to complete dissertation research. The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of "B" or better.
Completion Period for Doctoral Degrees
Northcentral University allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less. Normal time to complete varies depending upon course take rate and credits transferred.
Foundational Competencies for DBA Programs
- Graduate-Level Research Methods Competency - PhD students are required to complete BTM8102, BTM8103, BTM8104, BTM8106, BTM8107, BTM8108 and BTM8109 at Northcentral.
- Graduate-Level Statistics Competency - PhD students are required to complete BTM8107 Statistics II at Northcentral.
- Computer Competency - Doctoral students are required to have computer skills necessary for completing a dissertation. Students must be able to prepare documents using advanced word processing skills (e.g., creation of tables and figures, headers and footers, page breaks, tables of contents, hanging indents). Students must use computer programs for the statistical analysis of data (e.g., SAS). Students must produce a computer-based presentation (e.g., PowerPoint) for their dissertation oral defense.
Course Length
All new students enrolling in the Business PhD program are automatically enrolled in courses that are eight weeks in length. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
Specialization Course 1 | ||
BTM8102, BTM8102-8 | Business Research Methodology | This Doctoral level course provides students with an overview of the research process, and an opportunity to learn about business research methodology and the components of a dissertation. The course will also provide the student with the opportunity to identify and develop a research topic, define a research problem, describe the purpose of the research study, and establish associated research question(s). The student will prepare a Topic Paper and a preliminary annotated bibliography for the dissertation topic in the Signature Assignment. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
BTM8103, BTM8103-8 | Research Design | In this course, the Student acquires the basic skills necessary for the interpretation and application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. The student will examine the formal research process carefully, with an emphasis on practical applications and skill development. Critical concepts and principles intrinsic to research paradigms, study designs, and methods of inquiry are presented to empower the student's ability to formulate and respond to research questions. The resources listed below from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center are critical resources throughout the whole research process students are highly encouraged to become deeply familiar with the resources from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
BTM8108, BTM8108-8 | Qualitative Research Design | This course is an examination of qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, mixed methods, and case studies. |
Specialization Course 4 | ||
BTM8107, BTM8107-8 | Statistics II | Doctoral Students in this advanced course will address statistical techniques that may be useful for analyzing quantitative data in a dissertation. Topics include Multivariate Analysis, Multiple Regression Analysis, Log-Linear Analysis, Logistic Analysis, Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Models (Two Stage Least Squares) and Time Series Analysis. Students will use SPSS and/or SAS to conduct statistical analysis. Assessment will be through a series of problems designed to demonstrate competence in techniques and a number of advanced data analysis projects. |
Specialization Course 5 | ||
BTM8106, BTM8106-8 | Quantitative Research Design | Prerequisites: BTM8102, BTM8104 |
BTM8109, BTM8109-8 | Planning Dissertation Research in Business | Students in this course will begin the process of writing a dissertation for a research or professional doctorate. The course will address the University dissertation process and aids to successfully complete a dissertation, including self-care and time management. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
BTM7101, BTM7101-8 | Foundations for Doctoral Study in Business | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a doctoral degree in Business. Doctoral level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
MGT7019, MGT7019-8 | Ethics in Business | No longer are ethics and social responsibility, including the green movement, something organizations can ignore or do "if they have funding left over at the end of the year. Ethics are required by local, state and federal legislation and today, more than ever, stakeholders at organizations are being held accountable for their actions and societal harm. Doctoral students in this course, through a series of essays and papers, will learn about current laws and their application to business; and how to maintain an ethical perspective within the context of a global framework. |
SKS7000, SKS7000-8 | Doctoral Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies | Students will analyze and apply knowledge in 12 business areas necessary to address a wide variety of business-related situations. The focus of the course is demonstrating core proficiencies in the following business areas: Marketing, Business Finance, Accounting, Management, Legal Environment of Business, Economics, Business Ethics, Global Dimensions of Business, Information Systems, Quantitative Techniques and Statistics, Leadership, and Business Applications. The intent is not to introduce these core business concepts, but rather to verify a graduate-level threshold competency within each. The course includes a comprehensive case study that will allow students to demonstrate their competency within all 12 professional component areas. |
BTM8104, BTM8104-8 | Statistics I | This course provides an introductory exploration of statistics for the doctoral student. It includes instruction on the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics, and introduces inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts to help the Student understand statistical methodology used in education, and also more generally, developing a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
MET7000-8 | Fundamentals of Productivity | To achieve a competitive advantage, organizations attempt to increase productivity, responsiveness, and adaptability. Problems and challenges accompany efforts directed towards achieving the highest level of productivity and efficiency. In this doctoral-level course, students will examine the productivity considerations of todays organizations including a fluctuating economy, technological advancement, variable work volumes, and increased globalization. |
