Rapid changes in technology; enhanced global competition; the development of innovative structures in society, business and government; and an ever more complex workforce all require successful leaders of business to possess sophisticated new perspectives and skills as well as heightened levels of knowledge. As a result, contemporary business and industry executives are turning increasingly to academic institutions for new paradigms to secure success today, to recruit the best possible leadership for the future, and to guide growth and development wisely.


To meet these demands, the University of Northern Virginia's Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program provides a practical yet academically rigorous learning experience for a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students. The objectives of the program are three-fold:

• To prepare candidates for a career in management or consulting at the senior executive level;
• To provide candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary in order to conduct meaningful and original empirical research; and
• To develop within each candidate the fundamental expertise and skills required in order to become a college or university faculty member in an area of Business Administration.

This doctoral program may be pursued on either a part-time or full-time basis and completed within three to five years.


Candidates for the DBA degree must complete 60 credit hours, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. It is required that all candidates attend the earliest scheduled doctoral orientation class (one credit hour). Program components include:

• Forty-five credit hours of course requirements.
• One credit hour of doctoral orientation.
• A minimum of twelve credit hours devoted to the doctoral research project.
• Satisfactory performance in the written Comprehensive Examination (upon completion of formal coursework).
• Submission of a doctoral research proposal.
• Formal presentation of the doctoral research project.

Requirements: 60 credit hours

Doctoral Orientation: 1 credit hour

Research Methodology: 9 Credit Hours

* All doctoral students must take the RESE courses

Core Courses: 39 credit hours

Doctoral Project: Min. 12 Credit Hours

(Please refer to the DBA Program Handbook for further details.)