Doctoral Programs
in Business

There are a variety of doctoral programs available in the field of business based on discipline of study and the format in which they are offered.

Tracks/Concentrations

In most cases, PhD program concentrations or tracks are dependent on the research interests and capabilities of a school’s faculty and/or the mission of the particular institution.

Accounting
Decision Sciences
Finance
Management
(including Organizational Behavior/Theory)
Marketing

Part-Time and Non-Traditional Programs

If a full research degree isn’t what you are looking for, there are programs that are tailored for experienced professionals. For instance, these programs are ideal if you want to explore business above that of a master’s degree and wish to remain on a professional business career path. However, if you are interested in performing intensive research and teaching at the university level, you’ll want to consider a more traditional PhD program.

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
Learn more about the differences between a DBA and a PhD.

Executive Doctorates in Business
Learn more about executive doctorate programs in business.

AACSB-Accredited DBA and Exec Doctorate Programs
View schools with AACSB-accredited DBA and executive doctorate programs.

Online PhD Programs and AACSB Accreditation
A student blog article on why there are currently no online PhD programs with AACSB Accreditation.

Program Formats

PhD programs require full-time effort, meaning you are required to be completely immersed in research, coursework, data collection, and teaching responsibilities. Working adults are required to leave their professional jobs for part-time, more flexible employment options. However, due to the shortage of business faculty and doctoral graduates, an increasing number of institutions are developing part-time PhD programs to attract and retain potential students.

Part-time programs are a new concept. For the most part, the majority of these programs are for experienced professionals with less interest in intensive research. For instance, there are several AACSB-accredited DBA programs that are held on a part-time basis.

Selecting Your Program

If you are interested in obtaining a PhD, you likely have a good idea of what your research interests are. But, if you remain unsure, the most important aspect to consider when selecting a doctoral program is whether or not you are deeply interested in the discipline of study. Entering a PhD program requires hours and hours of research in the particular area you choose. You also need to remember that you will be researching the subject long-term as you enter academia or a research position for a professional industry.

Consider This...

—Starting salaries of faculty members in the field
—Supply and demand of faculty positions in the field
—Organizations that hire researchers in the field
—Geographical areas where you wish to begin your career or reside and
    whether or not your field is highly demanded in those locations
—If you have completed prior schooling in business, what topics did you lean
    toward?
—Did you write any research papers that you found particularly interesting?
—If you could study one area of business what would it be?
—If you could teach one subject, what would it be?