Get Your PhD in Technology Management Online
Become a technology leader in one of its fastest-growing fields with an online PhD in tech management. Explore the flexibility of online programs, allowing you to tailor your studies to fit your goals. Give yourself an edge and stay ahead in the world of technology.
An emerging field in business is technology management, which centers on the relationship between tech advancements and business strategies. Its leaders can positively affect the workplace, other leaders in organizations, and possibly all of society. If this new frontier sounds exciting to you, consider taking a career leap by earning a PhD in technology management.
Tech management is an interdisciplinary field that combines aspects of management, engineering, economics, and innovation that arise from new technological change. Some of the aspects it focuses on include automated business processes and cybersecurity.
The continued growth of AI, machine learning, and big data points to further rapid growth in the tech industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer and information systems managers is projected to grow 15% from now through 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Another good outlook for the industry: the median pay for this role is $169,510.
It’s clear that there is a growing demand for experts who can lead a strategic approach to technology adoption. Potential careers for people who earn a doctorate in technology management include technology consultant, IT project manager, CTO, or founder.
Read below to learn more about what you can expect in an online PhD program for tech management, including requirements, common courses, costs, and career outlook.
Program Profile: Online PhDs in Technology Management
If you have a passion for understanding technology’s profound effects on business, work, and society — and want to be at the forefront of guiding technological innovation — then pursuing a PhD in technology management could be a wise strategic investment in your career.
Below is an example of a best-in-class online PhD program. The details will give you a better understanding of what you could expect in a doctoral program for tech management and how it could further your career.
Indiana State University
Indiana State’s online PhD in technology management is delivered through a consortium model, giving students access to expert faculties across multiple universities while still receiving their degree from a single accredited institution. The program’s interdisciplinary approach prepares graduates to address the complex interplay between technological innovation and strategic business practices.
Through this program, you’ll be able to conduct high-quality research and develop an acute understanding and sensitivity to the ethical and moral issues surrounding technology.
Highlights from the program:
- 66 credit hours
- Six concentration areas: construction management, digital communication systems, human resource development, industrial training, manufacturing systems, and quality systems.
- Dissertation required
- Doctoral residency required
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Cost: Starts at $462/credit hour
Tech Management Doctorate Admission Requirements
Once you begin the application process for a doctoral program, you’ll need several components to complete admission, along with meeting academic and professional criteria. These elements demonstrate that you’re ready for doctoral-level work.
Though requirements will vary by program, here are some common ones that are expected:
- A master’s degree in a technology, engineering, business, or other related field from an accredited university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Professional work experience in technology, engineering, or management roles, often three to five years minimum
- GRE test scores
- Letters of recommendation confirming your skills and your potential to conduct advanced research
- A statement of purpose outlining your academic interests and research goals
- An interview with faculty
Some programs may have additional prerequisites before enrolling, such as completed courses in calculus, statistics, or computer programming. Meeting all of these is crucial for gaining entry to universities that offer doctoral degrees, so be sure to check the program’s website for more information.
Online PhD in Technology Management Advantages
There are many benefits to earning an online PhD in technology management whether you are a leader in the field or want to pursue in-depth research. Online programs also offer a flexible and affordable way to meet your goals. They are designed for accomplished tech leaders looking to take the next step in their career.
Here are some of the major benefits of earning an online PhD in tech management.
Work-Life Integration
One of the biggest advantages of an online PhD program is the ability to balance your studies with work and life commitments. The flexible format allows you to engage with course materials, participate in discussions, and complete assignments on your own schedule around professional and personal responsibilities.
Self-paced Learning
While still maintaining structured deadlines, online programs allow you to progress through the curriculum at a pace that works best for your learning style. You can spend more time reviewing complex concepts or accelerate through areas you understand quickly. This self-directed approach can help you focus on research areas that are most of interest to you.
Cost Effectiveness
Removing geographical barriers, online PhD programs tend to be more affordable than residential alternatives. You avoid costs like relocation and can continue working full-time while studying. Many regionally accredited public universities also offer reasonable per-credit tuition rates. You can see more info on tuition and financial aid below.
What to Expect in a Tech Management Program
An online tech management program is a great option for anyone with experience in technology-related work, whether it’s in social science, physical science, computer science, management, or engineering.
Your specific courses will depend on the path of specialization you choose, such as construction management or quality systems. On a broader level, you can expect to blend organizational studies with technology and innovation courses that are tailored to your needs.
If you come from a technology or scientific background, you’ll learn about the importance of organizations and social systems. If you have a social science or management background, you will gain an understanding of the role of technology and innovation in shaping organizational action.
Course format for online doctorate programs is often asynchronous, giving you flexibility with your studies. The pacing of the program also varies whether you pursue full-time or part-time study.
There are also specializations within degree programs that are common for an online PhD in technology management: construction management, digital communications, manufacturing systems, quality systems, and human resource development and training.
