What is a Business Doctorate? The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Degree

Dr. Erica Garcia Thomas
Jul 31, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jan 7

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the highest academic degree and the most common degree in practice-oriented business. It is the degree I chose to earn and the one I practice with daily (so this content is inherently biased).

The DBA and Ph.D. degrees are comparable and confer the title "Doctor." These degrees are terminal, representing the highest level in business, and involve a dissertation or an advanced doctoral project. There are some differences too.

The Ph.D. (research doctorate, 6-10 years) and the DBA (professional doctorate, 3-6 years) are different degrees that focus on distinct areas of study. While Ph.D. programs emphasize academic research, theory, and philosophy, professional doctorates such as the EdD, PsyD, and DBA focus on professional applications within industry.

Why the DBA was right for me

The DBA degree is designed to teach students the significance of applied business Management, leadership, organizational development, and change management, among other business practice areas. DBA graduates are expected to be experts in using evidence-based practices as scholar-practitioners (researchers, educators, thought leaders, consultants, executives, etc.) in business and the workplace. The variety of professional options appealed to me because I knew that learning to apply theories would be a lifelong passion.

What is a terminal degree?

Terminal degrees are the highest level of degree available within a field. Every industry has different requirements for a terminal degree, so research if your field isn’t business administration. Terminal-degree holders focus on creating new knowledge in their field.

Can you specialize in a business area with the DBA?

Yes! The business world is vast, and some programs invite you to choose a specialization (healthcare, information systems, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, and management, to name a few).

What does DBA mean?

In academia, DBA stands for Doctor of Business Administration. While it is a common doctoral degree in other regions of the world, it is less well known in the United States, but awareness is growing. Sometimes, the DBA initials are confused with “doing business as” or “database administrator.” The more we educate leaders and see DBAs in the marketplace and institutions, the more this will advance awareness.

Is a DBA related to an MBA?

Just as many people in the U.S. are familiar with the MBA (Master of Business Administration), the DBA is the next step as an advanced (terminal) degree at the doctoral level in business administration (though a Ph.D. is also referred to as a “professional doctorate” at times). MBAs typically examine established knowledge, whereas DBAs, PhDs, and other doctoral programs often conduct original research and review the scholarly literature.

While there is substantial data available on doctorates in general, many databases don’t distinguish DBAs within the business doctorate category; instead, they are included with other business doctorates (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024). According to Harvard Business Review (2022), DBAs stand out because they represent only 2% of people with higher business degrees. In 2021, 250,000 students graduated with MBAs or specialist business degrees, but only 5,000 earned doctorates.

Does a DBA require a dissertation?

Yes, most programs require a dissertation or an equivalent doctoral project. The dissertation typically focuses on applied business practices, demonstrating how peer-reviewed scholarly research can be applied to address a particular business problem or situation. I did an Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) that was equally rigorous as a dissertation and focused on applied business research.

Can I teach or be a professor with a DBA?

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree is equivalent in rigor to the PhD, making it a versatile option for those who wish to teach, consult, or work in an executive capacity. If you aspire to become a research-based professor, it is essential to research the program you intend to prepare for and comprehend the accreditation requirements. You should also determine if a DBA meets the necessary qualifications for the role you seek. In my role as an educator at Indiana Wesleyan University, my DBA met the requirement.