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.
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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.
- Dr. Dina Dommett, Dean of Faculty & Doctoral Programs
- Dr. Viktoria Dalko, DBA Associate Dean and Professor of Finance
- Dr. Johan Roos, Chief Academic Officer and Professor of General Management and Strategy
- Dr. Mark Esposito, Professor and Director of Hult's Futures Lab
- Dr. Matt Gitsham, Professor and Director of Hult's Sustainability Lab
- Dr. Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organizational Behavior
- Dr. Alessandro Lanteri, Research Fellow and Professor of Strategy
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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.