WSCUC-accredited · Taiwan MOE roster GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY
GGU doctoral degrees Built for working senior executives
Golden Gate University US Doctoral Admissions Center
A route to an accredited US doctorate designed for senior professionals in full-time work. Completed 100% online, with no need to leave your job or your family; four programs span business administration, generative AI, an MBA dual degree and technology leadership. YUDA Consulting is the Taiwan enrollment partner, providing end-to-end support from choosing a program through application to enrollment.
4 doctoral programs27–36 months to complete100% online study1-on-1 dissertation supervision
1901
Founded in San Francisco
WSCUC
US-accredited · MOE roster
degree programs
Golden Gate University Four doctoral degree programs
Different backgrounds and goals point to different programs. Find the route closest to where you are now — and if you are unsure, a consultation with an advisor will produce a specific recommendation based on your education and career history.
Program 01
Doctor of Business Administration
DBA
The classic doctoral route for senior executives
27 months56 credits10 hours a week100% onlineWSCUC-accredited
Phase 2 · Specialization (choose one of five, three courses each)12 credits
Finance
Known courses: DBA 821 Financial Theory and Applications, DBA 822 International Finance
12
Leadership
Known courses: DBA 881 Leading Complex Change, DBA 882 Strategic Leadership
12
Business Analytics
Known courses: DBA 851 Operational Performance Management, DBA 852 Application of AI in Solving Business Problems
12
Marketing
Known courses: DBA 871 Consumer Behavior, DBA 872 Digital Marketing and New Media
12
General
Choose any three courses across the specializations
12
Phase 3 · Dissertation32 credits
DBA 890
Dissertation Topic Proposal
8
DBA 891
Dissertation Proposal Defense
8
DBA 892
Dissertation Completion and Approval
12–16
Total credits56
Three permitted dissertation formats
Track A | Doctoral Thesis — a traditional academic dissertation of 60,000–80,000 words. Suits those intending to teach or publish in journals
Track B | Practitioner-Focused Book — submitted as a practitioner book. Suits consultants, CXOs and speakers
Track C | Doctoral Business Plan — research plus a working prototype or product. Suits founders and product owners
Entry requirements: a master's degree (or equivalent), or a bachelor's degree plus 5 years' work experience. Supervisors are matched 1-on-1 by research field; more than 200 dissertations are currently in progress, with students from over 48 countries. In-person exchange on the San Francisco campus is optional.
The dissertation must be completed and defended within 7 years of enrollment. The quantitative requirement is BUS 240 Data Analysis for Managers; an equivalent course may be credited.
Program 02Most popular
DBA in Emerging Technologies
Concentration in Generative & Agentic AI
Emerging technology management · specializing in generative and agentic AI
Doctoral Research Methods and AnalysisResearch ethics, qualitative methods, academic writing
4
Course 2
Emerging Digital TechnologiesIoT, HPC, quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, cybersecurity, blockchain, AR/VR, RPA, digital twins
4
Concentration (AI major)20 credits
Course 3
Foundations of Machine Learning and AIDecision modeling, supervised and unsupervised learning, data visualization
4
Course 4
Deep Learning and its VariantsAutoencoders, CNNs, RNNs, Seq2Seq, Transformers
4
Course 5
Generative AI Using Pre-Trained ModelsLLM concepts, image generation, business-driven model selection
4
Course 6
AI Project Design and ExecutionBuilding your own model vs. pre-trained models, hands-on practice
4
Course 7
Responsible AIEthics and explainability, fairness and accountability, the future of work
4
Dissertation28 credits
Course 8
Dissertation Topic ProposalResearch significance, literature review, data and method
8
Course 9
Proposal DefensePresent the first three chapters (introduction, literature review, research design)
8
Course 10
Completion and Approval by Committee
12
Total credits (per the admissions handbook)56
The two official sources give different credit totals; please confirm at consultation The admissions handbook lists 56 credits (foundation 8 + concentration 20 + dissertation 28); the GGU course page adds one further foundation course, DBA 803 Dissertation, Practice-Based Book and Business Plan Development (4 credits), for a total of 60 credits. This is likely a difference between intake versions; requesting the current official course schedule will settle it.
Dissertation cadence
Every course is assessed through project-based assessment
Years 2–3 are the research phase (28 credits), with a dissertation development workshop every two weeks
A 1-on-1 progress review with the dissertation committee every 4 months
Milestones: end of year 2 topic defense, end of year 3 final dissertation defense
Optional Global Leadership Immersion: Singapore at the end of year 1 (5 days) and San Francisco at the end of year 3 (5 days), including industry leader panels and 1-on-1 guidance on dissertation direction. Flights, accommodation and visas are arranged and paid for by the student.
Available as an add-on PwC Directorship & Board Advisory Certificate (run jointly with PwC Academy: around 20 hours of online masterclasses, at a preferential rate for DBA students).
