National University

Programme overview

National University’s online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration is a fully online, research-based PhD designed to develop scholar-practitioners who can lead in business, administration and technology management. The program requires 60 credit hours (20 courses), is structured for completion in about 40 months, and offers a new start date every Monday so students can begin when convenient.

What you'll study

The curriculum combines foundational coursework, specialization courses, statistics, research methods, dissertation research and a doctoral elective. Students select one of ten specializations or opt for a General Business route by completing at least 15 credit hours in a single area to have the specialization recorded on their transcript and diploma. Specializations available include Advanced Accounting; Financial Management; Global Business Management; Health Services; Homeland Security: Leadership & Policy; Industrial/Organizational Psychology; Information Technology; Organizational Leadership; Project Management; and Strategic Marketing.

Program structure and course components (as described):

• Total credits: 60 across 20 courses.
• Course types: foundational courses (taken first and sequentially), five core courses, five specialization courses, two statistical courses, five research courses, one doctoral elective, and a doctoral sequence culminating in dissertation research.
• Dissertation requirement: a minimum of four dissertation research courses, plus satisfactory completion of a pre-candidacy prospectus, university approval of the dissertation manuscript, an oral defense, and submission of the approved final manuscript (original unbound and electronic copy) to the registrar.
• Course pacing: foundational and most courses run eight weeks each; dissertation courses have a minimum duration of 12 weeks. Additional credit hours may be added if needed to complete dissertation research in alignment with institutional policies.

Entry requirements

Admission requires a conferred master’s degree from an accredited institution. The university may accept up to 12 semester credit hours in transfer for graduate coursework completed with a grade of B or better. Degree completion requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (letter grade B or higher). Official transcripts documenting the master’s degree and any accepted transfer credits must be on file. The program notes a $0 application fee and does not require essays or exams for application. All financial obligations to the university must be met before the diploma is issued.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for senior leadership and research roles across private and public organizations where advanced expertise in business, administration and technology management is required. The doctoral focus on original research and methodological rigor positions alumni for academic appointment, high-level consultancy, executive leadership, policy roles related to homeland security or health services, and specialized practitioner-researcher positions tied to the chosen area of specialization.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The programme page does not list specific scholarships or funding. Prospective applicants should explore university graduate funding offices, external doctoral scholarships, employer-sponsored tuition support, research assistantships where offered, and discipline-specific grants to help offset doctoral expenses.