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Earn Your Online DBA

with a specialization in Strategic Leadership and Innovation

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Please fill out the short form below and someone will contact you shortly to discuss the opportunities at Concordia University Chicago.

By completion and submission of this form, I consent to receive communication from a representative of this institution by phone, text or email regarding the educational program request.
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Realize Your Full Potential as a Leader and Innovator with a DBA Degree

Success in business relies on a spirit of innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Getting there requires an education that emphasizes these key values and offers cutting-edge research and theory with a focus on practical, real-world applications.

The DBA in Strategic Leadership and Innovation from Concordia University Chicago, offered fully online, delivers on all of these fronts. Designed for professionals ready to become leaders in their field, the DBA in Strategic Leadership and Innovation focuses on managing change and providing quality leadership that meets the needs of 21st-century organizations.

DBA Program Features

  • Application-oriented research
  • Best practices and strategies to meet real-life business challenges
  • A synthesis of global trends, business knowledge and leadership theory to advance both theory and practice
  • Courses in quantitative research and advanced statistics

Qualified leaders are in high demand in today’s rapidly evolving, highly competitive business world and within the modern health care industry. Earning a DBA  in Strategic Leadership and Innovation prepares graduates to excel in these roles from the moment they earn their degree.

Even though I have been working in academia for seven years and serving as a consultant and staff for various entrepreneurship initiatives, the offers I’m receiving now are for roles with much greater impact and broader scale. Receiving my DBA was the bridge to these new, heightened leadership opportunities.

- Margaret Johnsson
DBA '20

Get answers to your questions with our short information session.

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The DBA in Strategic Leadership and Innovation degree program from Concordia University Chicago prepares students to:

 

  • Critically examine the literature of business, leadership and applied research
  • Conduct independent, ethical, innovative and rigorous business research
  • Design and implement innovative business solutions
  • Evaluate the efficacy of business principles to effect change in global environments
  • Master strategic marketing in a global environment
  • Apply best practices involving business analytics and financial decision-making
  • Become global leaders who understand the importance of social responsibility and ethical decision-making

Program Details

The Doctorate in Business Administration with a Specialization in Strategic Leadership and Innovation program requires 60 credit hours of online coursework, including a six-credit dissertation. Courses are eight weeks in duration, and students typically earn their DBA in three years.

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Less than 2%

of the US population

have earned a doctorate

Career Outlook

Those who earn a DBA in Strategic Leadership and Innovation degree from Concordia University Chicago will be well prepared to take on leadership roles in business or to successfully launch a business of their own.

Salaries for business managers and leaders vary widely depending on the position and location. However, BLS data reveals that the median annual pay for top executives was $98,980 as of May 2021, and the top 10% earned upwards of $208,000 per year.

DBA graduates can expect to find employment opportunities:

  • Heading large departments within an organization
  • Leading nonprofits and government agencies
  • Consulting with companies on innovation and strategic leadership
  • Teaching at the university level
  • Managing health care facilities such as hospitals, physician clinics, community centers and long-term care homes
  • Working for professional organizations

In today’s competitive, global marketplace, the need for expertise in leadership is greater than ever. The need for ethical, socially responsible leaders is just as great. The online DBA program from Concordia University Chicago will prepare you to become a highly effective leader who drives positive change and sets the standard for other professionals industry-wide.

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DBA, Strategic Leadership and Innovation Specialization: 60 Credit Degree Program

