You’ve launched a product, raised capital, or built a team inside a larger company. Those decisions taught you what works. A DBA in entrepreneurship teaches you to prove why it works. At Crestmont University (CU), the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Business Management pairs doctoral research with five courses on venture strategy, finance, and economics.
This guide explains what a doctorate in entrepreneurship involves and how a DBA differs from a PhD. It also covers Crestmont University’s 60-credit curriculum, research paths, pacing, tuition, and admission. You can complete the full program 100% online.
What is a doctorate in entrepreneurship?
A doctorate in entrepreneurship is a terminal degree focused on how ventures start, grow, and compete. It’s the highest academic credential in the field. Most programs take one of two forms: a PhD or a Doctor of Business Administration.
Both forms teach research methods. They differ in what you do with them. A PhD builds new theory for the academic community. A DBA applies research to real business problems, often inside the student’s own organization.
For founders and executives, that difference shapes the whole experience. It decides your coursework, your final project, and the questions you spend years answering.
DBA in entrepreneurship vs PhD in entrepreneurship
Many people searching for a doctorate in entrepreneurship are comparing these two paths. Both are doctoral degrees. They serve different goals.
PhD programs in entrepreneurship and strategy
A PhD in entrepreneurship or strategy centers on original contribution to knowledge. According to Campus France, a PhD asks the student to make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field. Graduates often pursue full-time careers in academic research and teaching.
The DBA path
A DBA combines advanced coursework with applied research. Campus France describes it as a degree that teaches you to apply theory and knowledge to improve professional practice. It fits working founders and executives who want actionable answers for their ventures.
If your goal is to lead with evidence rather than to build academic theory, the DBA is the closer fit.
Can you earn a PhD in entrepreneurship online?
PhD programs in entrepreneurship and strategy are usually full-time and campus-based, built around research assistantships. If you need to keep running a business while you study, a DBA is the more practical option. Crestmont University’s DBA in Entrepreneurship and Business Management can be completed 100% online, with no residency.
Why entrepreneurs study their work at the doctoral level
Entrepreneurship shapes a large share of the U.S. economy. The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy reports 36.2 million small businesses in the United States. They employ 45.9 percent of private-sector workers.
An accredited university. Programs offered 100% online, on your schedule.
8 terms a year. Start when you’re ready.
New activity is high as well. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2024–2025 United States Report, led by Babson College, found that 19 percent of U.S. adults were starting or running a new business. The same report found only 6.6 percent run mature businesses.
That gap between starting and sustaining is where doctoral research helps. A DBA trains you to study why ventures stall, test a growth strategy, and defend a decision with data.
DBA in entrepreneurship online
Crestmont University’s program requires 60 semester credits across 20 courses. It has four parts: 30 credits of business core courses, 15 credits of specialization courses, a Comprehensive Competency Assessment, and 15 credits of research. See the full course list on Crestmont University’s Doctor of Business Administration program page.
Business core courses
Ten core courses build the foundation every Crestmont University DBA student completes. They cover the global economy, global business finance, international business, and advanced accounting. You’ll also study leadership theory, organizational change, and e-commerce models.
One core course speaks directly to founders: MGT 662 – Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. Two more prepare you for doctoral work. GRC 600 – Doctoral Academic Study and Writing builds scholarly writing skills. GRC 605 – Business Research Methodology and Quantitative Statistics covers the methods your research will use.
Entrepreneurship specialization courses
Five courses make up the specialization:
- MGT 645 – Strategic Management: A Global Approach
- MGT 655 – Financial Entrepreneurial Ventures
- MGT 657 – Case Studies in Global Entrepreneurship
- MGT 660 – Strategic Entrepreneurship
- MGT 665 – Exploring Entrepreneurship and Economics
Together, they follow a venture from strategy to scale. Strategic Management applies competitive strategy across international markets. Financial Entrepreneurial Ventures addresses how new ventures are funded and managed financially. Case Studies in Global Entrepreneurship examines how real companies started and grew in different markets. Strategic Entrepreneurship connects opportunity recognition to long-term advantage. Exploring Entrepreneurship and Economics places ventures within the wider economy.
