Data Analytics Degree - Qualitative
Earn Your Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) With an Emphasis in Data Analytics from GCU
Grand Canyon University’s online DBA with an Emphasis in Data Analytics program prepares graduates to create and manage the deployment of data analytics in a variety of industries with the intent to secure competitive advantages. In this program, students will conceptualize enterprise data analytics, apply analytic techniques and software to interpret data, evaluate methods of data and analytic modeling and apply analytics to support data-driven business decision making. By the end of this program students will be able to employ qualitative methodology to design, collect and analyze information in alignment with conducting a scholarly dissertation.
Skills You Develop With a DBA With an Emphasis in Data Analytics
Students enrolled in GCU’s qualitative DBA with an Emphasis in Data Analytics spend their time examining events to better understand an observed phenomenon, whereas students enrolled in GCU’s quantitative DBA spend their time interpreting numeric data through the use of statistical tools. Both of these programs require students to explain their findings in a written dissertation
In GCU’s online DBA with an Emphasis in Data Analytics, students will research the emerging use of business analytics in organizations, explore the alignment of sampling, data collection and data analysis methods to research topics, questions and designs, differentiate the epistemological foundations and analyze the data trustworthiness, research ethics and potential for bias in descriptive case studies and phenomenology research designs, interact with a multi-year integrated business case to experience the complex interactions associated with exploiting enterprise data for competitive advantages and more.
- Analytics foundations of business leaders
- Economics for business decisions
- Emerging issues in financial management
- Enterprise data complexity
- Qualitative data collection and management
- The literature landscape: business
- Using business analytics for competitive advantage
In addition to passing these courses, students must participate in two or three five-day residencies on GCU’s campus. These residencies are conducted to provide students with networking and mentorship opportunities.
Job Outlook for DBA With an Emphasis in Data Analytics
Earning your online DBA with an Emphasis in Data Analytics helps you set yourself apart from the competition and prepares you for a leadership role in your field. Graduates with a DBA with an Emphasis in Data Analytics go on to work in a variety of industries and fill positions including:
- Business intelligence director
- Business intelligence solutions architect
- Chief data officer
- Chief executive officer
- Data engineer
- Data scientist
- Professor
- Strategic innovation manager
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.
Course Description
This course explores the theories and frameworks that drive financial decision making in organizations today. Students focus on issues facing administrators in the changing business environment.
Course Description
Students will research the emerging use of business analytics in organizations. Through exploration of the available tools and models, this course will explore how analytics can be used for competitive advantage
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.
Course Description
This course addresses the foundations of data mining. The course provides tools and techniques to determine whether data is appropriate for analysis. Learners will interact with a multi-year integrated business case as a means of exploring applications of analytics.
Course Description
This course addresses predictive modeling techniques that leverage enterprise data to create competitive advantage. Methods of creating and communicating predictive modeling solutions are also discussed.
Course Description
This course provides the student with the skills and competencies needed to be able to apply microeconomic principles to the solution of business problems. Specifically, the course examines the four market structures focusing on competition and utilizes microeconomic theory to provide solutions to business problems.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of GCU qualitative core research designs including descriptive, case study, and phenomenology. The nature of epistemological foundations and the structure of problem statements, purpose statements, research questions, data sources, collection and analysis approaches are discussed in the context of each design.
Course Description
In this course, learners differentiate the epistemological foundations and explore the data trustworthiness, research ethics, and potential for bias in descriptive, case study, and phenomenology research designs. The process of building a rationale for design choice and aligning the research questions, interview questions, problem statement, and purpose statement is addressed. Sources of qualitative data are introduced for each design, and ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-841.
Course Description
This course examines organizational sustainability through the lenses of competitive advantage and innovation. It addresses the leadership skills and capabilities required to foster, lead, and sustain innovation in organizations, and it explores how these ideas can be applied to create competitive advantage leading to a sustainable organization.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the qualitative dissertation. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
Business is routinely using enterprise data to create competitive advantage. This course addresses the complexity of implementing enterprise data solutions and the related infrastructure considerations. In this course, learners will interact with a multi-year integrated business case to experience the complex interactions associated with exploiting enterprise data for competitive advantage.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871 or RES-885 or RSD-883 or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore qualitative data collection techniques and sources of qualitative data in the context of answering the research questions posed by a study. Consideration is given to the recognition of data saturation and the management of data. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs to prepare a written statement of data collection, and management activities. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DBA-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of qualitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisite: RES-873.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DBA-960.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.