Doctor of Business Administration

Earn an online doctorate in business

It is time to achieve the highest level you can in business. It is time to drive positive transformations in organizational performance and employee success. Enhance your skills and expertise with research, courses, and a dissertation. Your educational journey will be enriched by peers who share your passion for learning and achieving more within your cohort.

Credits60

Cost Per Credit^$925

Important Dates

Submit an application by 11/1 to join our January cohort and 05/15 to join our June cohort.

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Program Overview

Why do 82% of our doctoral students stay with CUW?

Inspiring faculty
Engaging curriculum
Support for the whole person

In this doctoral program, you will identify and research the challenges organizations are facing in today's evolving business environment. There is a focus on developing applicable knowledge and skills that you can take back to your workplace and make an immediate difference. Your growth as a scholar-practitioner will change your mindset when encountering complex issues and new business opportunities. With the completion of a dissertation, you will gain the confidence and expertise to a be an impactful leader in business.

This three-year, 60-credit program features two concentrations:

Financial and Economic Management: Study how the financial and economic theory impacts global and regional organizations. You'll have the opportunity to explore further either financial or economic principles allowing you to apply the concepts to organizational structure and productivity.
Organizational Performance and Change (OPC): Learn applied methods and theories that address organizational improvement by examining individual, team, and organizational analysis and enhancing decision-making techniques.

Concordia University offers another doctoral degree with the more research-intensive Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Discover the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and dive into high-level research.

DBA Student Discussion

Listen to current students explain their reasons for pursuing a DBA and why they chose to earn their doctorate at Concordia University.

NEW - All But The Dissertation (ABD) option

Have you started your doctorate but life got in the way? Have you completed your DBA courses, but never finished your dissertation? Our program provides the opportunity for students who have completed all requirements for a doctorate at another institution except for their doctoral dissertation to earn their degree. Concordia University welcomes all applicants who have achieved this status in their graduate education. We will help you achieve your goal and set you up for success.

What to Expect

Be a part of a doctoral program that is focused on your goals, your learning needs, and your overall well-being. At Concordia, we understand that you have commitments outside of school that will need to take priority at times. This flexible approach will provide an easier pathway to earning your DBA.

60-credit program
8-week online sessions
Cohort format
3-year expected completion
Complete and defend your dissertation
Attend two in-person residencies at our Wisconsin campus when you start the program and when you begin your final year of the program
January and July start dates

Letter from the DBA Director

Hear from our students

The DBA is a practical doctorate. It is a practical endeavor. You get to choose what you want to study. You get to choose what makes a difference to you.

Christopher Duncan / Current DBA Student, Business Administration
This doctoral program is making a difference in your life, and you’re instantly making a difference in your team, and your organization.

Matthew Harwell / Current DBA Student, Organizational Change and Performance

Graduate Application Steps

Entrance requirements

Must have a master's degree with a focus in this doctoral program or other relevant degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale in one's master's coursework. (A lower GPA will be considered on an individual basis.)
Provide proof of English proficiency if English is a second language.
No GMAT or GRE is required.

Admissions process for graduate school

Application form available at www.cuw.edu/apply
- Select the Graduate option
Submit official transcripts from graduate or equivalent coursework
Submit a resume or CV, and a list of references
Submit an example of scholarly writing from graduate-level courses or other related work
Participate in a video-conference interview

Apply Now

Accepted into the program

An official acceptance letter will be emailed to you that will include your Student ID number.
An email from your Admissions Counselor will be sent to you with Next-Step details and you will need to submit your tuition deposit.
Password information will be sent separately from the Information Technology office which will provide you with access to Blackboard, your Concordia email account, and your student portal.

Please note:

Uncommon Scholarships: If you meet the qualifications, please complete an application Uncommon Scholarship

Admission to the DBA program is governed by policies and procedures developed by the Batterman School of Business and Concordia University of Wisconsin. The University reserves the right to refuse admission or re-admission to any prospective study or re-enrollment to any student. Any applicant who intentionally withholds pertinent information or falsifies information may be required to withdraw from Concordia University. The University and the Batterman School of Business reserve the right to make necessary changes to admission requirement without notice.

The DBA is a competitive admissions process. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DBA program. Concordia University of Wisconsin and the Batterman School of Business may request additional documentation to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admissions decision can be made.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis through the calendar year.

Credit Transfer

Effective in the Fall 2022 semester, students who have taken equivalent doctoral-level courses at a different university can submit a DBA Transfer Credit Application to have up to 30 credits count towards Concordia's DBA program requirements. Courses must be equivalent in scope and rigor to Concordia's DBA courses.

Concordia MBA students who receive pre-approval to take up to 12 qualifying DBA credits (at the 8000-level or above) may count these credits toward the DBA program.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to supply official transcripts along with a transfer credit request to have the credit(s) applied to the DBA program. Students may be asked to submit a syllabus for coursework being considered for transfer, along with a rationale as to why the student believes the course(s) meets the DBA requirements. Eligibility of transfer credits will be assessed by the DBA Director and based on relevance to DBA studies.

International Students

International students should contact the Office of International Admissions at international.admissions@cuw.edu for additional information on eligibility and application requirements. For more details, please visit our International Admissions page.

Graduate Admission Office at graduate.admission@cuw.edu or 262-243-4300.

All But The Dissertation

How does it work?

As an incoming student, you can transfer up to 30 credits into the DBA program.
In addition, 30 credits will be needed to graduate - 24 credits through research courses to help you write your dissertation and 6 topical credits.
Collaborate with other DBA students in one three-day residency in either January or July of the year you begin.
Your faculty advisor will guide you through seven dissertation courses so you make consistent progress from day one.
Average length of completion is 1.5 year.
Upon dissertation completion, you will graduate with a Doctorate in Business Administration.

To be admitted into the DBA program, applicants must:

Have a master’s degree with a focus in business or other relevant degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Submit an application at cuw.edu/apply
Submit official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- Seven year maximum for transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution. Credits aged between 8 and 12 years can be accepted as an exception, with director approval.
- Must have completed all required doctoral program coursework and/or achieved candidacy at another institution
Cannot be academically dismissed from the previous doctoral program
Previous doctoral programs must academically align with a degree program and specialization offered by Concordia
Submit a resume or CV, and a list of references
Submit a personal statement (no more than 3 pages)
- Discuss events that lead to the ABD status
- Explain how the CUW Doctorate of Business Administration ABD pathway can help you meet your goals.
- A research topic or interest area that the applicant plans to study
Participate in a video-conference interview
No GMAT or GRE required
Have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in prior doctoral program.Exception with director approval
Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide English proficiency

Informational Webinars

Previously recorded webinars:

Doctorate of Business Blogs

Earn an online doctorate in business

Questions? We’re here to help

Get answers to your questions

Why do 82% of our doctoral students stay with CUW?

DBA Student Discussion

NEW - All But The Dissertation (ABD) option

Hear from our students

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Questions? We’re here to help