What you’ll be able to do
The program defines five competencies. By completion, you’ll be prepared to:
- Communicate specialized business knowledge, in writing and speech, to support decisions in complex organizations.
- Apply critical thinking to local and global new venture planning and decision-making.
- Evaluate ethical behavior as it affects business issues and return on investment.
- Lead with an entrepreneurial mindset when starting ventures or growing collaborative economic development.
- Use research and data collection to create and implement a strategic plan for an entrepreneurial venture.
Research project or dissertation
The final 15 credits give you a choice.
The Research Project path (DRP 801–805) moves through five courses. You define a problem, review the literature, design a methodology, report findings, and deliver recommendations. It suits founders who want to study a challenge inside their own company.
The Dissertation path (GRC 641–645) follows the five-chapter model and ends with an oral defense. It suits anyone aiming for teaching or research roles.
Both paths require doctoral-level research. Both lead to the same degree. For a closer look at the second path, read how to write a DBA dissertation.
Pacing and support for working professionals
Each of the 20 courses runs as a six-week module. Crestmont University’s program page puts completion at about 2.5 years while working full time. Before you finish, you’ll also complete the Comprehensive Competency Assessment.
You can join live seminars or watch recorded lectures when your week allows. No residency is required, so you can study from home or while traveling for your business.
You also won’t study alone. Crestmont University’s student advisors follow up with you from your first course through your defense. Faculty serve as mentors during your research. Your classmates are directors, vice presidents, and senior managers, which turns each discussion into a working peer network.
How to choose the right business strategy specialization
Many DBA and PhD programs offer more than one business strategy focus. To choose well, start with the decisions you make most often.
- You build or scale ventures: an entrepreneurship specialization fits work on funding, growth, and venture strategy.
- You lead across borders: a global business specialization fits risk, logistics, and multinational strategy. Crestmont University offers one in Global Business and Leadership.
- You lead technology or health organizations: an industry specialization may fit better. Crestmont University also offers Healthcare Management and Leadership and Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management.
Then test the choice against your research topic. The right specialization should give you the courses and literature your project needs. Compare all four options in our guide with our list of DBA programs.
What to look for in entrepreneurship courses
Entrepreneurship education spans everything from short workshops to doctoral programs. Rankings can’t tell you which program fits. These five questions can:
- Accreditation: Does the school hold institutional accreditation, and do its business programs hold programmatic accreditation?
- Applied content: Do the courses use real cases and financial models, not only theory?
- Research fit: Can you study a problem from your own venture?
- Pacing: Can you complete the program while running a business?
- Tuition transparency: Is the total published, including fees?
Use the same questions for every school on your list, including Crestmont University.
Tuition and admission
Crestmont University publishes an itemized tuition breakdown for the DBA:
- Tuition per course, including digital resources: $1,779
- Tuition and digital resources, 20 courses: $35,580
- Application and registration: $170
- Comprehensive Competency Assessment exam: $750
- Graduation fee: $175
- Total program tuition: $36,675
Financial aid information is available on Crestmont University’s financial aid and scholarships page.
The program is designed for experienced professionals with a master’s degree. The admission process includes:
- A completed application form
- An in-depth interview with an Executive Enrollment Advisor
- Official transcripts from an appropriately accredited institution
- A copy of government-issued photo identification
- A signed enrollment agreement
Roles this specialization is designed to prepare you for
The Entrepreneurship and Business Management specialization is designed to prepare you for roles such as:
- C-level executive
- Startup manager
- Technology entrepreneur
- Business owner
- Business development consultant
Crestmont University does not represent that the degree leads to a specific role, placement, or salary. Your experience, industry, and goals shape where the degree takes you.
Your next step
You’ve already built a venture or led one. A DBA in entrepreneurship gives that experience a research method you can apply to your next decision. Review the curriculum on Crestmont University’s Doctor of Business Administration program page. Then schedule a conversation with an Executive Enrollment Advisor about your research idea.
