dba doctoral study template

8/10/2019 DBA Doctoral Study Template

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Abstract

[Doctoral Study Title]

by

[your official name]

MS, [university], 200X

BS, [university], 200X

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial ulfillment

of t!e "e#uirements for t!e De$ree of

Doctor of Business Administration

%alden &niversity

[last mont! of #uarter you 'lan to $raduate] 200X


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Abstract

(nsert abstract !ere) it s!ould be no more t!an one 'a$e* Abstract te+t must be double

s'aced -it! no 'ara$ra'! brea.s* Describe t!e overall researc! 'roblem bein$ addressed

in t!e first cou'le of sentences and indicate -!y it is im'ortant /e*$*, -!o -ould care if

t!e 'roblem is solved* 1ou can include a $eneral introduction of t!e issue in t!e first

sentence, but you need to move to a clear statement of t!e researc! 'roblem bein$

addressed* (dentify t!e 'ur'ose and t!eoretical foundations, if a''ro'riate, summarie t!e

.ey researc! #uestion/s, and briefly describe t!e overall researc! desi$n, met!ods and

data analytic 'rocedures* (dentify t!e .ey results, 3 or 2 conclusions, and

recommendations t!at ca'ture t!e !eart of t!e researc!* 4onclude -it! a statement on t!e

im'lications for 'ositive social c!an$e* 5ere are some form and style ti's6 /a 7imit t!e

abstract to one ty'ed 'a$e) /b maintain t!e sc!olarly lan$ua$e used t!rou$!out t!e

doctoral study) /c .ee' t!e abstract concise, accurate, and readable) /d use correct

8n$lis!) /e ensure eac! sentence adds value to t!e reader9s understandin$ of t!e

researc!) and /f use t!e full name of any acronym and include t!e acronym in

'arent!eses* Do not include references or citations in t!e abstract* Per APA style, unless

at t!e start of a sentence, use numerals in t!e abstract*


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[Doctoral Study Title]

by

[your official name]

MS, [university], 200X

BS, [university], 200X

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial ulfillment

of t!e "e#uirements for t!e De$ree of

Doctor of Business Administration

%alden &niversity

[last mont! of #uarter you 'lan to $raduate] 200X


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Dedication

T!is is an o'tional 'a$e for a dedication* (f you include a dedication, use re$ular

'ara$ra'! s'acin$ as s!o-n !ere /not centered, italicied, or ot!er-ise formatted* T!e

ac.no-led$ments s!ould not e+ceed one 'a$e*


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Ac.no-led$ments

T!is is an o'tional 'a$e for ac.no-led$ments* (t is a nice 'lace to t!an. t!e

faculty, family members, and friends -!o !ave !el'ed you reac! t!is 'oint in your

academic career* T!e ac.no-led$ments s!ould not e+ceed one 'a$e*

:o 'a$e number a''ears on any of t!e 'a$es u' to t!is 'oint* (f you do not -is!

to include t!is 'a$e, delete t!e !eadin$ and t!e body te+t*


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Table of 4ontents

7ist of Tables***********************************************************************************************************************

7ist of i$ures**********************************************************************************************************************

Section 36 oundation of t!e Study**************************************************************************************

Bac.$round of t!e Problem*******************************************************************************************

Problem Statement*********************************************************************************************************

Pur'ose Statement**********************************************************************************************************

:ature of t!e Study********************************************************************************************************

"esearc! ;uestion*********************************************************************************************************

5y'ot!eses*********************************************************************************************************************

(ntervie-


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Section 26 T!e Pro=ect**********************************************************************************************************

Pur'ose Statement**********************************************************************************************************

"ole of t!e "esearc!er***************************************************************************************************

Partici'ants*********************************************************************************************************************

"esearc! Met!od and Desi$n****************************************************************************************

Met!od*********************************************************************************************************************

"esearc! Desi$n******************************************************************************************************

Po'ulation and Sam'lin$***********************************************************************************************

8t!ical "esearc!***********************************************************************************************************

Data 4ollection************************************************************************************************************

(nstruments************************************************************************************************************

Data 4ollection Tec!ni#ue*************************************************************************************

Data >r$aniation Tec!ni#ues*******************************************************************************

Data Analysis Tec!ni#ue**********************************************************************************************

"eliability and ?alidity************************************************************************************************

"eliability**************************************************************************************************************

?alidity*******************************************************************************************************************

Transition and Summary**********************************************************************************************

Section @6 A''lication to Professional Practice and (m'lications for 4!an$e******************

>vervie- of Study*******************************************************************************************************

