Graduate Online Entrepreneurship Degree

Graduate online entrepreneurship degree programs could help you develop important business acumen while working towards an advanced degree. The digital graduate programs may cover vital functions companies might need to operate. This could include topics in accounting, human resources, marketing, and leadership.

After completing these courses, you may then have the chance to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios. You could design both mock and actual business plans outlining necessary finances, staffing needs, and more. Who knows, this could be the beginning of your first business project!

And, online students could access these courses from the comfort of their own home. The convenient format could help your balance your education with outside professional endeavors.

Why Pursue a Graduate Entrepreneurship Degree Online?

Graduate online entrepreneurship programs try to bring the campus curriculum straight to your computer. In many cases, schools replicate their traditional courses in the digital classroom with minor alterations. Plus, since online entrepreneurship programs may be available wherever you have internet access, you could log into your courses as your time allows. This could be especially beneficial for current business professionals who work during typical class times.

Besides offering comparable curriculum, online entrepreneurship graduate programs may also include services to support their online student body. Schools may stream on-campus lectures, provide class discussion forums, and more. Doing this could help students build relationships with their peers and professors.

In addition, programs may also offer access to their facilities. This could include libraries, databases, and technological resources. These offerings could be another way to tap into the campus-based experience. School offerings vary so contact programs directly to see what resources may be available to you.

What are Online Masters Programs in Entrepreneurship?

Online entrepreneurship masters programs are designed to cover the knowledge potentially necessary to effectively run a business. Courses in the program try to address the many individual functions that go into a venture’s day-to-day operations. Then classes have students apply this knowledge to designing both mock and actual business plans. This could be the springboard for your first business venture.

Online masters programs could be presented in a few different ways. When you’re searching you’re a perfect program, the following offer comparable coursework and potential outcomes.

• Master of Entrepreneurship (ME)
• Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Entrepreneurship Specialization

The type of available degree programs offered may differ between universities. For more information, speak with an admissions counselor.

Please note that MBA programs may also require students to provide their professional resumes along with their application. This could highlight business experience you might have gained outside the classroom.

Students who have no previous business education could still apply to online entrepreneurship masters programs. To do so, students should highlight their entrepreneurial and business experience in a letter of intent. This could include outlining your career duties, business venture, and more. Letters of intent may be separately evaluated by business department faculty.

Online masters program admissions requirements may differ between programs. For more information, speak with admissions faculty from perspective programs.

The Online Masters in Entrepreneurship Curriculum

The curriculum for the masters program covers the different ways to manage your business. In short, they could help develop your understanding of the finances, human resources, and marketing strategies that are part of a company’s daily operations. By doing this, you may be able to better address the fundamental needs of a start-up company.

As part of this initiative, you may have the chance to take some of the following courses.

• Managerial Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• Strategic Management
• Decision-making
• Marketing
• Planning & Leadership

Available classes may differ between online programs. In addition, students pursuing a MBA with an entrepreneurship concentration may also be required to complete general business courses. Check with admissions or department faculty for more information.

The full masters curriculum typically equals around 30 to 48 credit hours’ worth of classes. Knowing this, students could potentially earn an online masters in entrepreneurship in 1.5 years depending on enrollment. Program length may vary between programs.

Online Masters Programs & Experiential Learning

Online masters students may be able to take part in experiential entrepreneurial learning opportunities. In these instances, students may shadow current professionals in their area of interest. It’s important to note that online students may be required to travel to a local business to complete this. In many cases, schools try to pair students with companies close to their location, but this may not be guaranteed.

During the experiential learning section of your curriculum, you could have the chance to interact with real-world business scenarios. This could be a great way to apply your textbook knowledge to the challenges a business may face in its daily operations. Experiential learning programs could include some of the following.

• Internships
• Coaching & Mentoring Sessions
• Apprenticeships

Opportunities may vary between schools. Be sure to talk to department faculty for more information.

What are Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate Programs?

Online graduate certificates in entrepreneurship offer concise business curriculum for students. Certificate programs may cover similar topics to a masters programs but, they may not go as in-depth. Online graduate certificates in entrepreneurship are usually comprised of 9 to 15 credit hours and most students earn an online certificate in 1 to 2 years. Program length may vary from school to school.

Since the curriculum is more general, the certificate program is often shorter in length . This could make the certificate program a perfect choice for students who want to study graduate coursework without necessarily committing to the longer degree program.

While the program length may seem as long as an online masters program, certificate programs usually require students to attend part-time. The graduation time lines may be the same, but the program may require less commitment from you when taking classes. This may make the graduate certificate program easier to balance along with your professional schedule. Enrollment requirements may differ between programs. For more information, check with admissions faculty.

What are Online Entrepreneurship Doctoral Programs?

