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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Degree

Read about what it takes to get a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

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Doctor of Business Administration

A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) prepares graduates to lead, consult and teach in corporate and academic arenas. Typically designed for applicants with management experience, DBA degree programs build on skills acquired through master's-level studies.

Students can earn their DBA in three to six years, depending on whether they enroll in a full-time or part-time program.

DBA studies usually involve classes in research and analytical methods; core management subjects such as strategic planning, managing change and solutions-oriented leadership; and the student's choice of specialization. Examples of specializations include international business, management, marketing and information systems.

Additionally, candidates for a Doctor of Business Administration degree must write and defend a doctoral dissertation and pass a comprehensive exam as part of the requirements for their degree.

Like a PhD, a DBA equips professionals with expertise in leadership and management principles and a higher level of competence in conducting research. However, where PhD programs typically focus on developing new management and related theory, DBA degree programs concentrate on the application of theory and issues related to professional practice.

With the in-depth knowledge and skills they develop in a DBA degree program, graduates qualify for management and consulting roles at the senior-executive level in private and public corporations as well as teaching and research positions at universities.

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Sample Doctor of Business Administration Program Details

university of phoenix

Doctor of Business Administration - University of Phoenix

All Courses Required

Communication Strategies
Transformational Leadership and Innovation
Doctoral Program Orientation Seminar
Creative and Critical Thinking
Fundamental Principles of Sound Research
Financial Measures of Value Added
21st Century Issues in Organizational Behavior I
Strategic Opportunities in an Internet-based Global Economy
Marketing and Managing the Customer Relationship
Doctoral Seminar I
Research Methods II
Doctoral Seminar II
Ethical Leadership and the Legal Landscape
Issues in Optimizing Operations
Managing the Risks in a Global Environment
21st Century Issues in Organizational Behavior II
Collaborative Case Study
Doctoral Seminar III
Contemporary Issues in Leadership
Transforming the Business I
Transforming the Business II
Doctoral Project I
Doctoral Project II
Annual Renewal Residency