What is a DBA Degree?
A DBA degree can give graduates valuable executive leadership skills needed for c-suite positions.
Business students are turning increasingly to Doctor of Business (DBA) degrees to prepare themselves to manage today’s complex business environments. Professionals with at least 5 years of management experience who want to become leaders in not just business but also government, education, and non-profit industries can learn the advanced skills they need for these roles.
Dual Focus: Research and Executive Leadership Experience
While Ph.D. degrees have some similar coursework to DBA degrees, DBAs tend to involve both research and application, with students working to apply theory to solve today’s business problems. Most DBA degrees have both research and practical components so that students have multiple options after completing the degree. Some DBA students work toward completing their degrees while employed as executives, while others work at the degree full-time.
To earn an DBA degree, students complete a dissertation, an original work of some length which may involve independent research or a compilation of existing research. Potential career paths for DBA graduates include senior managerial consultants, CEOs, operations managers, business training professionals and college professors.
Specialty Areas for DBA Degrees
Students pursuing DBA degrees can specialize in any of the following areas:
Management science. Covering the best practices and most effective methods for managing employees, this specialty helps executives both implement and advise all levels of management on improving and developing the most effective methods of management possible.
Technology management. IT and other technologies are increasingly essential to the management of many businesses. The way in which technology is managed has a direct impact on the business as a whole, and executives need to both understand and deal with these realities.
Organizational behavior. Executives who manage people need a thorough understanding of the principles of organization that often govern their behaviors. Being able to influence these behaviors can help businesses optimize their overall functioning.
Economics and finance. Economic realities can empower or limit businesses, so knowledge of economics is an important executive skill, particularly for CFOs and others involved with financial management functions.
Business ethics and accountability practices. Larger companies will need executives who are able to ensure that the business follows ethics rules and incorporates accountability practices into its management.
While DBA programs give students a basic foundation in each of these areas as well as others, specialty areas can allow graduates to obtain an advanced position within their particular area of focus and expertise.
Florida Institute of Technology offers DBA programs with small class sizes and individualized learning options to instill leadership skills that will be needed by today’s companies. FIT DBAs have been hired by NASA, Lockheed Martin and Siemens Energy, among others. DBA graduates go on to positions like senior managerial consultants, CEOs, managers of operations, training professionals and college professors. Learn more about Florida Tech’s DBA degree and whether it’s what your career needs.
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