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DBA in Organizational Leadership and Development
Doctor of Business Administration
Create your own leadership style when you earn your Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and specialize in Organizational Leadership and Development. You’ll cultivate skills to inspire, motivate and mobilize your workplace, and gain the knowledge you need transform your organization.
In this specialization, you’ll analyze scholarly and practitioner literature and emerging trends in the leadership and human resources fields. You’ll also design projects that improve organizational effectiveness and study current topics, including leadership theory and practices, high-performance leadership and positive change models.
Classes start October 11
Use the code FALL21 to waive the $50 application fee
At a Glance
- Online
- FlexPath available
- 8 Core courses
- 5 Specialization courses
- Capstone
- 24 Max transfer credits
With Capella Tuition Cap, you won't pay more than $45,000 in tuition costs for your degree.
*Eligibility rules apply. Books, supplies, and other fees apply. Connect with us for details.
Applicants must provide the following information for admission to Capella programs and specializations:
- A master’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution
- Your official master’s transcripts, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.
International Student Requirements
If you completed your most recent academic coursework, degree, or credential at an institution outside the United States, regardless of your citizenship or where you currently live, you are considered an international applicant.
In addition to the above admission requirements, you will need to submit these materials:
- Minimum score on acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
- Transcript evaluation
Learn more about international student admissions.
A self-paced learning format that puts you in control. Take courses at your own speed and move on to the next course whenever you’re ready.
- Enroll in one or two core courses at a time and complete as many as you want in 12 weeks
- 2 Capella quarter credits = 1 program point
- Set your own deadlines, no courseroom discussions
- Pay a flat tuition fee per session
$3,200 per 12-week billing session, 45 total program points, 12 max transfer points
Total Tuition Cap
Capella Tuition Cap
$45,000 Total Tuition
- Pay no more than $45,000 in total tuition for your degree*
- Applies to both GuidedPath and FlexPath learning formats
- Available to all students who start now through October 2021
*Books, supplies and other fees apply
Capella Tuition Cap
What is the Capella Tuition Cap?$45,000
Total Tuition
- Pay no more than $45,000 in total tuition for your degree*
- Applies to both GuidedPath and FlexPath learning formats
- Available to all students who start now through October 2021
*Books, supplies and other fees apply
GuidedPath
A structured learning format with an active peer community and faculty guidance. We’ll set the schedule, you meet the deadlines.
- Based on the quarter system; 1-2 courses per 10-week quarter
- 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
- Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
- Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or term
$750 per credit, $4,850 quarterly tuition max, 90 coursework credits, 24 max transfer credits*
*A maximum of 24 transfer credits are allowed, of which only 6 can be master's level credit.
Tuition breakdown
GuidedPath pricing
Program Phases
Coursework
$750 Per Credit
- 90 coursework credits
- The average student takes approx. 5 credits (1 course) per quarter.
Coursework
What is coursework?$750
Per Credit
- 90 coursework credits
- The average student takes approx. 5 credits (1 course) per quarter.
Quarterly Tuition Cap
Quarterly tuition cap
$4,850* Per Quarter
- Pay no more than $4,850 in quarterly tuition in GuidedPath*
- Can help make your degree more affordable
*Books, supplies, and other fees apply
Quarterly tuition cap
What is the quarterly tuition cap?$4,850*
Per Quarter
- Pay no more than $4,850 in quarterly tuition in GuidedPath*
- Can help make your degree more affordable
*Books, supplies, and other fees apply
Total Tuition Cap
Capella Tuition Cap
$45,000 Total Tuition
- Pay no more than $45,000 in total tuition for your degree*
- Applies to both GuidedPath and FlexPath learning formats
- Available to all students who start now through October 2021
*Books, supplies and other fees apply
Capella Tuition Cap
What is the Capella Tuition Cap?$45,000
Total Tuition
- Pay no more than $45,000 in total tuition for your degree*
- Applies to both GuidedPath and FlexPath learning formats
- Available to all students who start now through October 2021
*Books, supplies and other fees apply
Know your maximum tuition cost, no matter what happens.
Earning a degree is a great investment in yourself. And as with any investment, you want to know what you’ll pay upfront. But when it comes to education, calculating a clear number can be complicated.
- How long it takes you to complete your degree
- The number of existing college credits you can transfer
- Potential discounts and financial aid
- Academic performance
- Complexity of your capstone
- Number of quarters spent working on practicum
- Prior coursework
- School/work/life balance
- Unexpected life events
To help clear up tuition confusion, we've created Capella Tuition Cap to give you a maximum tuition amount that you know you’ll never exceed.
About cost scenarios
The cost scenarios below are examples based on general program pricing and 2020–21 Capella tuition rates, and assume the average number of transfer credits a student brings into the program. Pacing information is current as of January 1, 2021. These rates are the same nationwide and may change depending on factors affecting program length and price. You are responsible for paying your own travel costs related to residencies, including plane, hotel, and food expenses.
To discuss whether the specialization you’re interested in has additional factors that may affect program cost and length, contact a Capella enrollment counselor.
