DBA: Management (Quantitative) Program
journey today.
Strengthen Your Skills in Data Interpretation and Executive Leadership
Demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence by earning your Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) in Management from Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies. This advanced doctoral program is designed for executives and organizational leaders, helping them enhance their impact through a curriculum that combines transformative business practices with strategic management theory. The program focuses on strategic decision-making, business forecasting and organizational leadership, which can prepare graduates to apply data-driven insights and sound business sound business principles across various industries and sectors.
Flexible Learning Designed for Working Professionals
The DBA in Management online1 is tailored to working professionals seeking to enhance their business skills while balancing existing commitments. The flexible format allows you to access course materials conveniently, making it easier to balance work, education and personal life. You’ll connect with a network of peers and experienced faculty, fostering meaningful dialogue and professional growth. As a private, faith-based institution, GCU emphasizes a Christian worldview, integrating ethical decision-making and servant leadership principles essential for business leaders facing complex challenges.
Coursework Covered in the DBA: Management Program
The DBA in Management program provides a comprehensive curriculum structured to prepare future business leaders for strategic roles across various industries. With a blend of advanced theory and practical application, students can gain an understanding of quantitative decision-making, business analytics and quantitative research methods. Key areas of focus include ethical leadership, global business strategy and data-informed decision-making, which can empower students to analyze business data effectively and drive sustainable growth.
Students will engage in topics such as:
Enhance Leadership, Analytics and Research Skills in Residencies
As part of the DBA in Management program, students engage in two five-day residencies held on or near the GCU campus. These immersive experiences can enhance executive leadership skills, deepen understanding of business intelligence and refine academic research approaches.
The first residency focuses on advanced research methodologies, laying a foundation for your dissertation. Participants engage in collaborative workshops, receive faculty mentorship and begin developing an analytical mindset. In the second residency, students present their scholarly work, showcase dissertation progress and receive constructive feedback from peers and instructors. These residencies also offer valuable networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with fellow professionals.
Together, these experiences help bridge the gap between theory and practice, empowering you to lead with insight, precision and purpose.
To achieve programmatic competencies, you will continue to develop your skills in areas such as:
Communication
Data science for business
Integration of systematic feedback
Application of management theories
Research design
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
In a quantitative DBA program, students analyze events through statistical data analysis and business data interpretation, using numeric data and statistical tools to uncover patterns that inform strategic decisions and predict outcomes. Conversely, a qualitative DBA emphasizes non-numerical research methods to explore the motivations behind human behavior, that can enable students to conduct in-depth studies of leadership, organizational culture and performance factors that extend beyond the numbers.
Career Opportunities for DBA in Management Graduates
DBA in Management graduates work throughout the program to help themselves navigate the demands of the corporate world with advanced expertise in data-driven strategy, organizational leadership and data literacy in leadership. This doctorate is designed to prepare professionals to lead with insight, make informed decisions and drive innovation across industries.
Career paths in business leadership and consulting often include roles in domestic and international settings, where strategic thinking and analytical skills are highly valued.2 Graduates may also choose to contribute to academia by teaching at postsecondary institutions and advancing research in business theory and practice.
Additional roles that may align with the DBA management program include:
Chief executive officer
General manager
Operations manager
Administrative services manager
Business operations specialist
Facilities manager
Chief executives work in the private sector3
Median annual wage for chief executives in May 20244
Earn Your DBA From an Institutionally Accredited University
GCU's Doctor of Business Administration in Management is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), highlighting the college's commitment to academic excellence in business education. GCU has also been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deciding to return to school to pursue a terminal degree involves thoughtful consideration of your career path and future goals. These frequently asked questions and answers can help you align your professional aspirations.
Yes, GCU’s DBA: Management program includes a comprehensive dissertation requirement, essential for demonstrating your ability to conduct original research and apply advanced business theories.
The dissertation process is integrated into the curriculum, allowing you to begin to refine your topic early with the support of faculty mentorship and in-person residencies. Completing the dissertation can enhance your expertise and help you position yourself as a thought leader within your industry.
This advanced degree not only bolsters your academic credentials but also demonstrates your commitment to leadership, strategic thinking and personal growth. For those feeling stagnant in their careers, a DBA may help you to unlock future opportunities in consulting and academia.
The program requires dedication and a strong work ethic. Additionally, a DBA can equip you with essential skills in data-driven strategy, business analytics and organizational leadership, which may help you stand out in competitive job markets.
Yes, a Doctor of Business Administration is a more advanced degree than a Master of Business Administration (MBA). While an MBA provides foundational and practical business knowledge for mid-level management, a DBA is a terminal degree aimed at experienced professionals wishing to deepen their expertise in strategic leadership, research and organizational innovation.
A DBA in Management focuses on advanced topics like organizational change management and strategic risk management at the highest levels of leadership, which can help you contribute to academic research or consult on complex business issues.
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Take the next step toward becoming a data-driven leader equipped to solve complex business challenges.
Excluding residencies, practicums, internships and field experience.
- Galarita, B., & Beagle, V. (2024, March 22). How to Become a Business Consultant. Forbes Advisor. Retrieved October 2025.
- Zippia. (n.d.). Chief Executive Officer Demographics and Statistics. Zippia. Retrieved October 2025.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Chief Executives as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as chief executives, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.