Welcome to the DBA Program!
Taking applications for Fall 2027.
Upcoming Events
- DBA Information Session
- More to follow
Doctor of Business Administration Contact
Ralph McKinney
Office: SBUS 353
Phone: 304-746-1947
Email: mckinney23@marshall.edu
- DBA Dissertation Defense
- Check back later for more defenses.
Description of the DBA Program
The Marshall University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is a research-based doctoral program* that combines a disciplined approach to scholarship with a focus on compelling problems of practice. The DBA program is a minimum 66-credit hour, three-year, hybrid program that requires students to prepare an applied research proposal and dissertation. Students will study seminal and contemporary business literature to develop research questions in their area of interest. They will perform literature reviews, design and perform research studies, analyze data, and draw relevant conclusions that affect economic development and business innovation. Students will choose a concentration that focuses on one broad business area, and they will be required to complete a proposal and dissertation as part of the program.
* A systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Information Request
Why a Marshall DBA?
- AACSB accredited business school within an R2 university
- Tuition competitive (https://www.marshall.edu/tuition/2026-2027-online-graduate-tuition-and-fees/, subject to change)
- Flexibility with hybrid course delivery (online synchronous and asynchronous instruction with only 5 on-campus visits per academic year, in the first 2 years. )
- Cohort-based program
- Bridging the gap between theory and practice (practice-based research and having a practitioner serve on each dissertation committee)
- Three in-demand concentrations in Accountancy, Health Care Management, and Management and Entrepreneurship
- Databases (WRDS/CRSP/Compustat/AHA) and STATA/SPSS/SAS available for research
- #5 of the 20 Most Affordable Online DBA Programs in 2021
- #14 in the Best Online DBA Programs for 2024
Comparison of DBA and PhD
| DBA | PhD |
|---|---|
| Applied research | Basic research |
| Professional doctorate for practitioners working full-time | Professional doctorate for academics |
| Typically 3 years | Typically 4+ years |
| Significant professional experience | No professional experience needed |
| Hybrid delivery mode | In-person delivery mode |
| Preferred master’s degree | May or may not hold a master’s degree |
DBA Job Prospects
Some career opportunities may include:
- Business school faculty
- Business executives
- Market analysts
- Management analysts
- Business consultants
- Health care administrators
- Policymakers
- Business owners and/or entrepreneurs
- Economists
- Government employees
- Director of Human Resources
On-Campus Visit Schedule (Residency)
Fall 2026
- Friday, August 21 – Saturday, August 22
- Friday, December 4 – Saturday, December 5
Spring 2027
- Friday, January 15 – Saturday, January 16
- Friday, April 30 – Saturday, May 1
Summer 2027
- Friday, June 25 – Saturday, June 26
Synchronous Virtual Classes (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST)
Fall 2026
- September 12
- October 10
- November 14
Spring 2027
- February 13
- March 13
- April 10
Summer 2027
- June 12
- July 10
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the Brad D. Smith School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
This is a blended program combining online synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and face-to-face instructions.
No. As a cohort based program, students are expected to enroll full-time – 9 hours in the fall and spring; 6 hours in the summer.
The DBA Program Committee reviews completed applications for the subsequent fall cohort at three points during the academic year (typically December, February, and April) or until the cohort is filled, whichever comes first. Please complete your application as soon as possible for it to be considered. DBA application deadlines are as follows: Dec. 1, Feb. 1, April 1, and June 1.
We are looking for applicants who have a strong potential to become business leaders and academics. The DBA Program Committee will review admission materials including, among others, professional experience, educational preparation, potential reflected from your resume and personal interest statement.
No GMAT or GRE score is required for admission to our program. However, a good score of GMAT or GRE could help your admission to the program if you do not have a master’s degree.
A master’s degree is preferred but not required. The MU DBA application process is competitive. As such, applicants having advanced degrees and managerial experience are preferred.
This is a 3-year, cohort-based program.
No comprehensive exam is required. Students can begin working on their dissertations upon satisfactory completion of the required coursework and an approved proposal defense.
Students can choose from the following three concentrations:
- Accounting
- Health care management
- Management and entrepreneurship
Before a final offer is made, candidates will be interviewed by the DBA Program Committee via phone or video conference.
Admissions range from 11-15 students.
Publication is not a prerequisite for graduation. However, students are encouraged to consider working with faculty to co-author a paper.
Students are required to attend on campus residencies during the first two years of studies.
The personal interest statement should be 4 to 5 pages in length and explain the candidate’s objectives for joining the program, goals upon graduation, potential research questions of interest, and how the candidate’s work experience will contribute to this research.
You can look two places on our website. The first is the faculty/staff directory. On this page you can scroll to the department and/or specific faculty member. Click on their name and you will see Recent Publications and Research Interests for that faculty member. The second is a list of all faculty research by year. Most of the publications in these lists are clickable to the journal website where you can read the paper abstract. Feel free to email any professor about their research.
Up to $2,500 of research funds available for each student to attend conferences and/or purchase data.
We accept applications from prospective international students. However, the program has no ability to issue a Form I-20, which is the Certificate of Eligibility for the F-1 student visa. International students are required to demonstrate English proficiency (https://www.marshall.edu/international-admissions/proof-of-english-proficiency/)