Beyond the MBA: Doctorate in Business Management
Interested in studying business at the highest level? The Doctor of Business Management degree is a possible follow-up to the popular Master of Business Degree, but earning an MBA is not typically a prerequisite for a DBM or DBA in Management. A doctorate in business management can be used to help individuals qualify for post-secondary teaching positions as well as enter the research field. This degree is also useful for those who aspire to pursue leadership positions in business, the corporate world, or non-profit organizations.
PhD programs in business management are also available through liberal arts universities, but these programs are slightly different in their approach and curriculum. Most doctoral programs typically take three to seven years to complete, which includes two or three years of full-time coursework and time to complete research and a dissertation. Students' research options can include any of the following:
- Development of strategic alliances
- Entrepreneurship
- General management
- Innovation
- Leading globally distributed teams
- Organizational learning
- Senior teams
- Transitioning to professional management from Entrepreneurial (in both international and domestic settings)
Students who are not able to attend school full-time can consider enrolling in executive or part-time programs. Additionally, some schools offer fully online DBM degree programs. Online DBA or DBM degree programs allow professionals to keep working to support their families as they invest time and effort into achieving such an ambitious academic goal. Some online programs have annual residency requirements which may be satisfied by attending professional conferences.
Doctor of Business Management Specializations and Coursework
Because business management is a versatile degree and many areas of businesses require management, schools may offer students the opportunity to specialize. Specializations can be in any number of areas including:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Global business
- Human resources
- Management
- Marketing
- Operations
The curriculum for Doctorate of Business Management degree programs varies by institution, but most are designed so that graduates have a mastery of advanced business knowledge within an area of their choosing. A comprehensive management education may include some of the following courses:
- Advanced leadership theory
- Business Modeling
- Financial valuations
- Financial management
- Global economics and theory
- Inquiry and quantitative research
- IS strategic management
- Multivariate data analysis
- Organizational change and development
- Qualitative research
- Statistics
DBM Careers and Salaries
In general, people who earn the Doctor of Business Management degree either pursue careers in academia or leadership positions within organizations. Professors' earnings vary by experience, tenure, institution, and geographic location. A 2008-09 American Association of University Professors survey reported that full-time faculty members earned an average of $79,439. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from the same time period indicated annual earnings to be $83,840 for professors of business specifically.
For executive positions, salaries vary by industry, but BLS data from May 2009 shows that professionals in management occupations made an average annual salary of $102,900. The following are additional careers to which individuals with a doctorate in business management may qualify:
- General managers, $110,250
- Financial managers, $113,730
- Marketing managers, $120,070
- Chief executives, $167,280
Professional Aspirations for Doctors of Management
One particular doctor of business management graduate has received attention since the early 1980s: Dr. Richard Lesher. For more than twenty years, Lesher served as president of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. As one of the top advocates of American business, Lesher represented more than 200,000 businesses as president. Additionally, he's published more than 1,000 professional articles.
Publishing articles and research as Lesher did is a very good way for professionals to establish themselves in the industry. Relevant journals include:
- Journal of Business Management
- International Journal of Business Management
- African Journal of Business Management
- KCA Business Journal
Any doctoral degree is a significant investment, both financially and personally. People who are considering doctorate degrees in business management should investigate the prospective schools' accreditation and talk to both current students and recent graduates about their academic experiences. Selecting a school that meets a student's individual needs can be critical to finishing such a rigorous endeavor as a doctoral program.
Top Online Programs
At University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.
- M.B.A.
- M.B.A. - Marketing
- Master of Mgmt
- Master's in Business Administration - General Management
- Master's in Business Administration - Human Resource Management
- Master's in Business Administration - Finance
- Business Administration (Master's)
UNC Kenan-Flagler is one of the world's top-ranked business schools. At UNC Kenan-Flagler, you develop the skills that make you a highly effective leader and prepare you for long-term career success. The strength of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA degree comes from a school culture in which members live the business school's core values of excellence, leadership, teamwork, integrity and community.
- MBA@UNC
Bellevue University makes it possible for you to earn a high-quality college degree.
- MBA in Business Administration
- MS in Management
- Master of Business Administration
- MBA - Marketing
- MS in Management - Information Technology
We keep our tuition affordable because it is an integral part of the overall mission for our university.
- MA in HS - Business Management
- MBA - General
- MA in Management and Leadership
Earn a Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, Master's or Doctorate for less at Baker College Online.
- Master of Business Administration - General Business
- Master of Business Administration - Marketing
- Master of Business Administration - Human Resource Management
Balance your job with online coursework as you earn your Bachelor's or Master's degree at Ashford University Online.
- MBA - No Specialization
- MBA - Marketing
- MBA - Human Resources Management
Earn an online degree that really matters from AIU Online.
- MBA - Management
- MBA - Marketing
- MBA - International Business
Earn your degree online in as little as 15 months. Contact Colorado Tech Online today. Learn more today.
- Master of Science in Management - Business Management
- Master of Business Administration - Marketing
- Executive Master of Business Administration
Make a difference with a graduate degree from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management.
- Master's-Business Administration
- Graduate Certificate-Business Administration
Launch your career in business, behavioral science, or IT with Western International University.
- Master of Business Administration in Management
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration in Marketing
Keiser University offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
- Master of Business Administration, MBA (Online)
- MBA - Marketing (Online)
- Management, MS (Online)