DBA, Strategic Leadership and Innovation Specialization Courses
DBA 7010Foundations of the Doctoral Experience2
DBA 7000The DBA Residency Experience 11
DBA 7020The Global Leader: Social Responsibility and Ethical Decision Making3
DBA 7901Doctoral Research Design for Business4
DBA 7404Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 11
DBA 7405Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 21
DBA 7401Mentor Courseroom 13
DBAL 7701Strategic Leadership Thought3
DBA 7406Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 31
DBA 7605Quantitative Data Analysis for Applied Business Research3
DBA 7200The DBA Residency Experience 21
RES 7700Qualitative Research3
DBA 7407Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 41
DBA 7030Strategy Formulation, Deployment & Innovation: A Global Perspective3
DBA 7040Global Business Operations3
DBA 7402Mentor Courseroom 23
DBAL 7702Strategic Leadership Practice3
DBA 7408Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 51
DBA 7050Business Analytics & Financial Decision Making3
DBA 7300The DBA Residency Experience 31
DBA 7403Mentor Courseroom 33
DBA 7060Global Concepts in Strategic Marketing3
DBAL 7703Disruptive Innovative Execution3
DBA 7409Accompanying Mentor Courseroom 61
DBA 8000Dissertation 13
DBA 8010Dissertation 23

Click for full Doctorate in business administration (DBA) specialization course descriptions.

Tuition & Financial Aid

If there is no interruption in your course of study at Concordia University Chicago, you are guaranteed there will be no increase in tuition rates. Contact us to confirm the current tuition and fees for the online DBA program. Students who enroll in the program as a degree candidate are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.

Active-duty military service members, veterans and eligible dependents can take advantage of financial programs available to assist in paying for a college education. For more information, please visit our website.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into the online DBA program at Concordia University Chicago, students must have earned a master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Prospective students must complete the free online application and submit all required admission materials:

  • Official Transcripts – Provide one official, sealed transcript from each institution that has granted you a degree.
  • Letters of Recommendation – Send two letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to comment on your academic proficiency, professional competencies, personal character and potential for doctoral study. If possible, please submit one academic and one professional reference.
  • Professional Resume – Provide a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae, including relevant work experience, degrees, certifications and skills.
  • Writing Sample – Capture your goals and ambition for pursuing the Doctorate in Business Administration in approximately 2-3 pages, double-spaced, using proper grammar, professional writing style, and correct paragraph composition. This is not your resume; it is an opportunity for you to present who you are, and how your academic and professional background has prepared you to pursue the DBA.

There is no application fee and no GRE requirement to apply for the online DBA degree program at Concordia University Chicago.

Important Information for International Students

Discover an enriching education just 10 miles from Chicago, providing you with unique opportunities to connect
with diverse cultures and explore career prospects in many leading industries across the U.S.

International applicants may be required to submit additional supporting materials, such as proof of English language
proficiency, a copy of their passport and a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved credentialing service.

For full requirements, visit the Admission & Tuition page.

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Contact Information

Beth Lewis

Concordia University Chicago
Admission Counselor

708.340.7664
Online.info@CUChicago.edu

schedule an appointment

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By completion and submission of this form, I consent to receive communication from a representative of this institution by phone, text or email regarding the educational program request.

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MBA OVERVIEW

MBA, General

MBA, Accounting Specialization

MBA, Digital Marketing Specialization

MBA, Finance Specialization

MBA, Health Care Management Specialization

MBA, Leadership and Change Management Specialization

MBA, Project Management Specialization

MBA, Sports Management Specialization

ONLINE DOCTORATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

DBA – Strategic Leadership and Innovation Specialization

DBA – Innovation in Health Care Management Specialization

PhD/EdD, Leadership: Organizational Leadership Specialization

Other Programs

CSBO Endorsement

MS, Computer Science (international students only)

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  • Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Online MBA Programs
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Regional University – Midwest
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Value Schools – Regional Universities Midwest
  • U.S. News & World Report Top Performers on Social Mobility
  • U.S. News & World Report Campus Ethnic Diversity

Our Mission

Steadfast in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, Concordia University Chicago promotes academic rigor in its liberal arts and professional programs; grounds students in objective truth, integrity, and excellence; and practices faithfulness to the Confessional teachings of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, as it forms students for vocations in church, family, and the world.

If you would like more information about Concordia-Chicago’s mission, values or values, please click here.

For more on Concordia-Chicago’s on-campus programs, visit here.

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