Presentation of t!e indin$s*****************************************************************************************

A''lications to Professional Practice**************************************************************************

ii


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(m'lications for Social 4!an$e************************************************************************************

"ecommendations for Action**************************************************************************************

"ecommendations for urt!er Study***************************************************************************

"eflections*******************************************************************************************************************

Summary and Study 4onclusions********************************************************************************

"eferences**************************************************************************************************************************

A''endi+ A6 Title of A''endi+******************************************************************************************

4urriculum ?itae****************************************************************************************************************

T!is Table of 4ontents /T>4 !as all t!e !eadin$s from t!e tem'late included* To

u'date your T>4, ri$!t clic. any-!ere in t!e Table of 4ontents, select &'date ield, t!en

select &'date entire table or &'date 'a$e numbers only, and clic. >*

iii


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7ist of Tables

Table 3* A Sam'le Table S!o-in$ 4orrect ormattin$*******************************************************

%!en you u'date t!e 7ist of Tables, t!e table number and title -ill come in

-it!out a 'eriod bet-een t!em) you -ill need to manually add t!at 'eriod after all table

numbers, as s!o-n for Table 3* (n addition, t!e title -ill retain t!e italics from t!e

narrative -!en t!e 7ist of Tables is u'dated* >nce your list is finalied, select t!e entire

list, and c!an$e it to 'lain ty'e*

:ote t!at tables are numbered in se#uence be$innin$ -it! 3* Do not number

tables accordin$ to t!e section in -!ic! t!ey a''ear /Table C3, 2, etc* Table numbers

are follo-ed by a 'eriod, not a colon or a das!* T!is a''lies to fi$ure numbers in t!e list

of fi$ures as -ell*

iv


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7ist of i$ures

i$ure 3* i$ure ca'tion, sentence case*****************************************************************************++

T!e 7ist of i$ures is not set u' to automatically u'date* (f you !ave fi$ures in

your document, ty'e t!em in manually !ere, follo-in$ t!e e+am'le above*

Alternately, follo- t!e instructions in t!e (nstructions for &sin$ t!e %alden DBA

Tem'late, -!ic! -ill allo- automatic u'datin$ of t!e 7ist of i$ures*

v
http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/733.htmhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/733.htmhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/733.htmhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/733.htm


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3

Section 36 oundation of t!e Study

Te+t be$ins !ere* Provide an overvie- of t!e conte+t or bac.$round of t!e

'roblem* DBA Doctoral Studies are focused on a''lied business researc!

Background of the Problem

Te+t be$ins !ere* Provide an overvie- of t!e conte+t or bac.$round of t!e

'roblem* DBA Doctoral Studies are focused on a''lied researc! in contrast to basic

researc! in P!D Dissertations*

T!is section !as a clear statement demonstratin$ t!at t!e focus of t!e study is on a

si$nificant a''lied business problemt!at is -ort!y of study* T!ere is a brief, -ell

articulated summary of researc! literature t!at substantiates t!e conte+t of t!e study by

indicatin$ a $a' in effective business 'ractice and 'otential solutions visEvis t!e

literature*

Problem Statement

Te+t be$ins !ere* Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e 'roblem statement describes t!e overall

researc! 'roblem bein$ addressed and indicates -!y it is im'ortant to t!e 'ractice of

mana$ement /e*$*, -!o -ould care if t!e 'roblem -ere studiedF (t is !el'ful to state t!e

$eneral 'roblem first and t!en state t!e s'ecific 'roblem considered* >ne a''roac! is

state a 'roblem as a $a' bet-een t!e current state of a situation and t!e desired state of

t!e situation* 8it!er t!e current state or desired state may be im'lied and t!us not

e+'licitly included in t!e 'roblem statement*

T!e 'roblem statement concisely states -!at -ill be studied by describin$ at least

t-o variables and a con=ectured relations!i' bet-een t!em in #uantitative studies* T!e


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2

'roblem statement describes t!e need for increased understandin$ about t!e issue to be

e+'lored in #ualitative studies*

Problem statements s!ould be concise6 30 to 20 -ords*

G General business problemt!at e+ists in business*

T-o citations are re#uired from t!e literature to establis! a 'roblem e+ists*

8+am'le6

Hones /2030 stated t!at em'loyee turnover in t!e !ealt! care industry avera$es

CIJ across t!e nation* Accordin$ to Smit! /2030, em'loyee turnover contributes to loss

of bot! revenue and customers* T!e numbers and citations anc!or t!e e+istence of t!e

