Cost & earnings at University of Missouri-Kansas City What students borrow here, and what they go on to earn
Business Management graduates earn a median $41,725 Across 126 US programmes, two years after finishing
See the degree grade →The PhD in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at the University of Missouri–Kansas City is a research-focused doctoral programme designed for students seeking to advance theory and practice in entrepreneurship, small firm management and innovation. It suits candidates aiming for academic careers, high-level research roles, or leadership positions supporting new venture creation and small business growth.
The programme combines rigorous coursework, methodological training and sustained original research. Early curriculum typically covers advanced topics in entrepreneurial theory, small business strategy, family business dynamics, innovation and new venture development. Core research methods training emphasises quantitative and qualitative techniques, econometrics, experimental and survey design, and case-based methods tailored to entrepreneurship studies.
Students complete a programme of seminars and electives that may include:
Students progress to candidacy by passing comprehensive examinations and producing a research proposal. The degree culminates in an original doctoral dissertation that contributes to scholarship in entrepreneurial and small business operations. Research pathways often integrate interdisciplinary perspectives from organisational behaviour, strategy, finance and regional studies.
Applicants typically hold a relevant master’s degree (for example in business, management, economics or a related social science) with strong academic performance. Candidates should demonstrate research potential through prior coursework, honours projects, published work or substantive professional experience in entrepreneurship or small business contexts.
Usual application materials include academic transcripts, a research statement or proposal, a curriculum vitae, and letters of academic reference. Evidence of quantitative competence is important, either via prior coursework or professional experience. International applicants must meet the university’s English language proficiency requirements.
Selection is competitive and often based on fit with faculty research interests. Prospective students are encouraged to identify potential supervisors in the Bloch School and to contact faculty whose expertise aligns with their proposed research.
Graduates pursue a range of careers in academia, including tenure-track faculty positions in entrepreneurship, small business management, strategy and organisation studies. Other common career paths include roles in applied research at think tanks and policy organisations, leadership positions in entrepreneurial support organisations, incubators and accelerators, and senior management or strategy roles within small and medium-sized enterprises.
There are also opportunities in corporate entrepreneurship teams, venture capital and angel investing, consultancy specialising in new venture formation and growth strategy, and economic development agencies that support regional entrepreneurship ecosystems. Many PhD graduates combine research with advisory work, policy engagement or executive education.
The Bloch School of Management at UMKC has a long-standing focus on entrepreneurship, small business and applied research, providing a scholarly environment that balances theory and practice. The university’s location in Kansas City offers proximity to a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem with incubators, accelerators, family firms and corporate innovation units—useful for field research and practitioner engagement.
Doctoral students benefit from close faculty mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration across business, public policy and economics, and opportunities for teaching and funded research assistantships. The programme emphasises producing publishable research and preparing graduates for scholarly and applied leadership roles in the entrepreneurship community.
Prospective students should review faculty profiles and current research projects within the Bloch School to identify alignment with their research interests and to explore potential collaborative opportunities in the Kansas City innovation environment.
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