Program Overview

Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies

Overview

The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies is an undergraduate program offered by the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business. This certificate is designed to provide students with a unique set of experiences that demonstrate to employers a familiarity with innovation and comfort in small, adaptable teams.

Certificate Requirements

To earn the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies, students must complete the following requirements:

1. Declare intent: Students must declare their intent to pursue the certificate.
2. Schedule a meeting: Students must schedule a meeting with the Certificate Manager.
3. Complete required courses: Students must complete the required courses with at least a 3.00 GPA.
4. Complete an approved internship: Students must complete an approved internship with a startup and write a short paper about their experience.
5. Attend entrepreneurship-related events: Students must attend eight entrepreneurship-related events on- or off-campus and provide a short write-up on each experience.
6. Submit a capstone video: Students must submit a capstone video at the conclusion of their studies.

Required Courses

The required courses for the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies vary depending on whether the student is a business major or minor.

Business Major Students

• BCOR 2301 – Business Law (1.5)
• BCOR 2304 – Strategic and Entrepreneurial Thinking (1.5)
• ESBM 3700-3 Entrepreneurial Environments: Introduces entrepreneurship, addressing opportunity recognition, target markets, industry analysis, business model identification, sources of funding, managing rapid growth, and writing feasibility studies.
• ESBM 4570-3 Entrepreneurial Finance: Focuses on financial concepts, issues, methods, and industry practices relevant to entrepreneurial decision-makers.
• ESBM 4830-3 New Venture Creation: Students work as part of a small team to create a plan from the business concept and model through all elements of a professionally written business plan document.

Business Minor Students

• BUSM 2010 & 2011 Principles of Marketing & Management: Introduces marketing concepts and focuses on knowledge and skills needed to effectively lead and manage individuals, teams, and organizations.
• BUSM 2020 & 2021 Principles of Accounting & Finance: Focuses on the development and interpretation of companies' external financial reports and the role of finance in small and large businesses.
• Any 3000 BUSM Class: Students can choose from various courses, such as Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Business Analytics, Business Leadership, Global Business, Real Estate, or Business Sustainability.
• BUSM 4010 Professional Business Plan Development: The Business Minor capstone focuses on developing an entrepreneurial business plan using principles learned in earlier Business Minor courses.

Internship

To graduate with the Certificate, students need to complete a 60-hour internship. Ideally, internships should be completed with a startup, but other entrepreneurial experiences are also acceptable. International students in F-1 status must obtain prior approval for off-campus employment.

Capstone Exam

All students must submit a final capstone video after completing all Certificate requirements and before graduating. The capstone video is a culmination of the student's experiences and learning throughout the program.

Additional Information

The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies is designed to provide students with a unique set of experiences that demonstrate to employers a familiarity with innovation and comfort in small, adaptable teams. Students with this certificate have a competitive edge in the job market, and many have gone on to start their own successful businesses. The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship offers various resources and support to help students achieve their entrepreneurial goals.