DBA: Management
DBA: Management
journey today.
Demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence by earning your Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Management. Offered by Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies, the doctorate in management delivers a curriculum that blends transformative business practices with strategic management theory. The goal of this program is to empower executives and those in other leadership roles to apply sound business principles across sectors and within a wide range of industries.
Examine emerging trends and concepts in management theory for a global economy through the lens of ethical financial growth. GCU provides flexible learning pathways for working professionals who desire to improve their business acumen while continuing to meet their current responsibilities. Throughout the program, you'll have opportunities to network with a diverse body of peers and benefit from different perspectives and backgrounds.
As a private, faith-based school, GCU encourages learners to work through the curriculum with a Christian worldview. There is an emphasis on the role of ethical decision-making and the principles of servant leadership for current and aspiring business leaders.
Earn Your Doctor of Management Online
The online program is designed to give you the ability to work through the course materials from anywhere at any time.1 The user-friendly learning platform is intuitive in design and collaborative in nature, connecting you to knowledgeable instructors.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
When you pursue a quantitative DBA program, you will be taught to examine and analyze events by interpreting numeric data. You will be expected to use statistical tools to clean, assess and analyze data. In contrast, students pursuing their qualitative DBA management degree will use research studies to gain non-numerical insight into how and why people think, believe and behave a certain way.
Develop Advanced Business Management Skills
At key intervals in this program, you will be required to attend two five-day residencies. These are conducted on or near campus to provide networking opportunities, peer feedback and intensive mentorship from faculty members. During the first residency, you will be exposed to advanced skills in academic research that will provide the framework for your dissertation work. During the second residency, you will have the opportunity to present your scholarly work and demonstrate progress in your dissertation.
To achieve programmatic competencies, you will be expected to continue to develop your skills in areas such as:
Communications
Data analytics
Integration of systematic feedback
Application of management theories
Research design
This doctorate in management is designed to help you develop a keen understanding of the modern challenges and opportunities in the corporate world. Graduates may pursue opportunities in domestic or international businesses or elect to nurture a career in the consulting field.
Doctoral graduates may alternatively decide to pursue positions at postsecondary education institutes. There, they may have opportunities to advance the overall knowledge of the field while instructing the next generation of business leaders.
Additional roles that may be related to the DBA management program include:
Chief executive officer
General and operations manager
Administrative services manager
Business operations specialist
Facilities manager
$189,520
Median annual wage for chief executives as of May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2
As a university that prioritizes quality learning experiences and a supportive student community, GCU is proud to be institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Doctoral Studies shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Doctor of Business Administration in Management FAQs
The decision to go back to school to pursue a terminal degree requires careful reflection about your current career trajectory and your goals for the future. With the following FAQs and answers, you can explore how to align your aspirations for your professional life.
GCU’s DBA management program requires a thoroughly researched, well-written and orally defended dissertation. The College of Doctoral Studies integrates the dissertation process directly into the coursework and hosts in-person residencies so that you can begin your research sooner.
The dissertation is one of the integral learning experiences embedded within most doctoral programs. Conducting your own original research, forming evidence-based conclusions and contributing to the body of knowledge in your field may provide a pathway for establishing your reputation as an expert in your area.
Any type of Doctor of Business Administration program can bolster a graduate’s professional credentials and may help establish their reputation in their field. If you’ve been climbing the corporate ladder but have reached a plateau, then going back to school for your DBA may provide the foundation to position yourself for the next level in your career. Earning a doctorate in management requires personal dedication and commitment, and these traits may prove to be useful as you interview for various job opportunities.
The DBA and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are both terminal degrees. That is, they represent the highest level of academic achievement in a field. In other words, these degrees are on the same level of achievement, but they aren’t the same type of program. A DBA is a professional doctorate that focuses on applied knowledge, whereas a PhD is an academic degree that focuses on research and theory.3 One degree is not necessarily better than the other; the best choice for you depends on your career goals.
Pursue Your Purpose
Fill out the form on this page to learn more about earning your DBA from the College of Doctoral Studies.
- Program has residencies that take place on or near GCU's campus.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Chief Executives, as of May 2022, retrieved on Feb. 29, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 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 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 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.
- Discover PhDs. (n.d.). DBA vs. PhD – Differences Explained. Discover PhDs. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2024.