Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management Program Overview
This fully online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a three-year, 63-credit program designed for experienced professionals, executives, and administrators who seek to enhance their leadership skills, apply advanced research to address real-world challenges, and develop new knowledge to drive their organizations forward.
Students can choose between an academic track with applied dissertation or a professional track with strategic project focused on developing a solution to a real-world industry problem. The dissertation or strategic project will demonstrate advanced analytical, research, and leadership skills, preparing professionals for high-level roles and contributing to organizational change and development. Accessible faculty members, who are scholar-practitioners with substantial professional experience, mentor students as they examine, analyze, and resolve issues impacting business today and in the future.
Healthcare Management Specialization
NEC’s DBA in Healthcare Management prepares students to lead complex healthcare organizations through effective leadership, data-informed decision-making, and strategic planning. Students build practical knowledge of governance, security, and policy to ensure compliance and protect health information. They examine how informatics and decision-support methods strengthen decision-making across organizations. The specialization culminates in strategic planning to improve performance and outcomes across healthcare settings.
Available Certificates
As students advance through the program, they may earn three stackable certificates: an Executive Leadership certificate, a Specialization certificate, and an Executive Certificate in Applied Doctoral Research. Students can earn a DBA and three doctoral certificates within the same program timeframe and tuition, creating a tailored, personalized learning path that supports career advancement.
Practical Training
Students engage in practical training as part of their hands-on learning throughout the DBA program. Practical training is a one-credit practicum course taken each term to develop professional and practice-related skills through various work and learning experiences.







