A doctor of business administration or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is the highest level business related academic qualification that an individual can attain. Someone wishing to complete one of these programs must have already graduated from high school and must possess an undergraduate degree. The actual doctor of business administration program typically includes classroom-based lectures, a dissertation and many universities require students to spend some time working in the field before they can graduate.
Typically, those applying for a doctor of business administration program must have earned an undergraduate business or management degree. Additionally, many universities also require applicants to have completed a masters degrees program in business or to have completed a specific number of masters degree level courses. People with doctorate degrees often take on high-level jobs at major companies and some universities only accept applicants who have already forged long and successful careers in the private sector.
In most instances, a doctor of business administration program lasts for a minimum of four years although courses at many colleges go on much longer. Students take on advanced level classes in topics such as accounting, marketing, finance and management. Typically, students must complete a certain number of credit hours in each topic before becoming eligible to graduate. The classes usually involve attending a series of lectures and seminars as well as having one-on-one tutorial sessions with a professor or teacher.
A dissertation is a key component of most doctorate degree programs and many students spend several years researching one aspect of the business arena before detailing their findings in one of these lengthy documents. In some instances, dissertation topics are assigned by teachers while in other instances each student may choose a topic from a range of acceptable subjects that may include operations management, human resources or economics. During the composition process, the student will typically consult with his or her assigned tutor to ensure that each section of the document is of an acceptable standard. The completed document is normally graded by an outside examiner and someone achieving a low score may be ineligible to graduate.
Students enrolled in doctorate programs are usually expected to put some of their knowledge into action. Working professionals may be asked to document their daily work activities and the manner in which they have put business principles to use in their own work environment. Students who are not currently working may be asked to work as unpaid interns at corporations so that they can gain some insight into the business world.
Graduation from a doctor of business administration program is contingent upon the student completing the dissertation, the class work and the field studies. People neglecting to finish one of these components may be given the opportunity to repeat certain elements of the course. Second chances are limited though at some institutions that place overall time limits on these degree courses.
