We’ve identified 15 accredited Online DBA No Dissertation Programs for 2024. Want to get a Doctorate in Business without a dissertation? Here’s how!
If you truly want to set yourself apart in the business world, taking your education to the next level with a Doctorate in Business Administration can do just that.
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Earning your DBA will not only enhance your credentials but can also help ensure that you’re at the forefront of modern business leadership. And now, it’s possible to get enrolled in online doctoral programs without a dissertation.
Online DBA No Dissertation Programs
Select the doctoral field that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- General Business
- Healthcare Management
- Homeland Security
- Human Resource Management
- Information Systems Management
- International Business
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Management
With a Doctor of Business Administration, you can increase your potential responsibility, respectability, and annual earnings.
Accounting
To help businesses manage their money, consider a specialization in Accounting. An accounting concentration aims to prepare doctoral students for careers as Certified Public Accountants, chief financial officers, budget analysts, financial managers and auditors.
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Classes cover various disciplines in the accounting field, such as managerial accounting, cost allocation and data analysis.
Entrepreneurship
Challenge yourself to become a more innovative leader through a DBA specialization in Entrepreneurship.
You can put this degree into practice as a trailblazer in a startup, or you can apply the principles in an established business setting. Your classes may cover ways to encourage creativity and new ideas, and you can talk about how to market successfully in today’s business world.
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Your studies should also include information on how to go about financing business endeavors and providing wise financial leadership.
Finance
Professionals with a concentration in Finance may be well-suited for executive positions in corporations, banks or nonprofit organizations. For example, with this degree, you might choose to pursue a career in investment banking or hedge fund management.
In preparation, your coursework will cover important topics in the field of finances, such as asset pricing, credit risks, business leadership, and microeconomics.
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You will probably discuss both domestic financial matters and those that relate to conducting business in an international setting.
General Business
Do you know that you want to earn an advanced business degree, but you’re not interested in settling on one specific specialty? Pursuing a generalist DBA can allow you to study many aspects of this field.
You may be able to select electives from multiple specializations in order to design a course of study that addresses your particular areas of interest.
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Your coursework may cover corporate leadership, change navigation, and sustainable marketing.
Healthcare Management
From insurance companies to hospital systems, many healthcare organizations require experienced business professionals. With a specialization in Healthcare Management, you could also pursue work in the pharmaceutical industry, the nonprofit sector or the government.
Typical studies in this degree discuss how healthcare is delivered and factors that can disrupt that process.
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Healthcare management students also need to study ethics, pricing factors, legal regulations and access to care.
Homeland Security
The safety and security of people and infrastructure are vitally important. You can play a role in protecting these critical assets when you obtain a DBA with a concentration in Homeland Security.
Some experts in this area work for government agencies, but others play leadership roles in the private sector.
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You and your classmates can explore ways that security issues have changed over time and how they affect modern business practices.
Human Resource Management
The success of a business depends on its people. If you have a passion for ensuring that organizations are equipped with the best talent, then a specialization in Human Resource Management could be right for you.
In this program, you can study planning for future needs, managing costs, outsourcing tasks and abiding by contracts.
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After graduation, you may head up a human resources team, serve as a corporate executive or become a recruiter.
Information Systems Management
To blend your passions for technology and business, choose a concentration in Information Systems Management for your DBA.
Not only can you learn ways to make the most of technology in your organization with this degree, but you can also explore ways to be innovative and forward-thinking with tech.
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This degree program can help prepare you to run networks, maintain databases or perform research so you can help your company gain an edge over the competition.
International Business
In many ways, global markets are becoming more connected, and businesses are becoming more international. A specialization in International Business can help you operate in markets around the world.
You can study business law in different countries and the roles of various global financial institutions.
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This program can prepare you for a leadership position in a business with worldwide offices, or you can use your training to become a consultant for various companies.
Leadership
Nearly every top position in the business world requires strong leadership skills. You can gain an advantage in this area by earning a DBA with a Leadership specialization.
A well-rounded degree program can help you learn how to lead your organization through change, work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and apply principles of human motivation.
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Your coursework may also address topics of ethics, professional responsibility and environmental sustainability.
Marketing
Businesses rely on marketing professionals to build awareness of their brand, analyze trends and create a positive image of their company. With a Marketing concentration, you can explore topics like these in-depth. Your classes may help you learn more about performing marketing research and understanding how consumers make decisions.
You can also explore different marketing channels, including digital media and business-to-business (B2B) marketing.
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Career options may include advertising executive, media director, or research lead.
Project Management
When an organization has an objective to accomplish, a project management professional may be the person in charge of overseeing the process from beginning to end.
A concentration in Project Management can help equip you with the skills necessary for leading major projects, navigating obstacles and guiding organizations through times of change.
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In addition to becoming a project manager, you could work as a third-party consultant.
Supply Chain Management
There are many steps involved in transforming raw materials into consumer-ready goods. Even after the manufacturing process is complete, there’s the additional task of getting items onto store shelves and into consumers’ hands.
You can work toward becoming an expert in overseeing this process from beginning to end by earning an online DBA with a specialization in Supply Chain Management.
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Common course topics in this specialization include international operations, logistics management and quality assurance.
Careers & Salaries
A doctoral degree can give you the necessary credentials to help you land a top-paying job. Salaries vary depending on position and geographic region, but top executives make an average of $107,680 per year. Financial managers may earn $134,180 annually, and that field is growing at a rate of about 15 percent (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Analyst:
- Because analysts work in many areas of the business world, you could choose a specialty like budgeting, operations or data.