MET7002-8 | Applications of Systems Theory | There is little doubt that the 21st century will bring unheralded change to the business world. A system must exhibit certain principles of interrelationships, such as wholeness or hierarchic order, to ensure the collective behaviors result in an efficient final system product. System thinking integrates the individual, team, and various departments into activities associated with organizations, environment, and strategy. The result is a more accurate representation of the organization and its environment. Situational contingencies and context influence the individuals level of actions within the organization and the organizations context influences the individuals actions. This course, designed for Doctoral students, examines the application of systems theory, which focuses on complexity and interdependence. |
MET7003-8 | Applications of Decision Theory | During the business day, supervisors, leaders, those on the manufacturing line, those drafting blueprints, and everyone else in the business environment are faced with making a decision. Some decisions are common and are made easily while other decisions are political, complex or require vast amounts of data to make the final decision. To make a correct a decision the person needs to follow a methodology to ensure the proper facts are considered and hidden traps of decision-making are avoided. |
MET7006-8 | Operations Research | This doctoral course examines the management of operational sequences defined as the management of transformation systems that convert inputs into goods and services. Operational management activities are at the core of all business organizations. Operations management is concerned with the creation of goods and services, which embodies the collection of design knowledge, planning, operation executing, forecasting, assuring quality, scheduling, motivating employees, and the control of systems that convert inputs to outputs. |
MET7015-8 | The Impact and Process Optimization of Technology | Organizational learning occurs through experiences that improve the organizations performance. Leaders improve performance through the improvement of processes. Business technology infusion is comparable to process improvement areas such as strategic planning, decision-making, measurement, and analysis. Process improvement is not possible unless the management of the organization understands the current technology and determines the technology direction. This factor is important before any organizational assessment, diagnosis, or improvement consideration is possible. Once established, the organization can begin the evaluation of its processes against external impacts. This course, designed for doctoral students, examines how people skills, processes, and machines act as current technology tools. Enhancements to these skills, processes, and machines cause technology adjustments. Technology enhancements, such as a change, cause core technology adjustments. As core technology changes, organizational technology improves its level of capability becoming an organizational optimization. |
MET7020-8 | Strategic Technology Management | The primary question for a strategic manager of innovation and technology is where to look for opportunities. Since business accepts change as a constant and is likely accepting change at a more rapid rate in the 21st century, one potential opportunity area is customer expectations and demands for the organization’s products while looking for the disruptions in the product development process. The product development process is a cycle where innovation leads to productivity, productivity leads to intensified competition, and intensified competition leads to innovation. This Doctoral level course examines how technology is the identification, description, and explanation of needs resolved for business and industry applications. It is important to realize is that technology evolves from implementation modifications due to customer feedback. This evolution is a trajectory of needs. |
MET7029-8 | Enterprise Project Management | A strategic plan is an intended course of action created prior to executing said course of action. Leaders establish direction; however, followers encounter potential issues in interpreting the intentions. Project leaders manage by information, by working through people, and by action. Effective communication is critical to the success of leaders of information. Leaders who manage through empowered personnel are usually successful as well. Leaders who manage through action are directly involved in decision making and implementation of strategic plans. This Doctoral level course examines the three strategies of project management. A collaborative and iterative approach must be maintained by leadership throughout the organization to successfully execute the plan. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
CMP9500B | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination - Business (PhD) | In their pursuit of any doctoral degree (PhD, DBA, or EdD) at Northcentral University, students gain expertise in their academic discipline and in one or more specializations that complement their academic discipline. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is intended to assure that students have mastered knowledge of their discipline before candidacy status is achieved and research in support of their dissertation is initiated. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is taken following the completion of all content and Research courses. This course is graded using Satisfactory (S), In Progress (IP), and Unsatisfactory (U) grading criteria. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be successfully completed with an (S) grade prior to beginning any Dissertation Research course. The exam is twelve weeks. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
DIS9501B | Doctoral Dissertation Research I | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9502B | Doctoral Dissertation Research II | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9503B | Doctoral Dissertation Research III | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9504B | Doctoral Dissertation Research IV | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your PhD in Business Administration program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s PhD in Business Administration costs below:
- Per credit cost: $857
- Per 3 credit course cost: $2,570
- Program cost: $51,400
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
