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Online Doctor of Business Administration

Doctor of Business Administration

Guided every step of the way, from research idea to dissertation defense

Turn insight into impact with an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Designed for experienced professionals, this program helps you strengthen your leadership capacity and expand your strategic vision to solve complex business challenges. With guidance from our experienced faculty, apply new insights to business practice, produce solution-focused research and influence your field – all while achieving the milestone of earning a doctorate.Ìý

PROGRAM DETAILS

Designed for busy professionals — learn online on your schedule.

54 credits

Minimum credits required

54 credits
Minimum credits required

68 credits

Maximum credits required

68 credits
Maximum credits required

Up to 27 credits

May be transferred/waived

Up to 27 credits
May be transferred/waived

8 weeks

Course length

8 weeks
Course length

Courses for your online Doctor of Business Administration

Find what you'll learn in a course – look for the skills-aligned trophy cup

Skills-aligned trophy cup

Pursuing your doctorate in business administration is more than earning a degree – it’s achieving a lifelong goal or achievement.Ìý The coursework in this program is designed to cultivate in-demand, industry business skills while building research competencies for scholarly contribution. You’ll learn about key business disciplines such as strategic, marketing, financial and operations management, including how to lead in a competitive business environment.Ìý

Skills-aligned trophy cup

Doctoral degree program requirements

  • The minimum credit to obtain your doctoral degree is 54 credits.
  • The doctoral degree program length can vary by specific program requirements.
  • Students may be required to complete extension courses to allow ample time to satisfy the dissertation and project requirements for their program of study. Additional courses may require additional cost and time.

Our doctoral support team is here to guide you every step of the way. Speak to a dedicated doctoral enrollment representative for questions on your program timeline.

  • When you earn your online DBA degree, you can develop practitioner-focused skills that can help you create and apply positive, impactful and purposeful change in your industry, community and workplace. You’ll learn how to:
  • Integrate the Scholar Practitioner Leader (SPL) Model throughout the doctoral journey and beyond.
  • Cultivate a leadership identity that reflects a mature and strategic understanding of the tenets of effective management praxis.
  • Develop doctoral research that identifies and addresses opportunities for innovation in complex managerial contexts.

The Doctoral Journey Colloquium enables students and alumni to come together, network and engage with peers and faculty. You can learn about the framework of your dissertation. Topics include selecting a research topic, developing your research question, using the university library and preparing for Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission.

The colloquium is intended to:

  • Build lifelong relationships between our students, alumni and the college.
  • Create networking opportunities to strengthen our doctoral community.
  • Identify opportunities to improve our programs and support systems.
  • Provide additional support to our students and alumni.
  • Share updates, resources and information.

The colloquium is an optional, zero-credit, zero-tuition/fee in-person or virtual event. For the in-person option, it will be a two and a half day (over a weekend) event on the University campus in Phoenix, Arizona. You are responsible for your own travel costs associated with the trip.

Learn about the third annual colloquium.

While some doctoral programs require on-campus residency, our doctorate in business administration includes two required, eight-week online symposium courses.

These immersive online experiences are designed to cover the tenets of doctoral socialization. You’ll receive a detailed overview of each milestone in the doctoral journey, allowing you to understand what the University expects from you and what you can expect from the University.Ìý

Integrated dissertation support

The dissertation journey: step by step

Guided at every step, you’ll begin building your dissertation early in the program with a dedicated support team and committee by your side. You’ll also have an array of resources, tools and guides to assist you in the development and completion of your dissertation.Ìý

A student writes notes and types on a laptop while preparing a research topic for an online DBA prospectus.

prospectus

Develop your researchable topic

Choose a topic that reflects a real problem in your field. Faculty help refine your research problem as well as the research method and design, so you start with a solid foundation for your dissertation.

A student works on a laptop in a comfortable study space while refining their online DBA research problem.

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Refine your research problem

Polish key statements and align your research methodology and design. You’ll explore literature from experts to improve your critical interpretation of the topic you’re researching.

A student smiles while reviewing research notes on a laptop for an online DBA literature review.

concept review

Build your literature review

Organize and write a comprehensive review of existing research to strengthen your framework. Complete Human Subjects Protection training so you’re prepared to be an ethical researcher.

A student smiles while typing on a laptop, preparing a dissertation proposal for an online DBA program.

proposal

Gain approval for proposal

Turn your plan into a formal dissertation proposal and seek approval. Simultaneously, begin assembling your Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and any needed research permissions.

Person in a blue blazer discusses their dissertation with two committee members at a conference table for an online DBA defense.

