Doctor of Business Administration

The doctor of business administration (DBA) or (DrBA) is primarily a research doctorate but may be a professional doctorate, depending on the granting university, awarded on the basis of advanced study, examinations, project work, and research in business administration. The DBA is a terminal degree in business administration.[1] The DBA is considered by both the United States Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to be equivalent to a doctor of philosophy (PhD).[2] Many of the world's leading business schools offer the DBA degree.[3]

Along with the PhD or DPhil, the DBA represents the highest academic qualification in business administration, and is typically required to gain employment as a full-time, tenure-track university professor or postdoctoral researcher in the field. As with other earned doctorates, individuals with the degree are awarded the academic title doctor, which is often represented via the English honorific "Dr." or the post-nominal letters "DBA"[4] or "DrBA." However, in the United States, DBA degree holders often use the social form of Dr. [First Last name] in professional email signatures and professional correspondence. In a healthcare setting amongst medical doctors MD, DBA degree holders are also referred to as Dr. [First Last name].

DBA candidates submit a significant project, typically referred to as a thesis, capstone project, or dissertation, consisting of a body of original academic research that is in principle worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal.[5] Candidates must defend this work before a panel of expert examiners called a thesis, dissertation, or doctoral committee.[6]

In Canada, the doctor of business administration is recognized as a terminal degree in business administration or management.[7][8][9] The DBA qualifies as a full academic doctorates in Canada though they normally incorporate aspects of professional practice in addition to a full dissertation.[10] Much like the UK, in Canada, the DBA is a full academic doctorate that can only be granted by Universities Canada-accredited institutions and shares equal parity with a PhD (management).[11] The dissertation to be completed as part of a DBA program differs only in focus but not in breadth of study, nor academic rigour required.[12] DBA programs in Canadian institutions must include an original contribution to knowledge which must be chaired (supervised) by an accomplished researcher and orally defended (viva) to internal and external examiners.[13]

Structure and format

Doctor of business administration programs have a dual purpose: contribute to business theory and further develop the professional practice (e.g. contribute to professional knowledge in business). Universities generally require candidates to have significant experience in business, particularly in roles with leadership or other strategic responsibilities.[14] DBA candidates specialize in areas such as management science, information technology management, organizational behavior, economics, finance, and the like. As with other doctorate programs, curricula may be offered on a full-time or part-time basis. According to the European higher education standards set by the Bologna Process, the normal duration of research doctorate programs like the DBA and PhD is usually 3–4 years of full-time study.[15]

The responsibility for the structure of doctoral programs resides within the graduate research committees or their equivalent within the university. As such, DBA programs have a specific set of university regulations and are subject to quality approval processes. Regulations include references to protocols for treating ethical issues in research. These regulations are widely used in Australian universities. For instance, a DBA student cannot embark on the research phase before passing all his or her coursework. Furthermore, upon passing the proposal stage, he or she must clear ethics-related issues with an ethics committee. These candidates must go through numerous internal moderations of the dissertation before submitting to external examinations (usually at least two). Successful candidates usually revise their dissertations numerous times before final approval is granted from the doctoral committee.

Research Accreditation (United States)

While numerous programs have started in the United States since the early 2000's, few are AACSB accredited programs from Carnegie "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" universities. Even fewer are offered by Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions. As of May 2023, only 13 R1 institutions were known to offer an accredited DBA program.

DBA Granting Institution AACSB[16] R1[17] AAU[18] 2023-24 USNWR Business Program Ranking[19]
Baruch College (CUNY) Yes Yes No 49
Case Western Reserve University Yes Yes Yes 68
Florida International University Yes Yes No NR
Georgia State University Yes Yes No NR
Pennsylvania State University Yes Yes Yes 37
Rutgers University Yes Yes Yes 45
University of Florida Yes Yes Yes 40
University of Maryland Yes Yes Yes 42
University of North Texas Yes Yes No 95
University of Pittsburgh Yes Yes Yes 86
University of South Florida Yes Yes No 73
University of Texas - Dallas Yes Yes No 27
Washington University in St. Louis Yes Yes Yes 37

Relationship between DBA and PhD

In the United States, doctor of business administration and doctor of philosophy in business administration are equivalent degrees.[1] Also, both doctorates are viewed as research doctorates representing the highest academic qualification in business.[20] As such, both DBA and PhD programs require students to develop original research leading to a dissertation defense.[6] Furthermore, both doctorates enable holders to become faculty members at academic institutions. The DBA and PhD in business administration are terminal degrees, allowing the recipient to obtain a tenure-track position in the United States; other countries' requirements may differ.

In some cases, the distinction is solely administrative (Harvard Business School was not authorized to issue a PhD until 2018)[21] In other cases, the distinction is one of orientation and intended outcomes. The PhD is highly focused on developing original academic knowledge, while the DBA emphasizes applied research.[6][22] Upon completion, graduates of PhD programs generally migrate to full-time faculty positions in academia, while those of DBA programs re-emerge in industry as applied researchers or executives. If working full-time in industry, graduates of DBA and PhD programs often become adjunct professors in top undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Notable persons with a DBA degree

See also

References
  1. "Structure of the U.S. Education System: Research Doctorate Degrees". Archived from the original on 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  2. "Structure of the U.S. Education System: Research Doctorate Degrees". U.S. Department of Education. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  3. Ireland, Sophie (2022-06-13). "The World's Best Universities For Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), 2022". CEOWORLD magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  4. "Structure of U.S. Education". www2.ed.gov.
  5. Dinham, S.; Scott, C. (2001). "The Experience of Disseminating the Results of Doctoral Research". Journal of Further and Higher Education. 25: 45–55. doi:10.1080/03098770020030498. S2CID 146687739.
  6. FAQs AACSB "Primary Difference between a Doctorate in Business Administration & a Business PhD". Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  7. "Management - DBA". Faculty of Graduate Studies. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  8. "Doctor of Business Administration | Royal Roads University". www.royalroads.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  9. "Athabasca University". Athabasca University. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  10. "Canadian Degree Qualifications Framework" (PDF). Ministerial Statement on Quality Assurance of Degree Education in Canada. Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  11. Lewington, Jennifer (2018-05-10). "Dr. CEO: New doctorate degree aimed at veteran executives". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  12. "DBA or PhD? - DBA". Haskayne School of Business. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  13. "Doctor of Business Administration in Business Administration. - University of Calgary: Post-Secondary Programs in Alberta - alis". alis.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  14. "DBA in Management and Technology". www.comillas.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  15. "Third cycle - doctoral education - 2009 - European Higher Education Area and Bologna Process". www.ehea.info. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  16. "Member Listing | AACSB". www.aacsb.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  17. "Institutions Search". CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  18. Association of American Universities. "AAU Member Institutions". Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  19. US News & World Reports. "2023-2024 Best Business Schools". Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  20. "Types of research doctoral degrees recognized by the Survey of Earned Doctorates" (PDF). 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-05-12.
  21. "Faculty to Vote on New Ph.D. Program, Next Years' Courses | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com.
  22. "www.mba.athabascau.ca - DBA vs PhD". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  23. "Advisors To Help Terrorist Attack Victims And Their Families". www.financialadvisormagazine.com. November 1, 2001. Retrieved 2020-12-27.l
  24. "David Yeske".
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