Doctorate in Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation Degree
In the online doctorate in entrepreneurship and innovation program at Grand Canyon University (GCU), entrepreneurs working in an existing company will learn how to deploy quantitative research methods to identify, propose, pilot and then deploy brand new technologies, organizational structures, products, processes and support structures that achieve significant market potential. Students will use statistical tools to analyze and interpret numeric-driven data for their dissertations.
This program, slightly different than the qualitative DBA entrepreneurship degree program provides the same foundational courses but is geared for students interested in researching concepts, opinions and experiences as they relate to business innovation.
Earn Your DBA Entrepreneurship and Innovation Degree From GCU
Graduates of GCU’s Doctor of Business Administration Program with an Emphasis in Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship will learn how to create a company-wide innovation culture. Students learn to encourage and reward participation in the process of proposing new products or processes that result in significant competitive advantage that is difficult for other companies to replicate.
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Gain Specialized Skills Required for Innovative Entrepreneurship
GCU provides a private, faith-based education that allows students to study the curriculum through a Christian worldview. Current and future business leaders will learn the importance of human value and dignity, ethical decision making and the principles of conscious capitalism.
Graduates of this doctorate in entrepreneurship online program will gain core competencies in these three domains:
- Research: Advance the study of leadership dynamics that drive the field with an in-depth, quantitative, research-based approach to facilitate the leader’s abilities and role as a strategic professional.
- Theory: Explain the historical and theoretical foundations and assumptions of business and develop, extend or modify them for practical application.
- Application: Consider the complexity of contemporary business and determine the appropriate situational application of theoretical principles in varied business environments.
Rooted in research, this DBA quantitative program introduces students to the foundations of research design, particularly the design and development of quantitative methods often initiated through standardized statistical tests. Learners develop research competence by using specially designed curriculum augmented with learning guides and detailed dissertation templates — all enabled through the use of robust technology. As a learner, you are guided throughout the process by dissertation research faculty with specific expertise in the research process.
Seek Professional Advancement With a DBA Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
This Doctor of Business Administration Program with an Emphasis in Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship prepares current and aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders for today’s corporate challenges and opportunities. Graduates with a DBA degree become keen quantitative researchers who can pursue opportunities in the upper echelon of the business world.
Some roles that are related to this DBA degree include the following:
- Business consultant
- Chief executive officer
- Management analyst
- Vice president of corporate innovation
- Vice president of development
- Vice president of strategy
- Vice president of training and development
DBA graduates may also pursue careers in postsecondary education, helping to train the next generation of business leaders and innovators.
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
DBA in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Degree FAQs
Learn more from our answers to these frequently asked questions about becoming an entrepreneur and earning a doctorate in entrepreneurship and innovation:
While there is a relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship, the two related concepts are different. The key difference is innovation involves the tactical process of creating and refining something new or improving an idea, product or process. It is often an idea demonstrated as a prototype, conceptional design, or in some cases, a minimum viable product. Entrepreneurship has a broader strategic focus on taking a new product, idea or service and turning it into a business opportunity. This involves validating the existence of a sizable market opportunity, soliciting advocates who support the proposed innovation, validating the innovation with customers and establishing metrics to measure the effectiveness of proposed innovation.
The salary of an entrepreneur is often in question because there is typically no precise answer. Corporate entrepreneurs who successfully identify new products, processes and markets that generate significant organization market growth generally receive substantial recognition promotion and financial benefits. Salary and bonus compensation vary greatly by industry and company size.
Corporate entrepreneurs often begin their education with a bachelor’s in business degree or a bachelor’s degree focused on entrepreneurship. Then, many entrepreneurs choose to further their education and develop advanced business skills in an MBA program. An MBA in entrepreneurship helps students draw upon their innovation and business skills to build ventures. For those interested in applying research skills to make a difference in the business world, a DBA in innovation and entrepreneurship is a great choice for executives and business educators.
Graduates who hold a DBA degree in innovation and entrepreneurship receive a well-rounded business education that allows them to pursue jobs in various capacities and industries. Many choose to achieve prominence by pursing executive positions in the organizations that they are employed in. Others may choose to become business consultants, either working for themselves or for a consulting firm. Some may pursue the education path, teaching business in post-secondary institutions.
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-June2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in June 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.
Course Description
This course explores the theories and frameworks that drive financial decision making in organizations today. Students focus on issues facing administrators in the changing business environment.
Course Description
Beginning with the notion that structures precede outcomes, this course explores the influence of organizational structure and culture on corporate entrepreneurial innovation. Consideration is given to innovation models and the history of innovation as well as the alignment of reward structures that promote innovation and corporate entrepreneurship.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
Opportunities to innovate occur when the right individual is at the right place at the right time and is willing and able to seize opportunities. This course examines how to use established organizational structures to enable the process of identifying and rapidly prototyping disruptive innovations for the purpose of securing initial commitment.
Course Description
Having successfully prototyped a disruptive innovation, the process of corporate entrepreneurship then requires committed support from internal and external stakeholders. This course examines the process and structure for transforming both skeptics and casual supporters to committed advocates. Consideration is given to enacting due diligence and a deliberate communication cadence.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of quantitative research design. Attention is given to variables, instrumentation, and sources of data. Reliability and validity of instrumentation is discussed in the context of GCU core quantitative research designs.
Course Description
In this course, learners interact with statistical tests and statistical analysis software in the context of designing a quantitative research study. Alignment of statistical tests to research questions, hypotheses and design is stressed as is determining the feasibility of a quantitative research study. Ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-842.
Course Description
This course provides the student with the skills and competencies needed to be able to apply microeconomic principles to the solution of business problems. Specifically, the course examines the four market structures focusing on competition and utilizes microeconomic theory to provide solutions to business problems.
Course Description
This course examines organizational sustainability through the lenses of competitive advantage and innovation. It addresses the leadership skills and capabilities required to foster, lead, and sustain innovation in organizations, and it explores how these ideas can be applied to create competitive advantage leading to a sustainable organization.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the quantitative dissertation. Practicum/field experience hours: None. RES-844.
Course Description
In this course, learners will apply the complex corporate entrepreneurial skillset to recommend how to structure, prototype, communicate, advocate, and execute disruptive innovation. Specific attention is given to components of the execution phase of the corporate entrepreneurial process such as timing, structure development, and frequency and cadence of communication.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871 or RES-885 or RSD-883 or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on data collection, data preparation and management, and the analysis of quantitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-844 and one of the following: DBA-955 or DIS-955 or DHA-955 or PSY-955 or PCE-955 or TLC-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DBA-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of quantitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-874 and one of the following: DBA-960 or DIS-960 or DHA-960 or PSY-960 or PCE-960 or TLC-960.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DBA-960.
Continuation Courses
The course identified above represent the minimum academic course requirements only. Most students will also need to take one or more of the following Research Continuation Courses to complete a dissertation. Research Continuation Courses are 3-credit courses charged at the standard doctoral per credit rate.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-965.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-966 or DBA-966E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-967 or DBA-967E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-968 or DBA-968E; RSD-951.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-969 or DBA-969E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-970 or DBA-970E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-971E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-972E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DBA-973E.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.