'roblem*

G Your specific issue/problem t!at you -ill address*

8+am'le6

8m'loyee turnover in Denver, 4olorado is IIJ, or em'loyee turnover in

5ouston, Te+as is 32J*

T!e focus of t!is study is to e+'lore or e+amine +++++++

Purpose Statement

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e Pur'ose Statement of t!e study clearly describes t!e

intent


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@

G "esearc! met!od is identified as #ualitative, #uantitative, or mi+ed*

G "esearc! desi$n is clearly stated*

G "esearc! variables /if a #uantitative or mi+ed met!od are briefly identified6

inde'endent, de'endent /e+'erimental study, or a correlation /relations!i's,

com'arison*

G S'ecific 'o'ulation $rou' of study is identified and =ustified*

G Keo$ra'!ic location of study is identified*

G 4ontribution to social c!an$e is described*

Nature of the Study

Te+t be$ins !ere* Provide a brief discussion on t!e researc! met!od and desi$n*

State -!y one met!od /#ualitative, #uantitative, or mi+ed met!ods -as selected and -!y

it -as selected over t!e ot!er met!ods* State -!y one desi$n /-it!in t!e met!od -as

selected and -!y it -as selected over ot!er desi$ns* :ote6 (t is not sufficient to state -!at

met!od and desi$n -ere c!osen but -!y t!ey -ould be better t!an ot!er

met!ods


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C

Hypotheses

Te+t be$ins !ere* Smit! /200 'rovided an e+cellent discussion on t!e researc!

#uestions and !y'ot!eses statements as -ell as some scri'ts t!at may be useful in

constructin$ t!ese statements*

7ist !y'ot!esis

!y'ot!eses are re#uired for #uantitative or mi+ed met!ods studies only*

nter!ie"/Sur!ey Questions

8ac! intervie-


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follo- it -it! a colon* All definitions s!ould be sourced from 'rofessional


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I

' Re!ie" of the Professional and 'cademic )iterature

Te+t be$ins !ere* Ten .ey elements are re#uired in t!is subsection* /a An

introduction containin$ a discussion of t!e content of t!e literature, t!e or$aniation of

t!e revie-, and t!e strate$y for searc!in$ t!e literature* /b T!e revie- of related researc!

and literature is clearly related to t!e a''lied 'roblem statement as e+'ressed in researc!

#uestions or !y'ot!eses* /c T!e revie- of related researc! and literature com'ares and

contrasts different 'oints of vie- and t!e relations!i' of t!e study to 'revious researc!

and findin$s* /d 4oncise summaries of t!e literature define t!e most im'ortant as'ects of

t!e t!eory for understandin$ im'roved business 'ractice and -!ic! -ill be e+amined or

tested for #uantitative studies or substantiate t!e rationale or t!eoretical frame-or.for

t!e study t!at -ill 'rovide t!e conte+t for understandin$ and e+'lainin$ t!e elements for

im'roved business 'ractice /for #ualitative studies* /e T!ere is literaturebased

descri'tion of t!e researc! variables /#uantitative studies, or 'otential t!emes and

'erce'tions to be e+'lored /#ualitative studies, /f T!e content of t!e revie- is dra-n

from acce'table 'eerrevie-ed =ournals or sound academic =ournals or t!ere is a

=ustification for usin$ ot!er sources*

Avera$e len$t! of a literature revie- is 300 'eerrevie-ed references -it! L0 to

LJ bein$ 'ublis!ed -it!in t!e last @ to years* /$ 7iterature related to t!e researc!

desi$n and met!od/s is revie-ed* /! 7iterature related to t!e use of differin$

met!odolo$ies to investi$ate t!e outcomes of interest is revie-ed* /i T!e met!ods revie-

is an inte$rated, critical essay on t!e most relevant and current 'ublis!ed .no-led$e on

t!e to'ic* T!e revie- is or$anied around ma=or ideas or t!emes t!at -ill inform t!e


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N

researc! 'ro=ect* /= T!e 'reliminary researc! desi$n is 'resented and a detailed ar$ument

as to -!y and !o- t!e researc! desi$n is a''ro'riate to t!e business 'roblem


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L

Section 26 T!e Pro=ect

Te+t be$ins !ere* Provide a one or t-o 'ara$ra'! introduction to Section 2* T!is

introduction s!ould 'rovide a clear outline of t!e Section*

Purpose Statement

Te+t be$ins !ere* Be$in Section 2 by remindin$ readers of t!e 'ur'ose of t!e

study* Do your best not to co'y and 'aste -ord for -ord from Section 3) instead, vary

your lan$ua$e sli$!tly to .ee' your reader en$a$ed but ensure facts are accurate*

