Program Details
The Penn State Smeal Executive DBA is a 3-year, hybrid doctoral program designed for senior executives who are driven to expand the boundaries of their knowledge. The program attracts intellectually curious leaders eager to explore new ideas, deepen their expertise, and produce meaningful research that shapes practice and advances their field.
Graduates emerge equipped to lead with analytical precision, drive strategic transformation, and position themselves as thought leaders in their industries. Whether aiming to elevate organizational impact, pivot to academic or advisory roles, or fulfill a personal ambition for scholarly achievement, students gain the tools and credibility to operate at the highest levels of influence.
Program Structure
With working executives in mind, the Smeal DBA combines remote instruction with the depth of in-person connection. In-person residencies during the first and second years of the program take place at Penn State’s University Park campus, typically from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. Between residencies, live remote classes are held approximately every other week on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.
Classes are delivered remotely in a live, synchronous format from Smeal’s state-of-the-art teaching studios, creating an engaging and interactive classroom environment. The studios are equipped with advanced collaboration tools, including wall-sized tablets for live content sharing and dynamic markup, real-time polls, and breakout sessions—allowing faculty and students to share, discuss and apply ideas seamlessly.
Every student has a front row seat in the learning studio. Switch between presentation, shared content, instructor, and classmate views.
Professional audio and video equipment ensures every student can see and hear everything.
Within the learning studios, instructors can view the whole class at once – just like an in-person classroom.
Dynamic wall-sized tablets seamlessly transition between diagramming concepts and sharing key resources for discussion.
Class Calendars
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
- Penn State Smeal Executive DBA Class of 2029 Calendar PDF
Note: Calendar dates are subject to change.
| 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 |
Interested in learning more about the Smeal Executive DBA? Subscribe to receive program updates and insights straight to your inbox.
