Getting a higher degree in management education can open new doors of opportunities in front of you. In management, you can choose between a Ph.D. or Doctorate in Business Administration to escalate your career. But what is the difference between Ph.D. and Doctorate, and which one should you pick? Dive into this article to develop a more detailed understanding of the two degrees in management.
Doctorate of Business Administration
Reputable DBA programs validate the extensive skills and knowledge of a student in the business industry. A Doctorate in Business Administration is usually a follow-up to an MBA. Students often need to have a few years of management experience before enrolling in a DBA course.
Enrolling in DBA programs will help you gather information on the latest theories and research in business. A massive Ph.D. and Doctorate difference is the research approach. While a Ph.D. degree in management will focus on theoretical research, a DBA is based on practically-oriented research.
Ph.D. in Business Administration
A Ph.D. in Business Administration is valuable for attaining teaching positions in top universities. A Ph.D. is a scientific degree and is awarded in multiple disciplines. A Ph.D. in management concerns itself with business administration development, its evolution, and its connections with society at large.
Key Aspects to Understand the Difference Between Ph.D. and Doctorate
Let us understand the difference between Ph.D. and Doctorate in relation to a few specific aspects:
- Course Duration
The difference between Ph.D. and Doctorate in terms of course duration is not that significant. Both programs last somewhere between three to six years. The exact duration will depend on the requirements of the academic programs.
Learners can pursue both Ph.D. and Doctorate in Business Administration in a full-time mode. But several working professionals apply for DBA courses. So they are also available in a part-time or blended mode.
Since a Ph.D. in Business Administration is a full-time course, it will take a shorter time than DBA to be over. But one difference between Ph.D. and Doctorate is that DBA programs can last longer when the learner is working a full-time job.
- Research Opportunities
The difference between Ph.D. and Doctorate can be clearly understood from their scope of research. Learners with a Ph.D. degree are required to form new theories and use original approaches for existing theories or statements to publish their thesis. The research of a Ph.D. in Business Administration student is based on the issues or gaps in existing theories.
On the contrary, a DBA student contributes to research by applying it to real-world business scenarios. The selected issues can be from any business. Learners will have to tackle the business issues and prepare a case study on them.
- Career Scope
The difference between DBA and Ph.D. is pretty prominent in terms of career opportunities. Individuals who want to keep up with their academic careers usually go for a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Ph.D. students can perform research and contribute to the knowledge and theory in the field of management.
But professionals go for a DBA program when they aim to rise up to higher management roles. Another major difference between DBA and Ph.D. is that a DBA program can make you suitable for consulting jobs in different fields. But DBA graduates can also go ahead with further research and apply for teaching positions at top B-schools as guest professors.
- Salary
The difference between DBA and Ph.D. in terms of salary opportunities is not that significant. A Ph.D. can lead to high-paying careers like management analysts, business professors, and scientific authors. On the contrary, a DBA can lead to practical and high-paying careers like CEOs, CMOs, and COOs.
Making a Choice Between a DBA and a PhD
Once you understand the difference between DBA and Ph.D., it’s time to make the right choice. If you have started out in the field of management and want to perform research, go for a Ph.D. in business administration. It will help you build a stable academic career.
But if you want to rise up to higher managerial ranks, pursue a DBA. A DBA program usually needs a few years of management experience. Therefore, DBA students are usually older than the ones pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration.
While understanding the difference between DBA and Ph.D., you will realize that both have equal weightage in terms of international acknowledgment. The primary difference is that they help fulfill different goals.
Final Words
No matter which one you choose, you should always get it from a reputable institution. Apart from understanding the Ph.D. and doctorate difference, remember to research the ranking, accreditation, and more about the B-school.
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