Computer Information Systems Manager:
- In this managerial role, you can take charge of a company’s computers and networks as well as the ways that data is handled.
Consultant:
- Third-party consultants help organizations or employees improve their operations by suggesting ways to save money or streamline processes.
Entrepreneur:
- Although there is financial risk involved in launching startups, entrepreneurs often find the experience thrilling.
Financial Manager:
- You can oversee an organization’s financial matters, such as tracking spending and making projections, in this management position.
Human Resources Manager:
- HR directors deal with personnel issues. They may coordinate benefits, resolve disputes, maintain policies and acquire talent.
Marketing Manager:
- As a marketing professional, you might be in charge of advertising, brand recognition or consumer research.
Operations Manager/Top Executive:
- In this role, you could be responsible for providing leadership and direction as well as overseeing daily operations.
Professor:
- With a position in academia, you can teach business principles to undergraduate or graduate students.
Accreditation for Online Doctorate in Business Administration Programs
Every reputable online college bears regional accreditation. This is an institution-wide distinction for schools that do a good job of educating students.
Among others, regional accreditors include:
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Many business schools also seek accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This accreditation is available only for programs related to business or accounting. Although there may be good programs without AACSB accreditation, this industry-specific certification serves as a reassuring sign that your DBA program meets or exceeds industry standards.
Professional Organizations
Joining a professional organization can be an excellent way to further your knowledge and network with other business professionals. Members often have access to newsletters, job postings, conferences, discounts and online training materials.
- American Management Association
- American Society of Association Executives
- National Association for Female Executives
- National Management Association
Financial Aid
Many online doctoral students rely on financial aid to fund their studies. The first step to qualifying for assistance is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your financial aid package may consist of grants, loans, scholarships, work-study or fellowships from government, university or private sources.
Can You Get a Doctoral Degree in Business Online?
Online DBA programs are an excellent option for many students, and, often, they require no on-campus residency requirements. For this reason, online doctorate studies are often a great choice for busy professionals. Accredited online programs are just as rigorous and comprehensive as their traditional counterparts.
What’s the Difference Between a Ph.D. and a DBA?
Ph.D. in Business programs can prepare you to conduct original research. People with this degree often teach at universities.
DBAs are professional doctorates in which you apply existing knowledge to real-world problems. Those with DBAs often work in corporations or other business settings.
What’s a Dissertation Really Worth?
A dissertation for a doctorate is often used as an evaluation tool at the conclusion of the program. Its purpose is to demonstrate that you have acquired sufficient skills and knowledge in your field. Most doctorates have a dissertation component, but others do not require a dissertation and rely on projects or alternative evaluation methods.
Can I Work While I Pursue My Doctorate in Business Administration Degree?
Yes, many online DBA students are able to balance school and work. Online universities often design their programs with working professionals in mind. They offer accelerated schedules and flexible formats that can help you fit school into your busy life.
What Are the Advantages to Earning My Doctorate Online?
If you earn your doctorate degree online, you can take classes from a reputable, accredited school without having to move across the country or quit your job. You can study from wherever you are, and you can take classes and complete coursework whenever it fits into your schedule.
How Long Does it Take to Get an Online Doctorate in Business Administration?
The length of your doctorate in business administration program will depend whether you enroll full-time or part-time and how long it takes you to complete your dissertation or another final project. On average, most students spend three to four years working toward DBA completion.
Universities Offering No Dissertation Online Doctorate of Business Administration Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included below offer Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs that do not require a dissertation.
- DBA
Bellevue is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- DBA
CalSouthern is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
- Online DBA – General Management
- Online DBA – Organizational Leadership and Development
- Online DBA – Strategy and Innovation
Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- DBA
Franklin is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- DBA – Accounting
- DBA – Healthcare Administration
- DBA – Management
IWU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
- DBA – Accounting
- DBA – Finance
- DBA – Healthcare Management
- DBA – Human Resources
- DBA – Information Systems
- DBA – International Business
- DBA – Leadership
- DBA – Marketing
- DBA – Non-Profit Leadership and Management
- DBA – Project Management
- DBA – Strategic Management
- DBA – Strategic Media and Digital Content
- DBA – Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
- DBA – General Management
- DBA – Human Resource Management
- DBA – Organizational Leadership
TESU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
- DBA
Trevecca is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
- DBA
Trident is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
- DBA
UIW is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
- DBA in Accounting
- DBA in Energy Management
- DBA in Entrepreneurship
- DBA in Finance
- DBA in Global Supply Chain Management
- DBA in Healthcare Management
- DBA in Homeland Security
- DBA in Human Resource Management
- DBA in Information Systems Management
- DBA in International Business
- DBA in Leadership
- DBA in Marketing
- DBA in Project Management
- DBA in Social Impact Management
- DBA in Technology Entrepreneurship
- DBA – Self-Designed
Walden is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
- DBA
WilmU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Start Earning Your DBA and Don’t Worry about Writing a Dissertation!
While a dissertation can certainly be useful for proving your expertise, it isn’t necessary for all doctoral programs. You can become an expert in your field and continue working with your new credential faster when you don’t have to write a dissertation.
Look into the universities above to see which programs provide a curriculum that matches your interests, and don’t forget to apply for financial aid at the same time as you’re applying to your doctoral programs. We suggest applying to 3-5 doctoral programs to help ensure acceptance.
