Doctor of business administration (DBA) program

Drive long-term business change

It's time to achieve the highest level you can in business. It's time to implement positive change on the performance of organizations and their employees. Begin your journey to a doctorate in business with our next cohort in January 2024. Connect with other motivated professionals where you will grow your skills and network together for the next three years.

Credits 60

Cost Per Credit ^$890

Cohort Format

Next cohort starts in January 2024. Application deadline is November 1, 2023.

Concentrations

Healthcare Admin, Organization Change & Performance, Financial & Economic Management, Sustainability

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Program Overview

Please note - this program is offered online through our sister campus at Concordia University Wisconsin.

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the highest accredited academic business degree at Concordia University. It is designed to address the current challenges facing organizations, leaders, and teams in today’s business environment. You will develop scholar-practitioner skills as you learn from industry experts skilled in blending applied learning with theory development. The coursework, research, and the dissertation process will equip you with the tools and knowledge to transform organizations and improve performance as an influential and trusted leader.

This three-year, 60-credit (minimum) Doctor of Business Administration program features four concentrations:

Business Sustainability: Examine multiple methods to assess environmental risks and innovate sustainable solutions in order to implement strategies that generate value and increase competitiveness through sustainability.
Financial and Economic Management: Study how the financial and economic theory impacts global and regional organizations. You'll have the opportunity to explore further either financial or economic principles allowing you to apply the concepts to organizational structure and productivity.
Healthcare Administration: Study the administration of global health care systems and provide graduates with the opportunity to examine technology and analytics, legal and ethical considerations, and leadership topics encountered by top industry professionals.
Organizational Performance and Change (OPC): Learn applied methods and theories that address organizational improvement by examining individual, team, and organizational analysis and enhancing decision-making techniques.

Regardless of your concentration, you will benefit from the quantitative and qualitative business concepts that will be addressed and taught. You will acquire evidence-based decision-making skills to prepare you for effective leadership in business, healthcare, non-proﬁt, education, government, and other professional industries.

Download our DBA brochure here.

NEW - All But The Dissertation (ABD) option

Have you started your doctorate but life got in the way? Have you completed your DBA courses, but never finished your dissertation? Our program provides the opportunity for students who have completed all requirements for a doctorate at another institution except for their doctoral dissertation to earn their degree. Concordia University welcomes all applicants who have achieved this status in their graduate education. We will help you achieve your goal and set you up for success. Now is the perfect time to finish earning your doctorate. Let us help! Click here for more information.

What to Expect

The online courses follow an 8-week format during this three-year program. For your dissertation, you will be assigned a research faculty advisor that has expertise in your chosen dissertation topic. Also, our DBA coordinator will support you as you progress through your courses, projects, and more.

A key component to the DBA program is utilizing a cohort format. It helps optimize your learning as you work to earn your doctorate degree. As a DBA student you are required to attend two in-person residencies at our campus with your assigned cohort. Each residency takes place for three days and consists of courses, networking, and other business-related activities. You will participate in the first residency when you start the program, and the second residency takes place during your final year.

The next cohort will start in January 2024 with the in-person residency on January 25-27, 2024. Accepting applications until November 1, 2023. Apply today!

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

Compose ethical business solutions to complex organizational problems.
Formulate scholar-practitioner knowledge for organizational success.
Design qualitative and quantitative research projects related to business.
Evaluate organizational structure and design for productivity.

Locations

Online

DBA Admission Process

To be admitted into the DBA program, applicants must:

Have a master’s degree with a focus in business or other relevant degree from a regionally accredited institution
Submit an application at cuw.edu/apply
Submit official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Submit a resume or CV, and a list of references.
Letter of Intent (no more than two pages) providing evidence for consideration to be admitted to the DBA program. The Letter of Intent should focus on goals and ambition for pursuing a DBA, as well as reasons for choosing CUAA and one’s commitment to degree completion.
- How the applicants educational and personal experience influenced the decision to pursue a DBA.
- Career goals and how this degree will help achieve those goals.
- A research topic or interest area that the applicant plans to study.
Participate in a video-conference interview.
No GMAT or GRE required
Have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in one’s master’s coursework.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide English proficiency.

Apply Now

Admission to the DBA program is governed by policies and procedures developed by the School of Business and Concordia University of Ann Arbor. The University reserves the right to refuse admission or readmission to any prospective study or re-enrollment to any student. Any applicant who intentionally withholds pertinent information or falsifies information may be required to withdraw from Concordia University. The University and the School of Business reserves the right to make necessary changes to admission requirement without notice.

The DBA is a competitive admissions process. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DBA program. Concordia University of Ann Arbor and the School of Business may request additional documentation to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admissions decision can be made.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis through the calendar year.

Credit Transfer

Effective in the Fall 2022 semester, students who have taken equivalent doctoral-level courses can submit a DBA Transfer Credit Application to have up to 30 credits count toward DBA program requirements. Courses must be equivalent in scope and rigor to Concordia DBA courses.

Concordia MBA students who receive pre-approval to take up to 12 qualifying DBA credits (at the 8000-level or above) may count these credits toward the DBA program.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to supply official transcripts along with a transfer credit request to have the credit(s) applied to the DBA program. Students may be asked to submit a syllabus for coursework being considered for transfer, along with a rationale as to why the student believes the course(s) meets the DBA requirements. Eligibility of transfer credits will be assessed by the DBA Director and based on relevance to DBA studies.

To take your next step or for additional information, please contact our team at 877-289-1897 or Inquiry.Support@cuw.edu. We are here to help Monday - Saturday 8am-8pm cst.

All But The Dissertation

How does it work?

As an incoming student, you can transfer up to 30 credits into the DBA program
In addition, 30 credits will be needed to graduate - 24 credits through research courses to help you write your dissertation and 6 topical credits
Collaborate with other DBA students in one three-day residency in either January or July of the year you begin.
Your faculty advisor will guide you through seven dissertation courses so you make consistent progress from day one
Average length of completion is 1.5 year
Upon dissertation completion, you will graduate with a Doctorate in Business Administration

To be admitted into the DBA program, applicants must:

Have a master’s degree with a focus in business or other relevant degree from a regionally accredited institution
Submit an application at cuaa.edu/apply
Submit official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Seven year maximum for transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution. Credits aged between 8 and 12 years can be accepted as an exception, with director approval
- Must have completed all required doctoral program coursework and/or achieved candidacy at another institution
Cannot be academically dismissed from the previous doctoral program
Previous doctoral programs must academically align with a degree program and specialization offered by Concordia
Submit a resume or CV, and a list of references
Submit a personal statement (no more than 3 pages)
- Discuss events that lead to the ABD status
- Explain how the CUW Doctorate of Business Administration ABD pathway can help you meet your goals
- A research topic or interest area that the applicant plans to study
Participate in a video-conference interview
No GMAT or GRE required
Have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in prior doctoral program.Exception with director approval
Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide English proficiency

Informational Webinars

Our webinars help you learn more about the program from DBA faculty and Concordia's admission team. You will get an in-depth overview of program details, the dissertation process, and the support you can expect enrollment until graduation. You'll also learn more about the admission and application process.