What is a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) and
the Difference Between a DBA and PhD
Individuals that desire to pursue a higher education degree need to determine what their ultimate career
goal is. By doing so, individuals will know the type of degree they need to pursue. Individuals that hope to obtain
a professional position in the teaching or research field will want to earn a PhD in their area of interest.
Individuals that desire to work outside the field of academia or research will need to pursue a doctoral degree in
their field of specialty. For example, it may be more advantageous for individuals wishing to obtain employment in
a managerial setting to seek a Doctorate of Business Administration degree rather than a PhD. This is due in part
to the fact that PhD programs are based more on theory development while doctorate degree programs focus more on
the practical application of existing theories.
While a Doctorate of Business Administration and PhD are almost equivalent degrees, the program coursework
for a DBA is applied-research oriented. This is the aspect that most strongly separates the DBA from a PhD.
Individuals enrolled in a DBA program can expect to be involved in applied research as opposed to theoretical
research. There are two main goals of a DBA program. First, the program is designed to contribute to both the
practice and theory of business management. Second, the program is designed to provide students with the
professional knowledge they need to successfully apply these learned practices.
Individuals pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration will find that extensive research will be required,
which will be similar to the research required for a PhD. The coursework hours required for a DBA and PhD are
similar as well. Additionally, both degrees require students to research, write, and defend a doctoral thesis.
Again, when deciding whether to earn a DBA or PhD, individuals need to determine the career they wish to pursue.
This will help ensure they earn a degree that will provide them the most advantages.
| 