Program Structure
The Penn State Smeal Executive DBA is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format to accommodate working business leaders across the globe. Approximately 25 percent of the program instruction occurs on Penn State’s University Park campus located in State College, Pennsylvania. The remaining instruction is delivered on alternating weekends remotely with the full cohort during designated times.
Years 1 & 2
- Complete core courses and your chosen elective
- Attend 4-5 days of in-person instruction at Penn State’s University Park campus at the start of each semester.
Year 3
- Complete the program's culminating capstone experience by working remotely with faculty advisers on a personalized research project or dissertation
All students are required to attend the campus-based portions of the program and will go through all the courses in the program together with the exception of the elective courses.
Class Calendars
As a hybrid program, the Executive DBA program schedule is designed with working senior executives in mind. Residencies during the first and second year of the program will take place on Penn State's University Park campus typically from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. The remaining classes will take place roughly every other week on Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. These classes will be delivered in a live remote fashion. Note: Calendar dates are subject to change.
Download the Calendar
- Penn State Smeal Executive DBA Class of 2026 Calendar PDF
- Penn State Smeal Executive DBA Class of 2027 Calendar PDF
- Penn State Smeal Executive DBA Class of 2028 Calendar PDF
Class | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 |
---|---|---|---|
Residency (in-person) | Aug 17-21 | Jan 9-12 | May 15-18 |
Class 1 | Sep 6-7 | Jan 24-25 | May 30-31 |
Class 2 | Sep 20-21 | Feb 7-8 | June 6-7 |
Class 3 | Oct 4-5 | Feb 21-22 | June 13-14 |
Class 4 | Oct 18-19 | Feb 28 - Mar 1 | June 27-28 |
Class 5 | Nov 1-2 | Mar 28-29 | July 11-12 |
Class 6 | Nov 15-16 | Apr 11-12 | July 25-26 |
Class 7 | Dec 6-7 | Apr 25-26 | Aug 8-9 |
Class | Fall 2025 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 |
---|---|---|---|
Residency (in-person) | Aug 16-20 | Jan 7-11 | May 14-17 |
Class 1 | Sep 5-6 | Jan 23-24 | May 29-30 |
Class 2 | Sep 19-20 | Feb 6-7 | June 5-6 |
Class 3 | Oct 3-4 | Feb 20-21 | June 12-13 |
Class 4 | Oct 17-18 | Feb 27-28 | June 26-27 |
Class 5 | Oct 31 - Nov 1 | Mar 27-28 | July 10-11 |
Class 6 | Nov 14-15 | Apr 10-11 | July 24-25 |
Class 7 | Dec 5-6 | Apr 24-25 | Aug 7-8 |
Class | Fall 2026 | Spring 2027 | Summer 2027 |
---|---|---|---|
Residency (in-person) | Aug 15-19 | Jan 7-10 | May 13-16 |
Class 1 | Aug 28-29 | Jan 22-23 | May 21-22 |
Class 2 | Sep 18-19 | Feb 5-6 | June 4-5 |
Class 3 | Oct 2-3 | Feb 19-20 | June 11-12 |
Class 4 | Oct 16-17 | Mar 5-6 | June 25-26 |
Class 5 | Oct 30-31 | Mar 26-27 | July 9-10 |
Class 6 | Nov 13-14 | Apr 9-10 | July 23-24 |
Class 7 | Dec 4-5 | Apr 23-24 | Aug 6-7 |