Doctor of Business Adminstration
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is designed for seasoned executives who have already demonstrated leadership at the highest levels and are ready to consolidate their expertise into a structured, academically rigorous, and industry-recognized qualification.
Unlike traditional PhDs, which focus on purely academic research, the DBA is deeply rooted in real-world business challenges, ensuring that candidates develop insights that are both strategically valuable and practically applicable.
Who should apply?
This program is for proven high performers who have:
- A master’s degree and at least 10 years of full-time leadership experience, including a minimum of five years leading other leaders.
- The ability to engage in independent research, analyze complex business challenges, and develop evidence-based strategies that create measurable impact.
- A desire to move beyond coursework-based education and instead curate a lifetime of professional experience into a rigorous, research-backed thesis that advances both their own career and their industry.
How it works
Two paths to your DBA
Our DBA program offers two distinct pathways, allowing candidates to choose the approach that best aligns with their experience, goals, and preferred learning style.
Option 1: Mentoring-Based Pathway
This executive mentoring model is designed for professionals who want to refine their expertise through structured mentorship, integrating academic standards with high-level business application.
Key Requirements:
- Mentor at least five leaders in their workplace, industry, or sector over a minimum of 12 sessions, demonstrating advanced leadership and coaching capabilities.
- Submit a 40,000–50,000-word research report, which must include:
- Detailed analysis of each mentor cycle, including key insights, leadership strategies, and professional growth.
- Summary findings and recommendations for practice, outlining actionable strategies for leadership and organizational development.
- Comprehensive documentation of all research iterations, ensuring a structured and transparent evaluation of mentoring outcomes.
This pathway ensures candidates not only refine their own expertise but also contribute to the development of future leaders, reinforcing their impact at an executive level.
Option 2: Research-Based Pathway
This pathway is ideal for candidates who prefer a self-directed approach, allowing them to identify, analyze, and resolve a specific business problem or opportunity through original research.
Key Requirements:
- Identify and resolve a complex business problem or capitalize on an industry opportunity.
- Conduct extensive independent research, supported by workplace document review and stakeholder engagement.
- Submit a 40,000–50,000-word research report, ensuring all iterations of research are documented and retained.
The research-based pathway allows candidates to independently identify and resolve a complex business challenge, developing deep expertise, strategic problem-solving skills, and evidence-based insights that drive meaningful impact in their industry.
Final Step: Viva Voce
Regardless of the chosen pathway, all candidates must successfully complete a 90-minute viva voce (oral defense) before an independent panel.
This interactive session ensures candidates can:
- Defend their research findings with clarity and confidence.
- Demonstrate executive-level strategic thinking.
- Validate their ability to apply academic principles to real-world business challenges.
Why choose our DBA?
Cedar Mountains University’s DBA is the ultimate credential for professionals at the peak of their careers who are ready to consolidate their leadership, strategy, and research capabilities into an elite qualification.
If you’re already driving change at an executive level and want to cement your expertise while making a tangible impact on your industry, this is the program that will take you there.
Have a question?
We’re here to help. We can answer your questions, help you understand your options and support you throughout the application process.