Common Courses
Some common themes for tech management programs include business leadership, research core and dissertation, technical specialization, and electives. Many of the leading technology management schools are part of a consortium that shares curriculum and community.
Here are some popular courses that you may encounter in one of these programs.
Organizational Behavior
This course is designed to provide foundational knowledge of how businesses work, including classic and contemporary theories, potential controversies, and ground-breaking empirical studies. You’ll learn about topics related to individual, team, and organizational processes, perception and personality, motivation, decision-making, and organizational change.
Research and Dissertation
Research core classes will include coursework in research design, methodology, and statistical analysis, all of which is a fundamental portion of your studies. A dissertation (18 credits) requiring original research on technology is typically required to earn your doctorate.
Networks and Innovation
This course explores how organizing processes enable and constrain the development and use of technological innovations. You’ll focus on the role of networks in developing ideas for new technologies and the use of networks to diffuse technologies within organizations.
Technical Specialization
Technical specializations are offered at some schools in five areas including manufacturing systems, construction management, quality systems, digital communications, and human resource development and industrial training.
Internship
These opportunities give you the chance to test and experiment in the tech industry, research organizations, government agencies, or other ventures associated with technology transfer and application. An internship may also help you explore technical specializations and topics for your dissertation research.
Frequently Asked Queries: Technology Management Online Doctorate
Do these online programs offer additional certifications?
Certification isn’t necessarily offered as part of the doctoral program. However, there are some technology management professional organizations and other related certification associations that you can explore.
This includes:
- Certified Technology Management Professional (CTMP)
- International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT)
- Society for Information Management (SIM)
- Technology Management Associates
- Association for Information Systems (AIS)
- Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
Earning a certification will increase your professional credentials and help you get recognized globally.
Do I Need to Complete a Dissertation or Research Project?
Yes, you’ll typically be expected to complete a dissertation or research project that demonstrates your expertise in the field. A technology management program will involve solving an applied technological concern using analysis, synthesis, and evaluation processes.
Will I need to be available for a residency or any face-to-face components during an online PhD in technology management program?
This can vary between programs, but most online PhDs incorporate at least a minimal residency requirement to facilitate networking, research immersions, or in-person exams. For example, Indiana State’s 66-credit online program has a short residency, while the University of Central Missouri’s part-time, 87-credit track includes 18 residency hours.
Who accredits online technology management programs?
Online doctoral programs in the technology management field are typically accredited by the same regional organizations that oversee graduate degrees. This ensures the program meets established standards for factors such as faculty qualifications, curriculum, and student resources. The Higher Learning Commission and other agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education provide this program-level accreditation.
Additionally, The Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) accredits programs that bridge the gap between traditional engineering and business management programs and certifies that graduates are technically adept, technologically literate, and capable of managing personnel and facilities.
Funding a Doctoral Degree in Tech Management
Pursuing a PhD is a significant investment of time and money, so it’s important to understand the financial commitments before you get started.
That commitment starts with a plan for funding your doctorate degree. Many students utilize a combination of financial aid opportunities like private and school scholarships, fellowships providing tuition waivers or stipends, work-study programs, and employer tuition assistance. Exploring all of your options is key to making this advanced credential affordable.
For even more details, check out our guide to funding for doctoral students.
What an Online Program May Cost You
We’ve gathered tuition information from a few schools to help you get an understanding of the average cost of an online PhD in technology management as well as the number of credits required to earn a degree. Use these numbers as a baseline as you compare other programs in your search. Note that these three universities are part of the consortium that offers doctorates in tech management.
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Total Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana State University | 66 | $462/Credit | $30,492 |
| University of Central Missouri | 87 (including 30 master’s credits) | $413.50/Credit | $35,974 |
| Bowling Green State University | 66 | $462/Credit | $30,492 |
*The cost/credit starts at this range but will vary by residency requirements
Technology Management Graduate Career Outlook
Whether you want to go into the tech industry, pursue academia, or find a tech role in another field – you have a wide range of options with a PhD in tech management.
A doctorate can prepare you for leadership roles directing an organization’s technology strategies, innovation, and digital transformation initiatives.
The skills you’ll develop are in high demand as companies continue to digitize operations and processes. Doctorates in this field typically command higher salaries than those with bachelor’s or master’s degrees and have greater opportunities for executive advancement.
Here are some potential careers for technology management PhD graduates:
- Chief Technology Officer
- Technology Consultant
- IT Program/Project Manager
- Technology Entrepreneur
- University Professor/Researcher
Salary and Growth Potential in Tech
The tech field is rapidly growing and offers high earning potential for specialists and experts. Take computer and information research scientists as an example: the role earns an average of $145,080 a year and is expected to grow more than 23% in the next decade.
Below are other popular careers for those with a PhD in tech management, ranging from higher education to the tech industry to entrepreneurship.
| Career | Median Annual Pay | Job Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $169,510 | 15% |
| Management Consulting | $99,410 | 10% |
| Professor | $84,380 | 8% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $145,080 | 23% |
| Executive | $103,840 | 3% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023