Consultants and academics pursuing doctoral-level expertise
Those who do not already hold an MBA
STAGE 1 MBA
Core and strategy courses27 credits
MBA
Dynamics of Leadership and Organizational Behavior
MBA
Marketing Management
MBA
Foundations of Business Analytics
MBA
Corporate Finance
MBA
Information Technology
MBA
Operations and Supply Chain Management
MBA
Context of Business
MBA
Strategic Analysis and Design
MBA
Business Planning (Capstone)
Specialization (choose one of six, three courses each)9 credits
Finance
Financial Reporting and Analysis / Investments / Business Valuation
Analytics
Enterprise Data & Performance Management / Business Intelligence / Web and Social Network Analytics
Marketing
Integrated Marketing Communication / Marketing Research / Digital Marketing & E-commerce
Leadership
Personal Leadership / Adaptive Leadership / Leading Complex Change
Applied AI
Advanced Data Analytics with Python / Machine Learning for Predictive Analytics / Artificial Intelligence in Business
General
Choose any three courses from the five specializations aboveNo declared specialization — 3 courses, 9 credits
MBA stage total credits36
STAGE 2 DBA
Bridge course
DBA 809
Doctor of Business Administration Bridge
4
—
Doctor of Business Administration Comprehensive Exam
—
Foundation courses16 credits (including the bridge)
DBA 800
Doctoral Writing and Research Methods
4
DBA 801
Quantitative Research Methods
4
DBA 802
Qualitative Research Methods
4
Qualifying examination
DBA 810
Qualifying ExamNon-credit
0
Dissertation phase32–36 credits
DBA 890
Dissertation Topic Proposal
8
DBA 891
Research Proposal & Defense
8
DBA 892
Completion and Approval by Committee
12–16
DBA stage total credits48–52
MBA + DBA combined84–88
Duration 36 months (excluding break weeks). Entry requirement: a bachelor's degree in any discipline. The MBA must be completed in full before entering the DBA stage.
Risks you must understand first Before entering the DBA stage you must complete all MBA graduation requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or above and pass the DBA bridge assessment course; after the foundation courses you must also pass the qualifying examination before entering the dissertation phase. Under the university's admissions handbook, failure to meet any one of these requirements results in loss of the DBA place, with no refund of fees already paid. This is the most material risk on the dual-degree route, and we suggest confirming each point at consultation.
Holders of a GGU / upGrad MBA can enter the DBA stage directly; students currently on the MBA may transfer after completing it.
Neural Networks and Deep Learning for Vision, Language and Graphs
3
Phase 2 · Advanced AI & Applied Systems15 credits
TECH 501
Generative AI & LLM Engineering
3
TECH 502
Agentic AI, Multi-Agent Systems and Orchestration
3
TECH 503
AI Data InfrastructurePipelines, retrieval and knowledge graphs
3
TECH 504
Production AI at ScaleMLOps, LLMOps, serving and security
3
TECH 505
Emerging AI Paradigms and Technology Assessment
3
Phase 3 · Doctoral Research & Dissertation40 credits
TECH 809
Doctor of Technology Bridge and Assessment
4
TECH 810
Qualifying ExamNon-credit
—
TECH 805
Doctoral Research Methods and Analysis
4
TECH 806
Doctoral Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
4
TECH 890
Dissertation Topic Proposal
8
TECH 891
Dissertation Proposal Defense
8
TECH 892
Dissertation Completion and Presentation
12
Total credits69
The graduation requirement is Dissertation in Practice: the research topic is drawn from your own professional setting or industry context, and must combine academic rigour with practical contribution. There is also a Governance Practicum, which requires building a governance framework for an AI system and applying it to a real deployment.
Beyond the degree
Golden Gate Technology Symposium — a 5-day research symposium in San Francisco, presenting your work alongside global peers
Publication Pathway — co-authored publication with faculty, targeting IEEE Transactions on AI, AI & Society and Harvard Business Review
MS AAI Path — graduates of the GGU MS in Applied & Agentic AI may apply for credit transfer on shared courses (subject to university academic regulations)
DBA Gen AI or DTech? Both go deep into AI, but they are different kinds of degree. DBA is a business doctorate: the dissertation addresses the managerial, strategic and organizational questions AI creates. DTech is a technology doctorate, working directly on the design, deployment and governance of AI systems. Strong technical grounding and a wish to do technical research → DTech; sitting in a decision-making role and driving organizational transformation → DBA Gen AI.
PROGRAM COMPARISON
The four programs side by side
Compare where each of the four programs puts its weight, against your current role and the capability you want to build.
Item
DBA
DBA Gen AI
DBA + MBA
DTech Applied & Agentic AI
Business management
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AI coursework
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Technology leadership
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MBA degree
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Doctoral degree
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Suited to: business owners
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Suited to: technology executives
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✓✓Core strength✓Covered△Partly covered✕Not included
A private San Francisco university that has served working professionals since 1901. Its programs have never been designed around full-time students.
WSCUC-accredited · Taiwan MOE roster
Golden Gate University (GGU) is a US WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)-accredited institution of higher education and appears on the reference roster of foreign universities published by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. You can verify this yourself on the Ministry's foreign university reference roster portal.
