Can you get a PhD after getting an MBA?

Question

I'm into business but I have an engineering background. I wanted to get a PHD level degree but not in engineering. Is this possible? lol

Answer 1

Yes

Many programs offer a PhD in business subjects that can be entered with an MBA.  There is also the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) and there are some specialty areas of the EdD (Doctor of Education) that are appropriate for an MBA grad.

If you don't already have the MBA, you might want to consider an MA or MS in one of the business specialty areas instead as that will prepare you better for the PhD.  You might also consider a concentration in your MBA instead of a generalist program.

Answer 2

Of course you can. Many universities offer PhD degrees in business. some of them are the best schools in the world.

Answer 3

Universities do offer a PhD in Business Administration.  I have one in Finance, but you can concentrate in other fields, including Operations Research, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Accounting, Business Strategy, etc.

The MBA is considered a terminal degree, and is not the usual route towards getting a PhD. I did get an MBA first -- but that is pretty rare.  I was accepted into the PhD program based more on my performance in PhD level classes in Mathematics, Finance and Economics than on my performance in MBA classes.

The good news about getting a PhD in business is that B-Schools pay about twice the salary as liberal arts departments.  The bad news is that they are extremely hard to get into.  The top Finance programs, for example, get between 250-400 applications per year and only accept four or so students.