Online EdD Programs in Entrepreneurship in Education

Updated: February 2, 2024

Online Doctor of Education (EdD) programs with a concentration in Entrepreneurship in Education prepare students for roles that require them to combine educational leadership with knowledge of business development and management. These programs typically cover such topics as organizational leadership, curriculum development and instruction, education finance, business model design and implementation, marketing strategies, and strategic business and community partnerships. There are currently three schools that offer online Doctor of Education (EdD) programs with a specialization in Entrepreneurship.

Graduates of EdD programs in Entrepreneurship in Education can pursue careers at education technology companies, education non-profits, as well as primary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, academic research centers, and government agencies. Due to this specialization’s unique combination of education leadership and business development courses, graduates may have a wide variety of career options. They may serve as school principals and superintendents, where they have the knowledge to incorporate innovative learning solutions into their students’ curricula, or assume leadership roles at startup companies that develop solutions to problems in education.

This page only includes online EdD programs with a specific specialization in Entrepreneurship. As there are very few online programs that offer this specialization, students may also want to check out our Online EdD in Organizational Leadership page for additional programs that might include coursework in entrepreneurship or related topics.

Curriculum for Online EdD Programs in Entrepreneurship in Education

Most EdD programs require the completion of 40-70 course credits, which students can fulfill within of three to five years of study, depending on whether they are enrolled full-time or part-time. Core courses in Education Entrepreneurship EdD programs cover topics such as education systems, curriculum development and assessment, learning theories, and principles of instruction. Examples of core courses may include:

  • Organizational Leadership in Education: The organizational structure of primary, secondary, and post-secondary education systems, and the key players in these systems. The role that education administrators have in the creation, maintenance, and improvement of systems of education. How to manage issues within a larger education system by examining and addressing problems in their economic, social, cultural, and political contexts.
  • Foundations of Education: Fundamental theories, principles, and practices of education at different levels, from primary to post-secondary and professional training. The historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education, and how to address the needs of different student groups.
  • Curriculum Development and Implementation: The principles of creating and implementing curricula at different levels of education. How to identify students’ learning needs and meet them through educational programming, teacher trainings, and educational outcomes assessments.
  • Building Learning Environments: How to build, maintain, and improve different systems and communities of learning in both physical/campus and online environments. The different forms of learning (ex. cognitive, social/behavioral, etc.) and how to foster them in different contexts with different student demographics.

Following the completion of core classes, students begin their concentration coursework, which typically consists of classes that explore the connection between economics, business strategy, entrepreneurship, and education.

  • Education Economics: The fundamental theories and principles of macro- and micro-economics, and how they apply to the development of education systems. The financing of education in the public and private sectors, and the relationship between supply and demand when determining the market value of educational services.
  • Education Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship and how it relates to non-profit, for-profit, and public education institutions, as well as systems of education. Examples of enterprises that have changed the landscape of education, and how they developed a sustainable business model. Persistent problems in the education system and how they can be addressed in the public and private sectors.
  • Marketing for Entrepreneurs: The core principles of marketing, including the use of analytical marketing tools, customer segmentation and targeting, branding, promoting, price determination, and distribution. Identifying consumer needs in the education space, and conveying the value-add of one’s products or services to consumers.

In addition to concentration coursework, students can also take elective courses on topics that are related to education or administrative leadership. These courses can be either from a different EdD concentration in the same department, or from a different department at their school. Examples of electives may include:

  • Technology in Education: How different technologies can enhance student learning at the K-12, undergraduate, and post-graduate levels. Different technology tools and how they can be incorporated into curricula. Online courses and their burgeoning role in higher education.
  • Teambuilding and Collaboration: The fundamentals of effective teambuilding, communication, and collaboration in a variety of educational and professional contexts.

As a culmination of their academic experience in their EdD program, students complete a dissertation that examines an issue in education or education entrepreneurship. Students discuss their research ideas with a faculty mentor individually, in a dissertation seminar context, or both. Students receive academic credit for their work on their dissertation, which requires a significant amount of research and writing under the supervision of their research mentor. For more about dissertation requirements for online EdD programs, please refer to our EdD Dissertations and Doctoral Capstone Projects resource page.

The curriculum information above is meant to serve as a guideline, and prospective students should note that program curricula can vary. In addition, the structure of online EdD programs varies by program. For more information, please read our Structure of Online EdD Programs resource page.

Career Paths for Graduates of EdD Programs in Education Entrepreneurship

Students who complete an EdD program in Entrepreneurship in Education receive the necessary training to assume leadership positions in both academic and corporate environments, including in both traditional and non-traditional settings. They are prepared to work at organizations that combine education-related mission statements with entrepreneurial business practices. Examples of the roles that graduates of these programs can assume include but are not limited to:

  • Executives of Non-Profit and For-Profit Companies: Executives of education-related for-profit and non-profit companies supervise the operations of their organization. Their responsibilities may include leading teams in the design of new education products and services, supervising the performance of the staff at their company, ensuring the progress of programs and initiatives that further their organization’s mission statement, and overseeing company finances.
  • Leaders in Government and Education Advocacy: Leaders of government agencies are in charge of the operations of the departments under their supervision, with the goal of ensuring that these agencies fulfill their mission statements. They manage budgets and oversee the progress of projects at their agency. Education advocates work for groups that create advocacy programs to push for improvements in the education system and publicize the needs of certain student groups.
  • School Principals: School principals preside over the operations and performance of one or more schools. They are responsible for the performance of the teachers at their school, and are accountable for their students’ educational attainment. To achieve these goals, principals coordinate teachers’ schedules, manage the development of curricula, oversee and evaluate student standardized testing, and manage the school budget in collaboration with other school officials.
  • Deans of Colleges and Universities: Deans of institutions of higher education oversee the operations of one or more departments at a college or university. They supervise the creation and evaluation of curricula, manage the performance and professional development of faculty, and also supervise non-faculty staff.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Entrepreneurship in Education

The following schools are sorted by state for easy reference; however, most online EdD programs accept students from other states as well. For out-of-state programs, students should confirm with an admissions advisor that the program accepts students from their state of residence before applying.

FILTER ONLINE PROGRAMS BY STATE:

Illinois

Governors State University

(University Park)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission, CAEP

Maryland

Accreditation: MSCHE
Department: School of Education
Programs:

Washington

City University of Seattle

(Seattle)
Accreditation: NWCCU
Department: School of Applied Leadership
Programs: