The program will guide students through the various parts of the DBA program. As students progress through the program, the first step is to submit a research proposal, which students will present to the Dissertation Committee. The committee will give the approval to proceed or give necessary feedback in order to make appropriate adjustments. Students will be cooperating with an academic mentor who will supervise, provide guidance, and help with the process. Every six months, students will have an in-depth online meeting with their academic mentor. The dissertation is an essential aspect of the DBA program, and every candidate for the DBA program must prepare and submit a dissertation. It is a formal written document that represents sustained research or the investigation in an important intellectual issue. The dissertation must be an independent effort, which contributes to the field in which it is written. All dissertations must meet rigorous academic standards and be professionally prepared in a format suitable for reproduction and written in English. The standard format and style reference guide for all academic writing for Aston American University is the APA Formatting 6th Edition. This handbook should be consulted to determine the format, style, reference citation criteria, and standard conventions for writing all reports, papers, theses, and dissertations.
