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Doctorate of Business Administration

Business Administration (DBA-ABD)

  • Academics
  • Graduate Studies
  • College of Business
  • Business Administration (DBA-ABD)

All But Dissertation Program Highlights

Complete your dissertation and DBA with our Doctor of Business Administration All But Dissertation (ABD) option.

Data indicates that only 56% of doctoral students have graduated 10 years after starting their DBA programs. Completion rates are even lower for women (37%) and minority students (6%), according to PhD Completion and Attrition: Analysis of Baseline Program Data, Council of Graduate Schools, 2008. Withdrawal often occurs in the transition from coursework to the dissertation research phase of DBA programs due to the lack of mentor support, inconsistent standards and expectations, and a timed structure.

Why students choose Baker College for their All But Dissertation:

  • The ABD degree is disciplined and structured to ensure quality and timely completion.
  • Supported with strong mentors (DBA chairs) who guide the student as the “instructor” for the dissertation process.
  • Step-by-step guidelines and templates for the dissertation and evaluation.
  • The all but dissertation process is project based providing students with a familiar business driven structure.

With the Baker College ABD program students will:

  • Be able to move beyond standard managerial positions and into positions such as business consultant, analyst, C-level executive (CEO, CIO, CMO, etc.) or business operation specialist.
  • Start a career in academia by teaching business classes at colleges and universities.
  • Have a chance to develop these higher-level skills without having to put your career on hold.
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Top Doctorate in Business Administration Program in 2024

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Top Online Business Ph.D. and DBA Programs

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#2 Best Online DBA Programs in 2024

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#13 Best Online DBA Programs of 2024 by www.intelligent.com

At a glance
60

Credit Hours

1+

Years (Avg.)

View Full Curriculum

Learn Your Way

Doctorate of Business Administration ABD classes are taught exclusively through Baker Online.

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Why Choose the Doctorate of Business Administration All But Dissertation at Baker?

In the dissertation only doctorate, you’ll have the education and skills it takes to solve problems at the very highest level of a business. Students may choose from six areas of specialization or design their own specialized fields of study. After earning your DBA degree online, a whole new world of career opportunities will be open to you.

ABD Doctorate Curriculum

The Baker College online Doctorate of Business Administration is a 1+-year program consisting of 28 credit hours to satisfy dissertation requirements only. Our curriculum includes a dissertation research problem and question, a doctoral specialization seminar and six dissertation courses.

View Full Curriculum

Sample Courses

Defining the Dissertation Research Problem and Research Question

Description
Introduces students to an array of quantitative and qualitative research methods and designs and their appropriate application in empirical research. Topics related to quantitative research include measurement, sampling, hypothesis testing, variables, validity, reliability, and causation. Different quantitative research designs will be covered, including experimental and quasi-experimental, survey, field, designs utilizing existing data, and evaluation research. Topics related to qualitative research will also be covered, including interviewing, coding, nonrandom sampling and quality of evidence (credibility and dependability).

Doctoral Specialization Seminar I

Description
Focuses on the first of two doctoral seminars taken in series and focused on your specialization. The primary focus of these two seminars is the successful completion of your Qualifying Paper, which is Chapter I and Chapter II of the dissertation proposal. In this initial doctoral seminar, you will complete Chapter I: Introduction and Statement of Problem. Specifically, you will investigate a topic of your choice within your selected field of study. Chapter I includes a definition of the research problem, identification of the research questions, a description of the purpose of the study, and an explanation about its significance. The seminar will include the development of a bibliography of major theorists or theories in the field of study.

Dissertation I

Description
Allows students to work toward the completion of their dissertation with the support of their chair and committee. A successfully completed dissertation provides evidence that you have the ability to plan, execute, and apply scholarly research, have mastered foundational theories and concepts, and have an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in one area of specialization. It is also evidence that you are able to conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the results of that research in a coherent document that addresses an important problem and makes a significant contribution to the profession's theory or practice.

Additional All But Dissertation Requirements

Students who have 32 semester credits from an accredited doctoral program can apply for advanced standing in the All But Dissertation (ABD) option. To apply to the ABD program option, you simply submit an official transcript verifying that you have completed a minimum of 32 semester credits or equivalent in a regionally accredited doctoral program, along with a resume including your educational and professional experience. You will also submit a writing sample from your previous doctoral work.

All But Dissertation Program Outcomes

Our quality-focused, market-driven, and rigorous PhD ABD curricula will establish and enhance core business knowledge and the ability to anticipate and react to societal changes, as well as provide students with technological proficiency, the ability to make ethical decisions, and the communication skills that embody the professional acumen graduates need to make positive contributions to their chosen fields.

View Outcomes & Performances

How Does The Baker College ABD Option Work?

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Doctor of Business Administration All But Dissertation (DBA ABD Option), you simply submit an official transcript verifying that you have completed a minimum of 32 semester credits or equivalent in a regionally accredited doctoral program, along with a resume including your educational and professional experience. You will also submit a writing sample from your previous doctoral work.

Faculty Mentor

Once you’re admitted into the ABD program, you will be paired with an experienced faculty mentor who will serve as your dissertation chair and will provide one-on-one guidance throughout the dissertation process.

Dissertation Milestones

You will begin by completing an individual learning plan with your faculty mentor, which will include the specific milestones required to complete your dissertation and earn your doctoral degree. Next, you will develop a prospectus that includes all the major components of your doctoral dissertation, from a statement of the research problem and research questions to a description of your research design and the methods you plan to employ. With the support of your faculty mentor and dissertation committee, you will develop a draft dissertation proposal. Once your proposal is approved, you will begin to collect and analyze data and, ultimately, complete your dissertation. At this point, your dissertation will go through a form and style review, and you will present your results orally over the phone to the committee. If your dissertation meets all requirements, you will submit your dissertation for publication to Proquest.

Time to Degree

You will be required to complete a minimum of 28 credits. Typically, students complete their dissertation in 1.5–2 years.

Resources

You will have access to a number of resources. For instance, in addition to your faculty mentor, dissertation committee, and other university staff who will be there to guide and assist you, Baker’s ABD degree option gives you access to a vast online library. If you’ve been a part of a doctoral program but were not able to complete your dissertation, the all but dissertation program can help you finally earn your doctoral degree. It’s an amazing opportunity to reach a lifelong goal.  

Accreditation

External peer review is the primary means of assuring and improving the quality of higher education institutions and programs in the United States. This recognition is accomplished through program accreditation, approval or certification.

The College of Business at Baker College has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please view our IACBE member status page.

International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) logo - Member with Accredited Programs

This page was last revised on March 25, 2025.
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On Campus Unavailable

Core courses for this degree program are not offered on campus.

For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available on campus each semester.

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Available on Baker Online

Courses for this degree program are available through Baker Online.

100% online, this format offers flexible scheduling with 8-week semesters

Baker Online

Unavailable on Online Live

Core courses for this degree program are not offered through Online Live.

For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available through Online Live each semester.

Online Live
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