Cost scenarios
Estimated cost of completion |
|
|---|---|
| Coursework: $750/credit 15 quarters |
$62,245.00 |
| Subtotal
|
$62,245.00 |
| Est. savings with Capella Tuition Cap*
|
$-17,245.00 |
| Est. tuition subtotal with Capella Tuition Cap*
|
$45,000.00 |
| Resource kit fee: $175 15 quarters |
$2,625.00 |
| Application fee: $50 one-time fee |
$50.00 |
|
Est. total with Capella Tuition Cap* 15 quarters |
$47,675.00 |
*Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details. Capella Tuition Cap is available to students who start now through October 2021.
Get the details
Connect with an enrollment counselor to further discuss the cost of the program and explore your eligibility for scholarships and discounts.
*Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details. Books, supplies and other fees apply.
Your education is an investment in your future that’s within your reach. There are more ways to save than you might think.
Our DBA in Organizational Leadership and Development curriculum includes leadership, research, strategy, technology, and ethics, plus coursework to help you develop skills in critical, creative, reflective, and statistical thinking.
| DB8400 |
Your DBA Journey
In this first course, learners analyze the components of a business problem. Learners use critical thinking models and practices, including the role of assumptions, to identify business problem scenarios. Learners practice professional- and business-writing, acquire library skills, network with peers and doctoral support services, and learn new technological and reflective tools for further development and independent thought. Must be taken during the learner's first quarter. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. |
6 quarter credits |
|---|---|---|
| DB8405 |
Effective Organizational Leadership
Learners in this course investigate business problems in information systems, management, and marketing experienced by leaders. Learners examine models and theories found in current scholarly and practitioner literature. Additionally, learners analyze project-based problem solving. |
6 quarter credits |
| DB8410 |
Addressing Problems in Human Resources and Compliance
In this course, learners analyze project-based concepts in human resources, business law, business ethics, and re-skilling of talent pools in the global environment. Learners examine business ethical compliance using value- and rule-based argumentation. Learners evaluate secondary data sources to perform due diligence when creating objective, fact-based, unbiased analyses. |
6 quarter credits |
| DB8415 |
Strategic Decision Making
In this course, learners identify strategic decision-making models and theories to assist in solving business financial problems. Learners apply economic and managerial accounting data and management theories to business strategy decisions. Learners cultivate skills using decision and visualization tools, logic frameworks, and intuitive knowledge. Additionally, learners gain an understanding of gap analysis within the project perspective. |
6 quarter credits |
| DB8420 |
Teaching Business in Higher Education
In this course, learners develop a personal teaching philosophy regarding teaching practices, methods, models, and strategies within the fields of business and supply chain management. Learners create instructional plans and measurable assessments for higher business education within adult-learning frameworks. Additionally, learners write portions of business courses and assess curriculum. |
6 quarter credits |
Learning outcomes
This degree can help prepare you to take a leadership role in your field. The DBA in Organizational Leadership and Development draws on professional standards to help you advance your career. On successful completion of this program, you should be able to:
- Communicate effectively as scholar-practitioners in the field of general management, for diverse audiences and purposes through digital, oral and written formats.
- Lead and execute projects within the field of general management, using structured research processes, qualitative and quantitative techniques, theories, frameworks and models, to discern evidence-based solutions to current or forward-looking business problems.
- Engage in reflective practice that demonstrates growth in personal and professional thought, behavior and action by modeling personal accountability, decisiveness and self-management when providing general management decisions in the workplace.
- Demonstrate scholar-practitioner knowledge and expertise in general management, grounded in current theory, research and best practices.
Review the Capella career exploration guide to learn more about this program and career opportunities.
Your education can help you reach your professional and personal goals. While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion, or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here are some ideas and examples for a graduate with a Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and Development.
Related job titles to explore
- Account manager
- Consultant
- Director
- Strategy manager
- Vice president
- Adjunct, part-time, full-time business faculty
Employment settings to explore
- Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services
- Banks or financial firms
- Community or technical colleges
- Data processing, hosting and related services
- Insurance carriers
- Land-based or online colleges or universities
- Manufacturing
- Research and development services
Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accreditation and recognitions provide assurance that we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability. See all our accreditations and recognitions.
Meet your faculty
Our distinguished faculty members are scholar-practitioners, active in their professions, who bring real-world experience to the courseroom. Each faculty member has completed specialized training in our distinctive outcome-based approach to education.
Todd Wilson
Dean, School of Business, Technology, and Health Administration
Michelle Preiksaitis
Academic Program Director
Kenneth Sherman
Assistant Academic Program Director
Support to reach the finish line
Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of doctoral students. We’ve structured the experience in manageable pieces that build on one another to help you earn your doctorate. You’ll have support from faculty, staff, and online resources along the way.
DBA as a Springboard for Future Success
Doctor of Business Administration program participants help advance their careers with terminal degrees.
How is a DBA different from a PhD in Business Management?
A DBA is a practitioner-based degree that utilizes existing knowledge to develop hands-on, practical solutions to problems in the workplace.
DBA program guide
Get details on the Doctor of Business Administration program at Capella University, learning formats, financing options, and more, all in one place.