Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Business Administration
Go deeper. Aim higher. Lead smarter with a Smith DBA.
Business is being reshaped by rapid disruption, complex challenges and constant change. Navigating this environment requires visionary leaders who can bring clarity to uncertainty, test new ideas and adapt with agility.
The Smith Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) will equip you to redefine leadership for the realities of modern business. Designed for accomplished professionals, this terminal business degree will enable you to develop deep expertise in your chosen discipline and address consequential business challenges through applied research. The DBA opens up opportunities to publish, speak, consult and teach.
Applications are now open for the fall 2027 semester.
Your DBA, Your Way
The program is fully customizable. After completing your core curriculum, you’ll work with a dedicated faculty advisor to shape your electives and capstone around your research interests. You can draw from multiple business disciplines and pursue interdisciplinary research, giving you the flexibility to investigate the questions that matter most to your career, organization and field.
Research Areas
DBA at a Glance
Duration
3 years
Credits
54
Format
Hybrid
Start
Fall
Location
College Park, Md.
GMAT/GRE
Optional
A Prestigious Degree for Accomplished Practitioners
The Smith DBA is designed for experienced professionals ready to pursue important business questions through applied research.
Ideal DBA candidates:
- Hold a master’s degree in business administration or a related field
- Bring significant professional experience and expertise
- Are intellectually curious and passionate about research
- Want to investigate modern business challenges through rigorous, evidence-based inquiry
- Are ready to make a substantial investment in their professional and intellectual growth
Highly Regarded and Highly Ranked
The Smith DBA is part of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, an R1 research university.
Bloomberg Businessweek, 2026
UT Dallas, 2025
Very High Research Activity
Carnegie Classification
Curriculum
The DBA curriculum is carefully curated to be practice-focused, with segments in:
- Research methodology
- Analytics
- Legal and ethical issues in big data management
- Regulatory structure
Year 1: Core coursework – covers research methods and foundational perspectives in management, marketing, information systems and finance.
Year 2: Choose your advisor, choose your concentration.
Year 3: Capstone project
54 total credits (42 course credits + 12 capstone project credits)
Sample Coursework
Fall – I (9 credits)
- BDBA 809: Research Foundations: Introduction to Research Theory and Methods (3) (weekend, in-person, DBA-only)
- BDBA 820: Research Foundations: Economics for Business Research (3) (weekend, in-person, DBA-only)
- BDBA 810: Research in Business I (M&O and marketing) (3) (weeknight online, DBA-only)
Spring – I (9 credits)
- Research Foundations: Quantitative Research Methods (3) (weekend, in-person, DBA-only)
- Business Research Lab (3) (weekend, in-person, DBA-only)
- Research in Business II (finance and IS research) (3) (weeknight online, DBA-only)
Summer I (3 credits)
- Independent Research Study (3)
Fall – II (9 credits)
- BDBA 806: Executive Decision-Making in the Age of AI (3) (weekend, DBA-only)
- Area-Specific Course 1 (2)
- Area-Specific Course 2 (2)
- Area-Specific Course 3 (2)
Spring – II (9 credits)
- Business Research Lab (3) (weekend, in-person, DBA-only)
- Area-Specific Course 1 (2)
- Area-Specific Course 2 (2)
- Area-Specific Course 3 (2)
Summer II (3 credits)
- Independent Research Study (3)
Fall – III (6 credits)
- Capstone Research Project (6) (custom)
Spring – III (6 credits)
- Capstone Research Project (6) (custom)
Research That Moves Business Forward
The Smith DBA gives experienced practitioners the research skills to investigate the challenges reshaping organizations and industries. You’ll learn how to identify important practical problems, evaluate relevant data and develop insights that can influence business practice.
Current Smith DBA research topics include:
- AI-driven fraud prevention and financial compliance
- Organizational readiness for emerging technology adoption
- National AI investment, productivity and economic growth
- Crisis preparedness and organizational resilience
- Digital transformation, entrepreneurship and private equity investment
- Behavioral finance and institutional decision-making
- Technology adoption and human capital development
Learn From Faculty at the Forefront of Business Research
Smith faculty are influential thought leaders, consistently pushing the boundaries of business knowledge and bringing unparalleled insights to the classroom. You’ll work closely with faculty and your dedicated advisor as you develop research questions, strengthen your methods and shape original ideas.
In 2025, 21 Smith professors ranked among the top 2% of the world’s most-cited scholars, according to Elsevier.
Tejwansh (Tej) Singh Anand
Judy Frels
P. K. Kannan
Sheetal Singh
Michael Trusov
Siva Viswanathan
Idil Yaveroglu
Jie Zhang
Put Research Into Practice
The DBA is built around applied research, giving you opportunities to connect rigorous methodology with problems that matter in the real world.
Two summer research projects help you build your research skills and deepen your knowledge in areas aligned with your interests.
Your research culminates in a capstone project focused on a significant business problem. You’ll apply what you’ve learned to develop original insights with practical value for an organization, industry or field.
You’ll work with one dedicated faculty advisor who helps guide your research direction and supports your development throughout the program.
Admissions
- Cover letter (please submit as Description of Research/Work Experience in the application)
- Statement of purpose
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts of undergraduate degree and any graduate-level degrees if applicable
- GMAT/GRE test scores: optional
- Marketing: 2 letters of recommendation; IS: 3 letters of recommendation
- Application fee of $90
Visa Eligibility: International students, please note — this program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visas. The University of Maryland cannot issue an I-20 or DS-2019 form for this program.
Fall 2027
- October 1, 2026
- November 1, 2026
- December 15, 2026
- January 15, 2027
- March 15, 2027
- April 30, 2027
Rolling Admissions after April 30, 2027
Visa Eligibility: International students, please note — this program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visas. The University of Maryland cannot issue an I-20 or DS-2019 form for this program.
Our program is projected to cost approximately $150,000 plus university mandatory fees for three years. The program charges per credit during traditional semesters.
Schedule a one-on-one consultation to receive individualized feedback on your candidacy, or schedule your visit to a DBA class.
Upcoming Information Sessions
DBA Info Session
6:30 PM EST
Doctor of Business Administration Info Session
12:00 PM EST
Connect With Us
For all inquiries about the DBA, contact DBAadmissions@umd.edu. A recruiter will assess your candidacy and provide further information about the DBA program. Please provide a brief description of the following information in your email inquiry:
- Educational background
- Work experience
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DBA degree and how does it relate to your career objectives?