Approval & Oral Defense

Complete your dissertation

Once IRB approval is obtained, you can begin data collection. The dissertation committee helps you build a quality, robust dissertation. Complete your oral defense and edit final dissertation. ÌýÌý

°®¶¹´«Ã½ enrollment representative provides doctoral support over a headset for online DBA students.

Dedicated doctoral support

Questions about the dissertation? The College of Doctoral Studies has a dedicated team of enrollment representatives and academic advisors who are ready to answer all your questions.

°®¶¹´«Ã½ enrollment representative provides doctoral support over a headset for online DBA students.

Tuition and savings

Paying for school

Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.

Doctoral cost per course

$2,635Ìý/ course

Cost per creditÌý

Credits per course

Resource fee

$810

x3

+ $205

Estimated cost per course

$2,635

An illustration showing a couple pushing a stroller with a dollar sign and clock in the background

What affects the overall cost of my program?

Your full program cost can vary by:Ìý

  • Savings opportunities. With our Tuition GuaranteeÌýcommitment, you can count on fixed, affordable pricing for your entire postgraduate degree program. You can apply for the Doctoral Scholarship, which offers up to $3,000 for new students and alumni pursuing their doctoral degree at °®¶¹´«Ã½.

Earn your doctoral degree faster and for less with eligible savings opportunities:

Other ways to save on time and tuition

Because we believe everyone deserves an affordable education, we work hard to help our students achieve one. Here’s a few ways you can save time, save money and avoid starting from scratch.Ìý

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Budget & borrow

How to pay for college

Paying for school can be intimidating, but we’re here to help you make sense of it. Our finance advisors can walk you through your options like federal financial aid and savings opportunities to minimize your debt. Plus, we can help you figure out your financial plan.

Keep moving forward with your education

Whether you’re in your program now, coming back for another degree or exploring tuition benefits as a member of our staff, we’re here to help you take the next step in your journey.

Student holds a laptop and prepares to explore dissertation support tools for the online DBA program.

Current students

Explore research resources, events and support tools to help you progress confidently through your dissertation journey.

Graduate in academic regalia smiles and poses to promote alumni scholarship opportunities.

Phoenix alumni

Continue your educational journey with the Forever a Phoenix® Scholarship, created to help you pursue your next degree.

Staff member holding a paper and smiling, representing tuition assistance opportunities.

Faculty and staff

Achieve your educational goals, or help a family member with theirs, with tuition assistance for a degree at the doctoral level.

Careers and outcomes with an online DBA

Earning an online Doctor of Business Administration is more than an academic milestone – it’s building a personal and professional legacy. Our program emphasizes lifelong learning, leadership and the ability to create positive change in your organization and community. You can apply what you learn to solve problems and drive impact where it matters most.Ìý

View career-relevant skills in DBA

Skills learned in this program:

  • Business transformation
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Organizational strategy
  • Performance leadership
  • Research development
  • Scholarship
View career opportunities with DBA

An online DBA can prepare you to be a:

  • General manager
  • Executive director
  • Operations director
  • Chief operating officer
  • Chief executive officer
  • Chief financial officer
View work environments for DBA

You may work in:

  • Companies and enterprises
  • Construction and manufacturing
  • Professional and technical services
  • Retail and wholesale trade
Illustration of a student researching labor statistics on a laptop

Career outlook

4% growth

According to theÌý, job growth for top executives is projected to beÌýas fast as averageÌýbetween 2024 and 2034.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2024-2034 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to °®¶¹´«Ã½ students or graduates.

Why Phoenix?

A doctoral journey built on support, research and community Ìý

In the College of Doctoral Studies, you’ll join a program designed for working professionals who want to make a lasting impact. From day one, you’ll gain access to research opportunities, actionable learning experiences and a supportive alumni network.

Our Research Hub is home to a community of scholars committed to academic excellence and innovation. You can browse publications, explore our centers and Career Institute and attend events like our Research Summit or various workshops and webinars designed to support your work.Ìý

Our doctoral programs incorporate lifelong learning, social and workplace contribution and the ability to exert positive influence. As you develop the core concepts of scholarship, practice and leadership, you can solve issues and make a positive impact on your organization and community.Ìý

Our alumni mentor program connects you with an experienced alum who can help you navigate the challenges of your doctoral journey. As you balance work, family and your studies, a mentor can help you create a game plan for the year ahead and even begin to build your doctoral network.Ìý

Several people sit around a conference table with laptops and tablets, talking in a bright room with large windows.
Associate Dean Herman van Niekerk is led by a learning philosophy shaped by fundamental educational principles.