Role of the Researcher

Describe t!e role of t!e researc!er in t!e data collection 'rocess in t!is

subsection*

Participants

Te+t be$ins !ere* Discuss 'rocedures for $ainin$ access to 'artici'ants,

establis!in$ a -or.in$ relations!i' -it! 'artici'ants, and measures to be ta.en to assure

t!at t!e et!ical 'rotection of 'artici'ants is ade#uate* :ote6 if 'artici'ants are not used in

t!e study, =ust note :


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s!ould be a si$nificant e+'ansion of t!e discussion on t!e :ature of t!e Study in Section

3*

*ethod

Te+t be$ins !ere* (dentify and =ustify t!e use of a s'ecific researc! met!od,

indicate -!et!er t!e researc! 'ro=ect uses #uantitative, #ualitative, or mi+ed met!ods

/!ybrid, -!y it -as selected, and -!y ot!er met!ods -ere not selected* 8+'and on t!e

discussion in Section 3*

Research &esign

Te+t be$ins !ere* (dentify and =ustify t!e use of a s'ecific researc! desi$n -it!in a

researc! met!od* Discuss -!y it -as selected, and -!y ot!er met!ods -ere not selected*

inally discuss -!y t!is desi$n is a''ro'riate to t!e 'roblem bein$ studied* 8+'and on

t!e discussion in Section 3*

Population and Sampling

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!is section /a describes t!e 'o'ulation from -!ic! t!e sam'le

-ill be dra-n) /b describes and defends t!e sam'lin$ met!od includin$ t!e sam'lin$

frame used, usin$ a''ro'riate met!odolo$y references and conce'ts) /c describes and

defends t!e sam'le sie usin$ a''ro'riate met!odolo$y references and conce'ts) /d

describes t!e eli$ibility criteria for study 'artici'ants) and /e describes and e+'lains t!e

relevance of c!aracteristics of t!e selected sam'le*

4riteria for selectin$ 'artici'ants are s'ecified and are a''ro'riate to t!e study*

T!ere is a =ustification for t!e number of 'artici'ants /in accordance -it! t!e #ualitative

desi$n


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'artici'ants used in t!e study, t!e dee'er t!e in#uiry 'er individual* (f a''ro'riate, t!e

rationale for s'ecific ty'es of sub=ects


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to com'lete instruments by 'artici'ants, and -!ere ra- data are or -ill be available

/a''endices, tables, or by re#uest from t!e researc!er* /b (ncludes a detailed descri'tion

of data t!at com'rise eac! variable in t!e study* /c Addresses a''ro'riate 'syc!ometric

'ro'erties of t!e scale used* /d Discusses strate$ies used to address t!reats to validity,

testretest reliability, internal consistency, amon$ ot!ers* /e inally discuss any

ad=ustments or revisions to t!e use of standardied researc! instruments t!at -ere made*

:ote6 (f you develo' your o-n instrument, it must be 'iloted and validated* Some

surveys may be 'urc!ased from!tt'6


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&ata 'nalysis #echni-ue

Te+t be$ins !ere* Data analysis lo$ically and se#uentially address all researc!

#uestions or !y'ot!eses, -!ere a''ro'riate, outcomes of !y'ot!esistestin$ 'rocedures

are clearly re'orted /e*$*, findin$s su''ort or fail to su''ort, and do not contain any

evident statistical errors* Describe !o- data -ill be analyed suc! as usin$ soft-are tools

suc! as :?ivo, SPSS, 8+cel, and so on* Describe in detail any data codin$ used* inally,

overall, data analysis /'resentation, inter'retation, e+'lanation is consistent -it! t!e

researc! #uestions or !y'ot!eses and underlyin$ t!eoretical


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3@

Section @6 A''lication to Professional Practice and (m'lications for 4!an$e

Te+t be$ins !ere* Provide a brief one or t-o 'ara$ra'! introduction to Section @

in t!is subsection*

.!er!ie" of Study

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e section be$ins -it! a brief overvie- of -!y and !o- t!e

study addressin$ effective business 'ractice -as done, revie-in$ t!e #uestions or issues

bein$ addressed and a brief summary of t!e findin$s*

Presentation of the %indings

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e 'resentation < inter'retation of findin$s /a includes

conclusions t!at address all of t!e researc! #uestions, /b contains references to outcomes

in Section 2, /c covers all t!e data, /d is bounded by t!e evidence collected, and /e

relates t!e findin$s to a lar$er body of literature on t!e to'ic, includin$ t!e

conce'tual


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3C

mplications for Social $hange

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e (m'lications for Social 4!an$e are clearly $rounded in t!e

