Challenge-Focused Doctoral Curriculum

Our doctoral program is built on real-world business challenges faced by business professionals like you. Students are supported to design and develop organizational interventions grounded in empirical foundations and data, to subsequently analyze, evaluate, and test the efficacy of those interventions, and communicate the results for scholarly and practical applications.

PLAY VIDEO

Program Details

Courses and structure

The Hult DBA is a flexible, accelerated 2.5 year program with a combination of structured online classes and on-campus residencies at our campuses around the world. Our unique educational approach takes you beyond business to study every topic through a global lens, master working cross-culturally, leverage disruptive technologies to shape the future, and develop the deep self-awareness needed to lead effectively and with confidence.

Key outcomes

  • Create new tools for business management

  • Unearth seminal insights specific to your life and career

  • Solve real-world problems pertinent to you

  • Take your skills and mindset right to the top of business education

  • Gain practical expertise and academic recognition

  • Advance your career or transition into teaching or consulting

Year 1

Problem Formation

Explore a problem of business practice, complete a systematic review of academic literature, understand the components of business theories, and evaluate different research paths and outcomes. This course includes an in-person residency.

Key program deliverable: Conceptual Paper

  • Hybrid, October–December 2023

Quantitative Research Methods 1

Create novel testable hypotheses, understand and evaluate different quantitative methods for statistical analyses, apply these techniques to existing data sets, and identify original insights from data analysis.

While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the second publishable paper, ie., Quantitative Research Paper 1. This course includes an in-person residency.

  • Hybrid, January–March 2024

Data Collection: Surveys

Create a reliable and valid survey instrument for data collection. Prepare and improve a data set for analysis, and critically evaluate data validity and reliability.

While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the second publishable paper, ie., Quantitative Research Paper 1. This course is delivered online only.

  • Online, April–June 2024

Visualization & Communication

Apply different ways to present research data, create and deliver a workshop to teach others how to identify and solve business problems, and understand the methods and value of meta-analyses. This course includes an in-person residency

Key program deliverable: Practicum 1

  • Hybrid, July–September 2024

Year 2

Academic Writing

Systematically evaluate multiple formal approaches to academic arguments, apply a single approach to create a publishable academic paper, and understand the process for academic publication. This course includes an in-person residency.

Key program deliverable: Quantitative Research Paper 1

  • Hybrid, October–December 2024

Quantitative Research Methods 2

Understand and evaluate alternative quantitative methods using structural equation modeling to further validate findings and apply at least one of the techniques for your own project.

While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the third publishable paper, ie., Quantitative Research Paper 2. This course includes an in-person residency.

  • Hybrid, January–March 2025

Data Interpretation

Unpack the conclusions from previous courses to move from wisdom to action and conduct a second workshop with non-DBA students, clients, and peers. This course is delivered online only.

Key program deliverable: Practicum 2

  • Online, April–June 2025

Dissemination

Understand where and how academic research impacts business practice and analyze different non-traditional avenues to persuade business leaders to employ them. This course includes an in-person residency.

Key program deliverable: Quantitative Research Paper 2

  • Hybrid, July–September 2025

Year 3

Dissertation Construction

This course provides individualized support and feedback to students as they assemble all of their work into a single written dissertation. This includes a revision of the conceptual paper and its literature review to align with the student’s subsequent analyses and conclusions. In-person residency attendance is optional for this course.

  • October–December 2025

Dissertation Defense

To conclude their research training, students will present their entire work to a panel of academic researchers who will evaluate the students’ contributions to academic theory. At the conclusion of this course, students will have completed all of the requirements of the program and will graduate with a Doctor of Business Administration degree. In-person residency attendance is optional for this course.

Key program deliverable: Final Dissertation and Oral Defense (Viva)

  • January–March 2026

Meet the Deans and Faculty

Faculty at Hult teach and help students apply tools and theories to solve major, contemporary business problems. The faculty selected to teach the Doctorate in Business Administration are award-winning researchers in both academic- and practitioner-related channels.

PLAY VIDEO

We are looking for DBA candidates who are curious. People who want to develop research skills that can have an impact not just on the development of theory, but to help solve real problems. They also need an appetite for learning in a fast-paced, dynamic, and innovative business school

Dr. Vicki Culpin

Professor of Organizational Behavior

Download Brochure

Download a brochure for an in-depth look at Hult’s DBA program.

Contact Us

Ask Us Anything

Our international team of advisors are ready to answer your questions so if you’d like to talk to an enrollment director, please enter your details and we’ll be in touch.

January 27, 2024

Activate your application profile and one of our enrollment advisors will be ready to support you throughout the application process for October 2024.