Grow Your Career with the Highest Credential in Business

Take your ambition further with UNA’s low-residency Executive Doctor of Business Administration (EDBA).

Hear how Dr. Shawn (“Shirwan”) Jyawook, one of UNA’s first EDBA graduates, gained the knowledge to solve business challenges that require good instincts and better research.

Be the Expert in the Room.

  • Format: Hybrid; remote coursework with multiple on-campus weekend residencies per year. 
  • Time to Complete: ~3 years, part-time, with most students working while attending.
  • Designed For: Mid- to senior-level leaders looking to achieve the pinnacle of business expertise. 
  • Focus: Using research and real-world insights to drive better business outcomes. Graduate ready to influence strategy and lead change at the highest level.
  • Work Impact: Pursue advanced consulting, teach at the university level, or conduct the valuable research organizations need. You’ll be the expert others turn to for the most complex challenges. 
  • Accreditation: This degree is delivered through an AACSB-accredited business school. 

An EDBA Designed to Redefine What’s Possible

UNA’s EDBA program offers flexible coursework that fits your demanding schedule, along with opportunities to learn from distinguished faculty and build meaningful relationships with accomplished professionals across diverse industries. Together, you’ll exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and gain insights that elevate your influence and create lasting value throughout your career.

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Surround Yourself with Excellence

Earning an EDBA is challenging and rewarding. To get there, you need the right people by your side. UNA’s cohort-based model surrounds you with ambitious peers and expert faculty who help you move forward. 

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Faculty with Proven Experience

UNA’s EDBA faculty know business, research, and what it takes to complete a doctorate. They'll work alongside you throughout your doctorate journey, providing individualized support and mentorship. As you move from your first course to the completion of your dissertation, these experienced scholars and professionals will be there to challenge and support you.

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Expand Your Expertise

Your dissertation is an opportunity to investigate a real-world business challenge and contribute meaningful change. Along the way, you’ll develop the meticulous research skills you'll need to claim your place as a changemaker in the industry of your choosing. 

Join the Next Cohort

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What to Expect From UNA’s Executive DBA

  • How does the UNA EDBA fit into your professional commitments?

    The part-time, hybrid format is designed so you can keep working while earning your doctorate. Complete most coursework remotely, then come to campus to learn alongside peers in your cohort.   

  • What can I expect from the EDBA residency experience?

    The Executive DBA brings students to campus for 10 weekends each calendar year. Each residency typically begins midday Friday and ends before lunch on Sunday. Some meals are covered; students are responsible for travel and lodging.

    During each residency, you’ll take part in: 

    • Focused class sessions that connect the theory you've been learning with practical action
    • One-on-one time with faculty to strengthen your research and professional perspective
    • Spending time with accomplished professionals who bring diverse experiences and perspectives and forming meaningful relationships that can last well beyond the program. 
  • How will the dissertation advance my expertise?

    The dissertation gives you the opportunity to explore a business challenge that matters to you. With guidance from UNA faculty, you’ll choose your topic, conduct original research, and develop insights you can apply in leadership, consulting, academia, or other professional settings. 

  • What is the difference between an EDBA program, a Ph.D. in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership?

    The right doctoral program depends on what you want to study and where you want it to take you. 

    A Ph.D. in Business Administration is typically geared toward people interested in academic or research-focused careers. It places more emphasis on theory, discipline-specific study, and contributing new knowledge to the field. 

    A Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership focuses more closely on how people and organizations grow and respond to change. It may be a good fit if you want to explore leadership, culture, behavior, and organizational performance across different settings. 

    An EDBA is designed for experienced business professionals who want to go beyond the MBA and strengthen how they approach complex organizational challenges. The focus is more applied, helping you use research to make stronger decisions and solve real business problems. 

    UNA’s Executive DBA brings that applied focus into a low-residency format, giving you opportunities to connect with faculty and peers in person while keeping your career moving. 

  • What types of career opportunities do EDBA graduates pursue?

    Graduates often advance into advanced positions across industries, such as:

    • Management consultant or independent advisor
    • Senior roles within specialized or global advisory firms
    • Strategy and organizational development positions
    • C-suite roles, including CEO, CFO, or Chief Strategy Officer
    • College or university faculty member, including opportunities to pursue tenure
    • Subject-matter expert or thought leader addressing today's business challenges 

     

    More than just a credential, an EDBA prepares you to become the person organizations turn to when the stakes are high and the answers matter. 

  • Who typically pursues an EDBA degree?

    If you have leadership experience and are ready to expand your impact, you may be a strong candidate for the EDBA. 

    This program is designed for professionals who: 

    • Hold a master’s degree (such as an MBA or related degree) 
    • Bring meaningful leadership or management experience 
    • Want to apply advanced research to business, consulting, leadership, or academia

     

    You don’t need prior academic research experience. What matters is your leadership perspective and your ability to apply advanced thinking to real organizational challenges. 

    If you’re already leading and want to grow your impact, the EDBA is built for you. 

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What Students Are Saying

 

“EDBA classes at UNA are practical and highly relevant with immediate, real-world application. Learning and being mentored by such world-class faculty is priceless. I am excited and privileged to be in the EDBA program at UNA – it has been worth every penny, time sacrificed and ounce of commitment.”
George Nkosi, Internal Revenue Agent, EDBA '23

A High-Impact EDBA Worth the Investment

Earn your EDBA for less than comparable programs, with no out-of-state tuition and up to $25,000 available in scholarships.

Ready to grow your influence in today's demanding business world? Let's talk.

Get answers fast from our EDBA Coordinator:

  • Program details tailored to you
  • Cost, aid, and scholarship options 
  • Hybrid format
  • Anticipated time commitment  
  • What the EDBA experience looks like 
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