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Online PhD in Business Administration

Online PhD Programs in Business Administration can prepare students for high level careers with large companies. These programs generally focus on the practical application of theoretical concepts in the business world. Students who earn Online Doctorate Degrees in Business Administration receive training to qualify them for positions of administrators, top executives and entrepreneurs.

Online PhD in Business Administration Requirements

Earning an Online Business Administration PhD requires the perseverance to complete the extensive course of study. It also requires the ability communicate well in writing and analyze business strategies.

Candidates for Online Doctoral Degrees in Business Administration should have master’s degrees in one of the following areas:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.);
• Master of Science Degree in General Management;
• Masters in Economics; or
• Master’s in Finance.

A background in management or a business position that involves strategic thinking provides helpful preparation. Students in Online Doctorate Programs in Business Administration may have supervisory experience in areas such as finance, technology or executive management.

Online PhD in Business Administration Education

Earning an Online Doctorate in Business Administration usually take four to five years to complete. Students also may be required to complete a thesis, dissertation or complex project on a substantive topic.

Information on Business Administration Courses

Courses for Online PhD Programs in Business Administration emphasize applying advanced strategic thinking and writing skills to practical issues facing large business organizations.

Courses offered by the best online colleges include:

• Business Strategy and Innovation
  This key course in earning an Online Business Administration Doctorate focuses on how to develop business strategies designed to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. It includes analysis of both current conditions and methods of forecasting change.
• Leadership and Building Sustainable Organizations
  This course explores facets of leadership including innovation, social responsibility and the culture of an organization It also covers individual and group behaviors as well as their internal and external impact on an organization.
• Business Operations in a Global Environment
  Students in Online Doctoral Programs in Business Administration learn in this course how organizations operate on a global scale and how they handle decision-making, innovation, maintaining quality and management of processes and the supply chain.
• Quantitative Decision-Making
  This course immerses students in quantitative data analysis and management techniques including statistical inference, variance-covariance, descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions. Students also learn to use data analysis software.
• Finance and Fiscal Leadership
  Students learn how to analyze national and international financial markets and evaluate financial ventures in that context. They review case studies of corporate challenges and learn to use financial and economic tools such as financial planning, budgeting and determining risk.

Specializations and Concentrations

Choosing an area of specialization or concentration instead of earning a broadly focused Business Administration PhD Online allows students to gain specific knowledge and expertise in their chosen area and enhance their professional opportunities. Areas of specialization in online doctoral programs include:

• Entrepreneurship;
• Finance;
• Information systems management;
• International business;
• Marketing; and
• Supply chain management.

Careers in Business Administration

Graduates with Online Doctorate Degrees in Business Administration can qualify for some of highest paying administrative jobs. Some of the career opportunities open to graduates are:

• Administrative Services Managers
  These managers supervise a specific area among a variety of organizational activities such as property acquisition, facilities, records or telecommunications. Job applicants face strong competition for higher level positions. The median annual wage for administrative services managers was $75,520 in May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Educational Administrator (School of Business)
  Online Doctoral Degrees in Business Administration or other disciplines often are required for top level educational administrators. These administrators develop academic programs, set polices and goals and supervise instructors and other staff. The median annual wage for educational administrators at the college level was $82,800 in May 2009. Job prospects are expected to grow due to more educational programs for working adults, although competition could be stiff for the top positions.
• Top Executives
  High level executives supervise a specific area of a company’s business with titles such as chief financial officer or chief operations officer. The best jobs are very competitive and often require extensive experience. The median salary for chief executive officers, the highest level at most companies, was $160,720 in May 2009.
• Management or Business Consultant
  Graduates with an Online PhD, Business Administration, can use their expertise as an independent consultant or member of a consulting firm. Consultants bring their high level skills to improve a company’s operations or efficiency. They diagnose problems and recommend solutions or opportunities. The median wage for management analysts was $39.26 an hour, or $81,660 a year, in May 2008. The demand for management, technical and scientific consultants is expected to grow 83 percent through the decade ending in 2018.
• Computer Network, Systems and Database Administrator
  A graduate with an Online Business Administration PhD with a specialization in information technology can become the administrator of a company’s computer network. These administrators are responsible for planning installations, maintaining networks and supervising computer technicians. Computer systems administrators earned a median salary of $70,680 in May 2008.

Students who earn Online PhD Degrees in Business Administration receive comprehensive training that qualifies them for top level careers as business executives or entrepreneurs for large corporations or small businesses. The skills gained by earning an Online Business Administration Doctorate provide a significant edge in competing for these positions.