You’ve spent years running systems, projects, or technology teams. Now you’re considering a Doctorate in Information Technology. The first decision isn’t which university to choose. It’s which kind of doctorate fits the work you want to do next.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Technology prepares researchers to build new theory. A Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with an information systems specialization prepares leaders to apply research to real organizational problems. Both are doctoral degrees. They lead in different directions.
This guide compares the IT doctoral programs you’ll see in search results, including the PhD, the doctor of technology degree, and the DBA. It also walks through Crestmont University’s Doctorate of Business Administration in Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management, which you can complete 100% online.
What counts as a Doctorate in Information Technology?
“Doctorate in information technology” is an umbrella phrase. Three main degree types sit under it:
- PhD in Information Technology or Information Systems. A research doctorate focused on original contributions to the field’s body of knowledge.
- Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) or Doctor of Science (DSc). Applied technical doctorates. Structure and focus vary widely from one institution to the next.
- DBA in information technology or information systems. A professional business doctorate that applies research to how organizations plan, fund, secure, and lead their technology.
Titles alone won’t tell you much. Two programs with similar names can have very different coursework. Read the curriculum, the research requirements, and the admission criteria before you compare anything else.
The Doctor of Technology degree
A doctor of technology degree, such as a DIT, usually sits between the other two. It is more applied than a PhD and more technical than a DBA. Coursework often centers on systems architecture, software, networks, or cybersecurity. It suits professionals who want to advance as senior technical specialists rather than business leaders.
How a PhD in Information Technology works
A PhD asks what is true in general. Its research aims to produce new knowledge that other scholars can test and extend. That goal shapes the whole program.
Most PhD programs in information technology follow a similar sequence. Students complete advanced coursework, then pass qualifying and comprehensive exams. Dissertation research follows, often worth 24 credits or more on its own. Many programs also expect peer-reviewed publications before graduation, and the degree ends with a dissertation defense.
The time commitment is significant. The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) reports that 2023 research doctorate recipients in computer and information sciences took a median of 5.7 years from entering their doctoral program to finishing.
A PhD fits you if you want a faculty research career or a research-scientist role, and can commit several years to publishing.
How a DBA in Information Technology works
A DBA asks a different question: how should this organization solve this problem? The research starts inside a real workplace. It ends with recommendations an organization can act on.
The coursework reflects that purpose. A DBA in information technology pairs a business core with IT specialization courses. You study finance, economics, leadership, and research methods alongside information systems, security, and enterprise resource planning (ERP). The degree treats technology as a business decision, not only a technical one.
A DBA fits IT managers moving toward executive roles, consultants who want research authority behind their advice, and founders of technology firms. It also fits senior leaders who want a credential that matches the responsibility they already carry.
PhD vs. DBA: A side-by-side comparison
| PhD in Information Technology | DBA in Information Technology | |
| Core question | What is true across the field? | How should this organization solve this problem? |
| Research output | New theory; peer-reviewed publications | Applied dissertation or research project with recommendations |
| Coursework focus | Technical depth and research methods | Business core, IT specialization, and research methods |
| Common direction | Academic research, research labs | Executive leadership, consulting, entrepreneurship, teaching |
| Pacing | Multi-year; median 5.7 years in computer and information sciences (NCSES) | At Crestmont University, 20 six-week courses are taken one at a time |
| Suits | Aspiring researchers and faculty | Experienced professionals who plan to keep working |
Neither degree outranks the other. They answer different questions for different careers.
Doctorate of Business Administration in Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management
Crestmont University’s program requires 60 semester credits in four parts: 30 credits of business core courses, 15 credits of specialization courses, a Comprehensive Competency Assessment, and 15 credits of research. The full curriculum is on the Doctorate of Business Administration program page.
Business Core Courses
Ten core courses build your doctoral business administration foundation. They cover global economics, global business finance, international business, and e-commerce models. You’ll also study leadership theory, organizational change, entrepreneurship, and consumer behavior research. Two courses prepare you for doctoral work directly: GRC 600 – Doctoral Academic Study and Writing, and GRC 605 – Business Research Methodology and Quantitative Statistics.
