College of Doctoral Studies
Online doctorate degrees in business
Take your business career to the leadership level
Maximize your business knowledge and help give your career a competitive edge with a doctorate degree in business. In this degree program, you’ll hone your leadership skills and develop a strategic vision for positioning an organization for growth. You’ll also gain the insights to solve organizational problems and innovate across industries with creative solutions.
Designed for busy adults. All our courses are 100% online and only eight (8) weeks long, including two symposiums. That means you’ll have the flexibility to start school any time of the year and when it fits your busy schedule. It’s a convenient way for busy, working adults like you to build business skills while preparing for leadership opportunities.
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Find the doctorate degree in business for you
Doctoral degree program length
The doctoral degree program length can vary by program expectations. Course extensions, research proposals, and research and dissertation can all impact the duration and cost of doctoral studies. That's why our doctoral support team is here to guide you every step of the way. Review your selected program for details.
If you have questions, speak to our dedicated doctoral enrollment representative.
Topics covered by core courses in our doctorate business degrees
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
- Strategic management and analysis
- Leadership theories and principles
- Change management and business information
- Problem-solving in business
DOCTOR OF MANAGEMENT
- Management, organizational development and leadership
- Emerging issues in management and leadership
- Developing sustainable systems structures and processes
- Research and scholarship in management
Outlook for workers with a doctorate degree in business
Master’s business degree course requirements
Doctor of Business Administration
You’ll take 18 core courses with program-specific curriculum to help you gain the confidence and skills to succeed. These core courses include topics such as Strategic Management, Marketing, Financial Management and Organizational theory and development to ensure organizations remain sustainable in a competitive environment.
Doctor of Management
You’ll take 12 core courses and 6 management and leadership electives with program-specific curriculum to help you gain the confidence and skills to succeed. The core courses cover foundational leadership competencies, while the electives help you build skills in a specialized area of organizational leadership and decision-making.
Start with one of these certificates. Then apply credits toward your degree program.
Tuition and financial aid
Affordable, locked-in tuition
Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.
From grants and scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid for those who qualify, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition.
Student experience
“University of Phoenix provided the flexibility and strong curriculum that would change my life . My Doctorate has offered me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience. I encourage people to finish their degrees, work hard, and to remember it is not a race, but a journey.”
Michael P.
DM, 2014
“Continuing my education through University of Phoenix was a natural complement to conversations of leadership development. Getting my doctorate in Organizational Leadership enabled me to understand the need for a new paradigm in these conversations, which I could now offer knowledge with my learning and practical applications.”
Steve F.
DM, 2009
Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you.
How to apply for your doctorate degree in business
Once you’ve selected your doctorate degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you'll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class.
- No application fee — no obligation!
- No SAT, GMAT or essay required
Meet your college deans
Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.
Hinrich Eylers, PhD
Vice Provost of Doctoral Studies and Academic Operations
Herman van Niekerk, PhD
Associate Dean, College of Doctoral Studies
Programmatic accreditation
Our Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Management degrees have been reaffirmed for accreditation until 2027 by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), ensuring the quality of your education.
What does that mean in real life? ACBSP-accredited business programs are committed to quality standards. The quality of the program is regularly benchmarked against specific criteria that prepare students for the business industry. Accreditation occurs on a 10-year cycle with regular quality reviews.
Doctorate business degree FAQs
The approximate program length for a doctorate degree in business is 42 months, but it depends on a few factors including whether you take breaks during your program.
Having a doctorate degree in business has become an increasingly important way to gain the knowledge and critical skills today's workers need to stay competitive in business. Doctorate degree employment rates are projected to grow by 9.1%, on average, between 2021 and 2031.* So if you’re looking to build knowledge and career-relevant skills, an online doctorate degree in business could help.
*The BLS Projected Growth for 2021-2031 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
Yes, all our courses are available 100% online, including the symposiums. Where most colleges expect you to take several courses at once, here you’ll take one course at a time over 8 weeks in an innovative, virtual, asynchronous learning environment. You and your peers will engage in discussions, assignments and learning activities. Plus, you’ll learn curriculum from faculty who bring their own real-world experience and practice the same knowledge and skills they teach, all while learning the industry-relevant skills necessary to promote your career growth. What’s more? Throughout the course of your learning experience, our academic counselors and finance advisors are always there to support and guide your decisions from your first day to your last.
Yes, you can transfer eligible credits if the college you attended is an accredited institution.