si$nificance section of Section 3 and outcomes 'resented in Section 2* T!e im'lications

are e+'ressed in terms of tan$ible im'rovements to individuals, communities,

or$aniations, institutions, cultures, or societies*

Recommendations for 'ction

Te+t be$ins !ere* "ecommendations /a s!ould flo- lo$ically from t!e

conclusions and contain ste's to useful action, /b state -!o needs to 'ay attention to t!e

results, and /c indicate !o- t!e results mi$!t be disseminated*

Recommendations for %urther Study

Te+t be$ins !ere* "ecommendations for urt!er Study, as t!ey relate to eit!er

'ractice or .no-led$e 'oint to to'ics t!at need closer e+amination and may $enerate a

ne- round of #uestions related to im'roved 'ractice in business*

Reflections

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!is section includes a reflection on t!e researc!ers e+'erience

-it! t!e researc! 'rocess in -!ic! t!e researc!er discusses 'ossible 'ersonal biases or

'reconceived ideas and values, t!e 'ossible effects of t!e researc!er on t!e 'artici'ants or

t!e situation, and !er

Summary and Study $onclusions

Te+t be$ins !ere* T!e -or. closes -it! a stron$ concludin$ statement ma.in$ t!e

Qta.e!ome messa$eR clear to t!e reader*


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3

"eferences

(nsert "eferences !ere* 8+am'les of some common ty'es of references follo-) see APA

I*22 and 4!a'ter N for more details*

T!ese sam'le entries are ta$$ed -it! t!e QAPA "eferenceR style ta$, -!ic! means t!e

line s'acin$ and !an$in$ indent are automatic* A''ly t!e QAPA "eferenceR style

ta$ to your entries*

Pay s'ecial attention to italics, ca'italiation, and 'unctuation* T!e style ta$ does not

$overn t!ose as'ects of t!e entry*

Print periodical (journal)

Aut!or, A* A*, Aut!or, B* B*, Aut!or, 4* 4* /3C* Title of article* Title of Periodical,

xx/+, ++++++*

Online periodical (journal)

Aut!or, A* A*, Aut!or, B* B*, Aut!or, 4* 4* /3C* Title of article* Title of Periodical,

xx/+, ++++++* doi6+++++

Nonperiodical (book)

Aut!or, A* A* /3C* Title of work* 4ity of Publication, ST6 Publis!er*

Chapter in a book

Aut!or, A* A*, Aut!or, B* B* /3C* Title of c!a'ter* (n A* 8ditor, B* 8ditor, 4*

8ditor /8ds*, Title of book/''* ++++++* 4ity, ST6 Publis!er*


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3I

T!ePublication anual of the !merican Ps"cholo#ical !ssociation, sixth edition,

4!a'ter N includes numerous e+am'les of reference list entries* or more information on

references or APA style, consult t!e APA -ebsite or t!e %alden%ritin$ 4enter -ebsite$
http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspxhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/353.htmhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/353.htmhttp://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspxhttp://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/353.htm


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3N

A''endi+ A6 Title of A''endi+

(nsert a''endi+ !ere* A''endices are ordered -it! letters rat!er t!an numbers*

T!e a''endices must ad!ere to t!e same mar$in s'ecifications as t!e body of t!e

dissertation* P!otoco'ied or 'reviously 'rinted material may !ave to be s!ifted on t!e

'a$e or reduced in sie to fit -it!in t!e area bounded by t!e mar$ins*

(f t!e only t!in$ in an a''endi+ is a table, t!e table title serves as t!e title of t!e

a''endi+) no label is needed for t!e table itself* (f you !ave te+t in addition to a table or

tables in an a''endi+, label t!e table -it! t!e letter of t!e a''endi+ /e*$*, Table A3, Table

A2, Table B3, and so on* T!ese tables -ould be listed in t!e 7ist of Tables at t!e end of

t!e Table of 4ontents*

(f you include in an a''endi+ any 're'ublis!ed materials t!at are not in t!e 'ublic

domain, you must also include 'ermission to do so*


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3L

4urriculum ?itae

(nclude a co'y of your curriculum vitaeyour academic resume!ere* T!e 4?

may be done in eit!er basic outline form or fullsentence form* T!e 4? must conform to

t!e mar$in s'ecifications, be included in t!e 'a$ination, and be listed in t!e T>4*

Congratulations! This is the end of your doctoral study! In your enthusiasm to be

done, do not forget to delete this text! (This template last updated January 2, 201"

dba doctoral study template

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