Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Salem University

The world of business can be incredibly competitive, and many accomplished executives and high-level professionals are looking for a way to distinguish themselves and what they can bring to the table for an organization. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program at Salem University builds off of the knowledge and curriculum of an MBA program to give you a deeper understanding of theory, research, current practices, and professional standards. Using a combination of analytical, practical, and research-based approaches to education, the students in our practice-oriented DBA program discover how to objectively analyze quantitative or qualitative data, assess it without bias, and present findings to a wide range of stakeholders in relevant, understandable ways. We also encourage students to add to the current disciplinary body of knowledge through publications and presentations.

The DBA degree program at Salem is divided into three phases: Phase 1, which includes both core and specialized coursework, as well as participation in the first residency and a comprehensive exam; Phase 2, which consists of the development and defense of the student’s dissertation proposal; and Phase 3, which includes the researching, writing, and defense of the full dissertation.

Salem University’s Doctor of Business Administration program is consistent with the guidelines set out by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ABCSP), with a curriculum that includes coverage of global issues; the influence of political, social, legal, environmental, and technological issues; the impact of demographic diversity on organizations; and the history and foundation of management theory and practice. All of these elements ensure that graduates are well-prepared to be effective leaders in the modern, technology-driven world.

Why Salem University

Like our MBA program, Salem University’s Doctor of Business Administration program is available fully online, combining our long history in the field of higher education with the flexibility and ease of access of distance education. This means you can pursue your DBA degree wherever and whenever you need to without having to quit your full-time job or uproot your current life and responsibilities. We also deliver our online programs in a unique one-course-a-month format that allows students to measure their progress and focus on one section at a time, building their knowledge as they go. DBA applicants can submit a portfolio for a prior learning assessment based on relevant professional experience totaling at least five years for up to nine credits total. This includes experience in leadership positions with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Doctor of Business Administration degree requires 39 credits of course work and 12 credits of dissertation research resulting in the successful defense of the dissertation.

• MGT705 The Craft of Dissertation Research and Writing
• MGT725 Current Issues in Leadership
• MGT715 Management as a Behavior Science
• MGT712 Program and Project Evaluation
• MGT760 Ethics
• MGT790 Organizational Development and Change Development
• MGT710 Research Methods
• MGT777 Analytical Case Study Methods
• MGT750 Economic and Financial Theory
• MGT755 Strategy and Business Policy
• MGT796 Leadership in Global and Multicultural Organizations
• MGT765 Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business
• MGT800 Dissertation Proposal
• MGT805 Introduction to Dissertation Research
• MGT810 Dissertation Research I
• MGT820 Dissertation Research II
• MGT830 Dissertation Research III – Dissertation Defense

Our online DBA program prepares you for high-level executive positions, including:

• C-suite positions like CEO, CFO, COO and CIO
• Management or Marketing Consultant
• Professor or Academic Researcher
• Economist
• Logistician