Online entrepreneurship doctoral programs teach how to research, create, and implement effective new business strategies. Instead of focusing on the ins and outs of running a business, courses instead focus on research methodology. These courses could help you collect data, locate industry trends, and analyze statistics.

This is combined with the entrepreneurial knowledge you might have studied in your previous degree program. You may then be able to conduct your own business research under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Combining research know-how with your business studies could help you pinpoint and address obstacles in the industry.

To apply, many online doctoral entrepreneurship programs require students to have previously completed a masters program in a related field. Students may be asked to provide a 3.4 graduate GPA in addition to GRE exam scores.

Students who have previously earned a related undergraduate degree may also be free to apply. In these cases, students may be requested to submit a 3.2 or higher GPA. In addition, other supplemental materials may be required. These documents usually highlight any non-academic business experience you may have. While undergraduates may be able to apply to some PhD programs, many do require a masters degree prior to application.

Many doctoral programs may also request students to provide professional resumes along with their application. These should highlight your own entrepreneurial endeavors and previous career highlights. Besides work history, resumes should also denote any professional certifications you may have.

Online doctoral programs may require students to complete 45 to 62 credit hours’ worth of classes. Students could potentially earn their online PhD in entrepreneurship in 2 to 4 years depending on enrollment. Dissertation research and writing may also extend your program length. Graduation timelines vary from program to program.

Online Entrepreneurship Dissertation

Online entrepreneurship doctorate programs may require you to author a traditional dissertation to graduate. During this project, students may research different facets of a business to determine industry trends and identify more effective methodology. Depending on the results, students may then publish their work to potentially enhance techniques used in a real-world setting.

The following are a few examples of topics you could study as part of your dissertation.

• Management Styles
• Decision Making Processes
• Work Environments
• Large-Scale Business Operations
• International Business

Online students should be aware that their dissertation research may require them to visit local business. This may require some travel or a campus visit.

After collecting data, you may be required to compile your findings in a manuscript and presentation. Both documents are then presented to a dissertation committee comprised of department faculty. Chosen committee members usually have demonstrated experience in your field of study to better offer guidance and critique.

This presentation may also require students to travel to campus. However in some cases, schools may allow students to defend their research via video conference. Department faculty may be able to clear up any presentation questions you have.

Dissertation requirements and evaluation may differ by program. Again, speak with faculty members from potential programs for more information.

Accredited Online Entrepreneurship Degree Programs

There are two ways graduate online entrepreneurship degree programs could become accredited. First, there are a few accrediting agencies that specifically evaluate entrepreneur programs. The Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial & Engages Universities (ACEEU) is one example.

Other commissions may accredit general business programs that offer an entrepreneurship concentration. Both the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCSB) do this. These accrediting agencies are more typically associated with MBA programs.

States and regions may also offer specific business accreditation services. In addition, schools may be generally accredited by similar groups. For more information about an online entrepreneurship degree program’s accreditation status, speak with an admissions counselor.

What Career Could You Pursue with an Online Entrepreneurship Degree?

Students who earn an online entrepreneurship degree may find themselves equipped to pursue many different business-related careers. Notably, many students may pursue self-employed career options after graduation. There are two ways to go about becoming self-employed. First, you could start your own business. Or, you could choose to work in a freelance capacity to other companies. As of 2016, the United States had 8,500,000 to 8,800,000 self-employed individuals (BLS).

There is no minimum degree requirement for self-employed. Instead, employers or associates may look at your previous academic and professional experience. A graduate online entrepreneurship degree could demonstrate your in-depth understanding of valuable business principles.

Students could also potentially apply their online entrepreneurship degree to enhancing their current career. Many management positions may draw from your coursework to better oversee production, employee satisfaction, and more. Below are a few roles you could pursue. Also provided are their 2016 median salary.

• Marketing Managers (BLS): $133,380
• Financial Manager (BLS): $131,710
• Human Resources Manager (BLS): $126,230

Many of these roles may require a bachelor’s degree in a related field for entry-level positions. However many employers might look for advanced degrees when hiring for managerial positions.ⁱⁱ

Starting Your Graduate Online Entrepreneurship Degree Program

Finding a perfect graduate online entrepreneurship degree programs could be as easy as browsing the links on this page. Clicking on a specific program on this page provides you with a brief description about the program. While you’re there, you could also request more information from the school itself. This could provide with school specific information like course descriptions, admissions deadlines, faculty bios, and more.

Or, you could choose to refine this list even more. To do so, select your preferred degree level using the menus on this page. Doing this filters your search results and displays programs that align with your academic needs. Good luck as you start your graduate online entrepreneurship degree program!

GradSchools.com offers 23 Graduate Schools with Entrepreneurship Online Degrees