Specialization Courses
Five specialization courses focus on information systems in practice:
- IST 630 – Information Technology in Organizations
- IST 635 – Managing IT Projects
- IST 638 – Knowledge Management: Concepts and Practices
- IST 639 – Enterprise Resource Planning and Management
- IST 655 – Effective Security Management
Each course maps to a decision technology leaders make. IST 639 is a good example. ERP platforms connect finance, operations, and supply chain data in one system. Choosing or replacing one means weighing process, budget, and risk at once.
What the program is designed to build
The program defines five competencies. Three show the balance between business and technology most clearly. You’ll evaluate ethical practices in information systems. You’ll apply information literacy and computational thinking to technology decisions. And you’ll use research methods for data analysis and continuous improvement within IT.
A DBA With no dissertation: The research project option
Searching for a DBA online with no dissertation? Crestmont Univerisy gives you a choice for the final 15 credits.
- The research project path (DRP 801–805) replaces the traditional dissertation. Across five courses, you define a problem, review the literature, design a methodology, report findings, and deliver recommendations. It suits professionals who want to solve a problem inside their own organization.
- The dissertation path (GRC 641–645) follows the five-chapter model. It concludes with a dissertation presentation and oral defense. It suits anyone who plans to teach or pursue research-focused roles.
Neither path is a shortcut. Both require doctoral-level research, and both lead to the same degree.
Pacing and format for working professionals
People searching for a short DBA usually want to know one thing. Can they finish while working full time? Structure answers that question better than any ranking.
Crestmont University’s program has 20 courses. You take one course at a time, and each runs six weeks. A student who studies continuously completes 120 weeks of coursework, plus the Comprehensive Competency Assessment. Taking one course at a time means one subject and one set of deadlines.
You can complete the DBA in business administration 100% online, with no campus residency listed in the curriculum. That structure is built for professionals across career stages, from Millennials leading their first major IT project to Generation X and Baby Boomer executives formalizing decades of experience.
Which IT Doctoral program fits your goals?
Three questions will narrow the choice quickly.
What do you want your research to do?
If you want to extend theory and publish for other scholars, look at a PhD. If you want to solve a problem your organization faces now, look at a DBA.
Will you keep working while you study?
Many PhD programs expect several years of intensive research. A DBA structured one course at a time is designed around a full-time job.
Where do you want the degree to point?
Crestmont University’s DBA in Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management is designed to prepare you for roles such as C-level information executive, information technology architect, project management consultant, information technology specialist, and information technology entrepreneur.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16 percent employment growth for computer and information systems managers from 2025 to 2035. That figure describes the occupation nationally. Crestmont University does not represent that the degree leads to a specific role, placement, or salary.
Your next step
You already understand how technology works inside an organization. A Doctorate in Information Technology built on business research turns that understanding into doctoral-level authority. Review the curriculum and both research paths on Crestmont University’s Doctorate of Business Administration program page. Then talk with an enrollment advisor about which path fits your role.
Frequently asked questions
Explore answers to the most common questions about our Doctorate in Information Technology. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between information systems and information technology?
Information technology usually refers to the hardware, software, and networks an organization runs. Information systems adds the people, processes, and data that put that technology to use. Doctoral programs with an information systems focus tend to study how technology supports decisions and strategy.
Do I need programming skills for a DBA in information technology?
Crestmont University’s published admission requirements are a master’s degree, a CV or résumé, and an application. Programming isn’t listed. The specialization courses focus on managing technology, projects, knowledge, and security rather than writing code.
Can I use the title “Dr.” after earning a DBA?
Yes. A DBA is a doctoral degree, so graduates may use the title. Norms vary by industry and country, and many graduates also list “DBA” after their name on professional profiles.
Can a DBA graduate teach at a university?
Many four-year institutions require a doctoral degree for faculty roles, and a DBA meets that level. Hiring decisions still depend on each institution’s standards, the discipline, and your research record. The Dissertation path, with its oral defense, aligns closely with academic expectations.
How can I verify a university’s accreditation?
Check the accrediting body’s own directory. You can also search the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs and the CHEA database. Both list recognized accreditors and the institutions they accredit.
Is a Doctorate in Information Technology useful if I’m late in my career?
That depends on what you want the degree to do. Some senior professionals pursue a doctorate to formalize expertise, move into consulting or teaching, or lead research inside their organization. An applied research path lets you study a problem you already know well.
