Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program offers cutting-edge research opportunities.

ACBSP

Walden’s online Doctor of Business Administration is a highly respected terminal degree program that balances applied research with real-world practice. Accredited by ACBSP, Walden’s DBA offers 16 specializations and three unique capstone options.


Why Pursue Your Online DBA with Walden?

  • Choice of Capstones. Choose from three capstone options—traditional doctoral study, portfolio, or consulting—for a culminating experience that fits your professional interests and your career goals.
  • Mark of Quality. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Walden’s DBA program aligns with standards of quality endorsed by business, government, and other organizations.
  • Real-World Experience. Students who choose the consulting capstone have the opportunity to build their résumé by working directly with a nonprofit or small business. Students gain firsthand experience as well as the knowledge and confidence to tackle today’s business challenges.
  • World-Class Support. You’re not alone in your education. You’ll have the support of doctoral coaches, industry-connected faculty, student advocates, and peer mentors—each committed to your success.
  • Proven Track Record. Walden has been serving the needs of doctoral learners at a distance for nearly 50 years—and we are the No. 1 conferrer of doctoral research degrees in the U.S.1

Specializations

Healthcare Management

A group of business people at meet in a modern office.

For students seeking greater leadership opportunities in the health field, the Healthcare Management specialization focuses on laws and court decisions that impact healthcare organizations while challenging you to investigate the regulatory and ethical dynamics that exist within the industry.

Learn More

A DBA Designed for What’s Next

Jacqueline Wilkey
Transcript
Jaqueline Wilky: I researched several DBA programs, and decided that Walden had the best way for me to integrate my work that I'm doing now into my doctoral work. I was a little nervous about doing something that didn't have anything to do with work, and being able to manage my time, and get it all done. 

Stand Out as a Business Leader and Influencer in the Marketplace

The Doctor of Business Administration program will challenge you to refine and apply highly sought-after leadership skills in research, critical thinking, communication, analysis, and management.

Guided by industry experts, your DBA coursework will strengthen your grasp of business best practices, preparing you to complete a capstone project in the format you choose—traditional, consulting, or portfolio.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of Walden’s online Doctor of Business Administration program will be prepared to:

  • Evaluate the relevance of current and emerging business theory and practice from an interdisciplinary perspective.
  • Formulate effective solutions to complex, real-world problems common to the practice of business and management.
  • Apply current research literature to practical problems found in business and management.
  • Evaluate scholarly research in business and management.
  • Design rigorous research that contributes to the professional body of knowledge of business and management.
  • Design rigorous research that contributes to positive social change.
  • Apply professional ethics appropriately.

What’s the Career Impact of Earning a DBA?

Now more than ever, organizations need leaders with practical experience who can assess situations, understand current and potential business issues, and put solutions into action with confidence.

In many cases, businesses look to people who can navigate challenges and inspire change. Often, they turn to professionals with DBA degrees.

A DBA not only identifies you as an expert in your field, but also demonstrates your readiness for senior-level leadership and new career opportunities—within your own organization or across other companies and industries.

What Can I Do With a DBA?

Depending on your specialization, an online doctor of business administration from Walden can pave the way to a number of career options, including:

  • Consultant
  • Entrepreneur/business owner
  • Faculty member
  • Manager/director/administrator
  • Analyst

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

Walden Facts

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#1
Walden University is No. 1 among 372 accredited U.S. institutions for awarding doctorates to African Americans.2
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90% of Walden DBA alumni responding to our survey state that their Walden degree enhanced their professional performance.*

Testimonials

Alvin Perry

Alvin S. Perry

DBA Graduate
I was accepted at George Washington University at the same time I received the acceptance from Walden. The choice was clear to me. I selected the university that matched my educational goals and provided me the opportunity to study aspects of positive social change within my specialization of leadership.
I was impressed with Walden’s accreditation in business, and I personally aligned with Walden’s social change mission.
While I was deployed to Iraq, I conducted research and determined Walden University would be a great fit, allowing me to achieve the credibility I need to meet my goals for the future.
Ingrid M. Hayes-Burrell DBA Graduate
Ingrid Hayes-Burrell
Kimberly Denney DBA Graduate
Kimberly Denney
Noah Chad Shannon DBA Graduate
Noah Chad Shannon

Related Articles

Choosing the DBA Specialization Thats Right for You

Great Career Facts for Anyone Earning a DBA

Two professional men sit across from each other discussing business.

Part of our mission to be a force for good means being transparent with our students. Access important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program. 

Note: Time to completion and cost are not estimates of individual experience and will vary based on individual factors applicable to the student. Factors may be programmatic or academic, such as tuition and fee increases; transfer credits accepted by Walden; program or specialization changes; unsuccessful course completion; credit load per term; part-time vs. full-time enrollment; writing, research, and editing skills; use of external data for the doctoral study/dissertation; and individual progress in the program. Other factors may include personal issues such as the student’s employment obligations, caregiving responsibilities, or health issues; leaves of absence; or other personal circumstances.

Walden’s BS in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), and PhD in Management programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The MS in Accounting and BS in Accounting programs are also accredited by the ACBSP and have earned the organization’s Specialized Accounting Accreditation.

1Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Database (IPEDS). Retrieved July 2018; includes 2017 preliminary data and all classifications of instructional programs (CIP) codes. A doctoral research degree is a PhD or other doctoral degree that requires advanced work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include EdD, DMA, DBA, DSc, DA, DM, or others, as designated by the awarding institution.

2Survey of Earned Doctorates, National Science Foundation, “Table 9: Top 20 doctorate-granting institutions ranked by number of minority U.S. citizen and permanent resident doctorate recipients, by ethnicity and race of recipient: 5-year total, 2013–17,” on the internet at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf19301/data. The survey included 372 accredited U.S. institutions. The population for the 2017 SED consists of all individuals receiving a research doctorate from a U.S. academic institution in the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017. Recipients of professional doctoral degrees are not included in the SED.

3Source: www.WaldenU.edu/survey_methodology; % calculated on total number of respondents to our 2015 survey.

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Questions about our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)?
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