100% online, no need to leave your job
All teaching and dissertation supervision is online: no travel to the US, no extended leave. The pace is designed for people in work, so study runs alongside your job and your family.
Applied research focus
Your dissertation topic can address a real problem inside your own organization, so the research doubles as strategic analysis for your employer — not a dissertation written only to earn the degree.
1-on-1 dissertation supervision
A supervisor works with you 1-on-1 from defining the topic through research design to defense preparation, reducing the most common risk for working students: getting stuck on the dissertation.
Monthly tuition option
The DBA offers a monthly payment option, spreading a single large outlay into a predictable monthly cost and easing pressure on cash flow. The actual terms follow the university's latest announcement.
End-to-end support from YUDA
From eligibility assessment and program selection through document preparation to administrative help after enrollment, YUDA Consulting provides end-to-end support.
Why study now, in the age of AI
Why a doctorate still matters in the age of AI
As AI makes execution cheap, the scarce capability moves to the other end: defining the problem, judging the evidence, owning the decision. That is exactly what doctoral training builds.
The ability to define the problem
AI is good at answering questions; asking the right one is still human work. The core of research training is translating a vague business predicament into a testable proposition.
Evidence and method
Faced with a flood of AI-generated conclusions, the person who can tell correlation from causation and design a way to test it is the one qualified to decide.
Verifiable authority
A doctoral degree is a public, checkable professional signal. In a boardroom, a government tender or an international partnership, it saves you the cost of explaining yourself.
The high ground of AI governance
Responsible AI, explainability and compliance are moving fast onto board agendas. People who understand both the technology and the governance frameworks are in very short supply.
Admissions process
The admissions process · five steps
From the first consultation to enrollment, YUDA advisors support you throughout. The process usually takes 4–8 weeks, depending on how quickly documents come together and on the university's intake schedule.
1
Book a video consultation
Complete the form below and choose a convenient date and time; an advisor confirms within one business day.
2
Eligibility assessment and program selection
We assess your eligibility against your education, career and language ability, and recommend the program that fits best.
3
Prepare the application documents
Transcripts, CV, references and a study plan; an advisor supplies the checklist and reviews each item.
4
Submit and university review
Formal submission, an online interview with the university where required, and tracking of the review.
5
Offer and enrollment
Receive the offer, complete registration and payment, and get help preparing before term starts.
FAQ
FAQ
The following is general guidance. Individual eligibility, tuition and intake dates follow the university's latest announcement; we suggest confirming each point at a 1-on-1 consultation.
Yes — it can be assessed case by case. If your business grounding needs strengthening, or you would like a master's degree as well, we usually suggest the DBA + MBA Dual degree route, which plans the whole path at once and avoids applying separately for a master's later. Eligibility is ultimately determined by the university; at consultation an advisor will give a specific recommendation based on your background.
Requirements differ by program and by intake, and the university often assesses applicants with substantial management experience differently. Please do not rely on information found online — at consultation an advisor will explain the current formal requirements and any alternatives that apply to your situation.
All four programs are 100% online, with no travel to the US. Teaching combines asynchronous material with live online sessions; most working students progress in the evenings and on weekends, alongside 1-on-1 dissertation meetings with their supervisor.
Tuition varies by program, credit count and intake, and the university adjusts it periodically, so we do not publish figures here — we would rather you did not make a decision on out-of-date figures. The DBA offers a monthly payment option. Ask an advisor at consultation for the current official tuition schedule and payment terms.
Golden Gate University (GGU) is a US WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)-accredited institution of higher education and is listed on the reference roster of foreign universities published by Taiwan's Ministry of Education.
Because this matters to your decision, we suggest you do not take any recruiter's word for it — including ours. The Ministry maintains a foreign university reference roster portal, and an advisor will look it up with you at consultation.
Note also that appearing on the roster is a necessary condition for degree recognition; actual recognition still requires completing the verification procedures in force at the time (such as document authentication by an overseas mission).
This is the most real risk in studying for a doctorate while working, and it deserves an honest answer. Most people who stall do so not in coursework but in the dissertation phase. GGU's 1-on-1 supervision and applied-research design — the topic comes from your own company — exist precisely to reduce that risk. At consultation, tell an advisor honestly how many hours a week you can commit and how heavy your job currently is, and work out together whether this is the right moment.
That is exactly what the consultation is for. A simple starting point: primarily business decisions → DBA; leading AI or digital transformation → DBA in Emerging Technologies; no MBA and want both at once → DBA + MBA; from a technical background, aiming at technology leadership → Doctor of Technology. The comparison table above is a useful first reference.
The consultation runs 30–45 minutes online. Bring: your highest qualification, a brief career history, and the problem you hope a doctorate will help you solve. An advisor's job is to help you judge whether this decision makes sense now — including telling you plainly when the conditions are not right, rather than pushing an enrollment that does not fit.
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Eligibility and program recommendationA specific, actionable judgment based on your education and career
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