Dean spotlight

Learn from accomplished business professionals

“Ìý

My beliefs about teaching are strongly influenced by a learning philosophy shaped by fundamental educational principles encompassing cognitive functioning, adult learning theory and curriculum design and assessment.â€

Herman van Niekerk

Associate Dean, College of Doctoral StudiesÌý

Associate Dean Herman van Niekerk is led by a learning philosophy shaped by fundamental educational principles.

Programmatic accreditation

Count on the quality of your education

Our DBA has been reaffirmed for accreditation until 2027 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), ensuring the quality of your education.

What does that mean in real life?ÌýACBSP-accreditedÌýbusiness programs are committed to quality standards. The quality of the program is regularly benchmarked against specific criteria that prepare students for the business industry. Accreditation occurs on a 10-year cycle with regular quality reviews.

View theÌýstudent achievement reportÌý(PDF)Ìýfor the °®¶¹´«Ã½ ACBSP-accredited business and accounting programs.

A C B S P accredited

Apply 100% free and easy

Doctoral graduate in cap and gown celebrates completing an online DBA program, highlighting the easy application process.

Admissions for doctoral students

Getting started on your doctorate should be simple – and with us, it is. We’ve simplified the process by removing obstacles.

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Ìý No application fee, no obligation

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Ìý We’ll request your prior transcripts at no cost (when possible)

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Ìý No essay or entrance exam required (GMAT or GRE)

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No application fee, no obligation

Checkmark icon

We’ll request your prior transcripts at no cost (when possible)

Checkmark icon

No essay or entrance exam required (GMAT or GRE)

Doctoral graduate in cap and gown celebrates completing an online DBA program, highlighting the easy application process.

Frequently asked questions about the online Doctor of Business Administration

While there are some subject matter similarities in a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, you must take into consideration what each program offers and the differences between them before choosing which might be right for you. We’ll explain the three programs so you can determine which might meet your goals.

A Doctor of Business Administration is a specialized degree with a practical focus that incorporates a multidisciplinary and systems thinking approach. Our online DBA attracts business professionals who want to improve their administrative and managerial skills. They want to contribute to the practice of management and solve real-world organizational and business problems. Our DBA degree combines scholarship, practice and leadership to prepare students for lifelong learning, social and workplace contribution and the ability to exert positive influence in organizations and in life.

A Doctor of Philosophy is a specialized degree with an intensive theoretical research focus. A PhD attracts students who want to pursue a career in academia or conduct research that advances business knowledge or theory. A PhD program will have you conducting research with the goal of addressing a gap in knowledge or a need in business management. °®¶¹´«Ã½ doesn’t offer PhD programs.

AÌýMaster of Business AdministrationÌýis a graduate degree with a focus on theoretical and practical training for general business management functions. Our MBA program attracts business professionals who want to work in a managerial capacity or follow their entrepreneurial aspirations. Earning an MBA may be ideal if you have less time to devote to a program. Our program length for an MBA degree is 16 months, and for our competency-based MBA, it is 12 months.

Our online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is designed for business professionals who want to contribute to the practice of management and solve real-world organizational problems. Our online DBA will equip you with working knowledge based on the latest business research, theories and trends. You can sharpen your administrative, managerial and decision-making skills to help ensure organizations remain sustainable in a competitive environment while positioning yourself as an experienced professional in the field.

To be eligible for our online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), you must have a graduate degree from a regionally or an approved nationally accredited college or university or equivalent graduate degree earned at a recognized foreign institution. You’ll need a minimum 3.0 GPA on your graduate degree posted transcripts as well as a record of current or past employment.

International applicants, or applicants without appropriate previous academic experience in an English language environment, must pass English Language Proficiency Test. Other eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact an enrollment representative to learn more about program-specific admission requirements.

Similar to most doctoral programs, our online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) can help you develop advanced quantitative and qualitative research skills. Unlike Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs that focus on theoretical research, our online DBA degree emphasizes applied research where academic theory helps you devise solutions to practical business problems.

As part of the online DBA program, you’ll take three research focused courses:

These courses give you a foundational understanding of research methodology and theoretical frameworks. You can learn how to critically analyze scholarly literature, interpret data, create an effective research plan and generate actionable interventions. These courses are also designed to support the research required as part of your dissertation.

Yes, our online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) has been reaffirmed for accreditation until 2027 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), ensuring the quality of your education.ÌýLearn more about accreditation at °®¶¹´«Ã½.

While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.