Program Overview

Introduction to the Undergraduate Certificate

The Undergraduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed to equip students with the mindset and skills necessary to turn their ideas into action. This certificate program is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Duke University and is earned upon graduation in conjunction with their major degree.

Eligibility and Application

• The undergraduate I&E Certificate is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Duke University.
• Second-semester first-years, sophomores, and first-semester juniors are eligible to apply.
• Students may apply as early as the spring semester of their freshman year.
• The deadline to apply is the end of the drop/add period in the fall semester of a student’s junior year.

Certificate Requirements

Courses

• FOUR COURSES:
  • Gateway Elective
  • I&E 352 Strategies for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Second Elective
  • I&E 499 Capstone
• No more than one course that is used to satisfy the requirements of any major, minor, or other certificate program may count toward the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate.

Immersive Co-Curricular Experiences

• TWO IMMERSIVE CO-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES:
  • Gain real-world application of knowledge and invaluable hands-on learning.
  • Get credit for what you're already working on—developing your own venture or doing internships, research, civic engagement, independent projects, and more.
• The experiences should occur within the context of the undergraduate career and be aligned with your area of focus.

Externally-Facing Portfolio

• AN EXTERNALLY-FACING PORTFOLIO:
  • Showcase your accomplishments in a digital collection of work and reflections, created as part of the Capstone course.
  • Share your Certificate journey with peers, faculty, potential employers, and family while deepening learning and personal growth.

Outcomes

• You’ll gain essential career and life skills—creativity, resilience, empathy, how to take action, and an understanding of your purpose and values.
• You'll develop problem-solving strategies including needs identification, idea generation, and prototyping.
• Working with diverse teams from across Duke, you’ll gain communication, leadership, and project management skills.
• You’ll learn to take a venture, research project, or innovation from idea to action.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is eligible to apply?
  • The undergraduate I&E Certificate is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Duke University and is earned upon graduation in conjunction with their major degree.
• When are the application deadlines?
  • There are 3 annual deadlines for applying to join the undergraduate I&E Certificate: Fall 1 (early September), Fall 2 (mid October), and Spring (late March).
• Do you reject any students from the Certificate?
  • No, students are not rejected or denied from the Certificate.
• Is there a limit to the number of students you admit to the program?
  • There is no limit to the number of students we will admit to the program.
• How do the course and experience requirements work with those of my major, minor, or other certificate program?
  • No more than one course and one experience that is used to satisfy the requirements of any major, minor, or other certificate program may count toward the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate.
• What if I don't yet know what I want my pathway to be, or none of the pathways align with my interests?
  • You should apply to the Certificate with a clear set of your goals for the program as well as a general interest area you would like to focus on through your coursework and experiences.
• What other resources or opportunities are open to me as part of the program?
  • As a member of the I&E Certificate program, you will become part of a community of Duke students dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Do I need to know what my specific experiences will be when I apply?
  • You do not need to know what your specific experiences will be at the time you apply to the I&E Certificate.
• May I change my plan for my courses and experiences after I am accepted into the program?
  • You may change the selection and timing of your courses and experiences after you are accepted into the program.
• I have already taken one of the electives prior to applying. Will it count toward my certificate requirements?
  • Yes. If you complete one of the approved Gateway Elective courses, it will count toward your certificate requirements, regardless of when it was taken.
• I have found an elective I want to take for the certificate that is not on the approved list. Will it count toward the certificate?
  • Once you are enrolled in the Certificate, you can request that a course be approved to meet the Certificate elective requirement.
• I have already completed a relevant experience prior to applying. Will it count toward my certificate requirements?
  • The experiences should occur within the context of the undergraduate career and be aligned with your area of focus.
• How do I know if an experience I identify will count toward the certificate?
  • After you are admitted into the program, you will fill out a form that will be used to determine if an experience meets the criteria for the certificate.
• Will courses, internships, or independent studies I have taken that count toward the requirements of my major/minor/certificate also count toward the I&E certificate?
  • One course and one experience used to satisfy the requirements of your major, minor, or other certificate program may “double count” toward the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate.
• Do the experiences have to be completed over the summer?
  • The experiences are not time-bound. You may choose to do them at any time and over any period of time, as long as they meet the minimum hour requirements and are both completed prior to taking the Capstone.
• What are the requirements of the portfolio?
  • After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided a comprehensive set of guidelines for completing the portfolio.
• May I earn both the Markets & Management and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate?
  • No. You may earn either the I&E Certificate or M&M Certificate.