Program Overview

Introduction to Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship program is designed for thinkers, dreamers, problem solvers, and realists. This program emphasizes the importance of creativity, repeatable innovation processes, business strategies, and models in bringing value to people and the market. Through multidisciplinary coursework and a diverse faculty, students learn how to research, ideate, visualize, and strategize, taking an idea or venture forward from multiple perspectives and collaborations.

Program Details

The program focuses on the following key areas:

• Experiential learning through real-world problems, scenarios, case studies, etc.
• Critical thinking skills to understand problems, analyze strategies, determine approaches
• Multidisciplinary teamwork and collaboration
• Innovation processes, business models, strategies, and approaches
• 2D and 3D prototyping and visualizing of concepts and solutions

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor Requirements

The minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship is offered by the Tepper School of Business as part of IDeATe. The requirements include:

Prerequisite Course

• 73-102 Principles of Microeconomics (prerequisite for 70-438 Commercialization and Innovation)

Innovation & Entrepreneurial Mindset Course

• 70-246 Innovation & Entrepreneurial Mindset

Portal Course

For students without prior Design or Product Design experience:

• 15-294 Rapid Prototyping Technologies
• 15-394 Intermediate Rapid Prototyping
• 51-236 Information Design
• 62-478 digiTOOL For students without prior programming or computing experience:
• 15-104 Introduction to Computing for Creating Practice

Entrepreneurship Course

• 70-415 Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Venture Creation Course

• 70-395 Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures
• 70-416 New Venture Creation

Innovation Process Course

• 70-438 Commercialization and Innovation (73-102 Principles of Microeconomics is a prerequisite)

Product Development Course

• 49-300 Integrated Product Conceptualization
• 49-313 Designing for the Internet of Things

Practice/Experience Component

• 70-416 New Venture Creation (if not taken as the Venture Creation option)
• Swartz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Innovation Scholars Program
• Swartz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project Olympus Probe - Working on your own startup (12 weeks full-time in summer or throughout one full academic year)
• Students may also, with prior approval, fulfill this requirement through an internship with a qualifying startup or product design firm (12 weeks, full-time)

Additional Information

• Double-counting: Students may double-count up to two of their IDeATe minor courses for other requirements.
• Additional course options are available; please check IDeATe Courses for current and upcoming semester options.