Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Gayla Ashford
Committee Member
Roger Tomberlin
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
Athens State University, applied dissertation, best practices, businesses, certificate program, continuing education, curriculum, data analysis, development, educational certificates, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship certificate program, entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial ventures, higher education, implementation plan, industries, leadership, literature review, local businesses, professional interest, program evaluation, start-up program, students, survey analysis, workforce development
Abstract
This applied dissertation was to develop an Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at Athens State University. Awareness in the field of entrepreneurship has increasingly become an integral part of educational institutions’ accepted curriculums. However, Athens State University has no curriculum in place that provides, produces, and develops leadership in the area of entrepreneurship. Additionally, the strong economic growth in new and existing businesses the area has experienced has not kept pace with the demand from local businesses and industries to train the new work force terrain.
The writer examined the benefits of an entrepreneurship education as well as the essential elements of an entrepreneurship certificate program. Procedures included (a) a thorough review of literature, (b) an examination of existing successful programs, (c) discussions with entrepreneurs, (d) the establishment of project formative and summative committees, (e) survey distribution and analysis, and (f) development and evaluation process.
An analysis of the data revealed that students and professionals alike have a strong interest in an entrepreneurial program. The most successful activities were those that were conducive in researching, developing, and nurturing entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ventures. An array of learning opportunities, best practices in directing a start-up program, strategies for an implementation plan, and criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of a program, provided additional information into the development of an entrepreneurship certificate program.