Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

A DBA degree is an applied doctorate designed for business professionals. As the most advanced management degree you can attain, this online doctorate in business administration can help prepare you for high-ranking roles in business leadership and organizational management. The DBA program curriculum includes applied research, business theory and literature, and applying what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life professional challenges. For some students, a DBA is the logical next step after earning an MBA and acquiring several years of business experience—typically in a management position.

While both are doctoral degrees, a PhD focuses more on original research, while a DBA focuses on applied research. In other words, if you want to combine research with your professional experience to solve real-world business problems, earning a Doctor of Business Administration may be for you. If you are interested in developing new theories or approaches to further the body of knowledge in your discipline, consider the PhD However, both programs may share similarities—including advanced coursework in areas ranging from economics and finance to managerial ethics and corporate social responsibility. 

With an online doctorate in business administration, you can pursue various business career paths that call for high-level management expertise. For instance, many graduates go on to pursue careers as top executives, including chief executive officers (CEOs), chief operating officers (COOs), chief financial officers (CFOs), and other C-suite roles.

In addition, earning a Doctor of Business Administration online could help you prepare for management analyst or consultant roles. Other potential careers you could consider with a doctorate in business administration include:

• Financial Manager
• Healthcare Administrator
• Marketing Manager
• Management Analyst
• C-Suite Executive

The Doctor of Business Administration at University of the Cumberlands will help you develop the in-demand skills you need to stand out to employers and tackle any professional challenge. This online DBA program is intended for candidates who are already working in a business profession and cannot attend classes on campus, due to their busy schedules. You’ll have the flexibility you need to advance your education while continuing to work full time.

With our planned course structure and rotation, a full-time student earning 24 credits per academic year may complete the Doctor of Business Administration program within three years. A part-time student completing 12 credits per academic year may complete the DBA program in five years.

The Doctor of Business Administration is comprised of 66 required credit hours. Core and specialization courses are delivered in an 8-week bi-term format; dissertation courses are delivered in a 16-week semester format. Each course is worth three credit hours and is aligned with the program’s goals.

Each course lasts eight weeks, called a bi-term. There are two bi-terms per semester, and three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer). Many classes are asynchronous, meaning there is no set login time; you can work on schoolwork whenever you find time. Cumberlands provides free rental textbooks to online students as part of its One Price Promise.