Success in entrepreneurship requires a broad base of conceptual knowledge, personal skills, and competencies. The required courses in the major provide a variety of rich developmental experiences that include applied learning, case analysis, research projects, team-based active learning projects, and guest speakers, in addition to traditional classroom lectures and discussions. The Entrepreneurship major places a strong emphasis on written and oral communication skills, teamwork, creativity, leadership, and personal initiative.
Undergraduate Major in Entrepreneurship
For undergraduate curriculum in business, major in entrepreneurship.
The Department of Management offers a major in Entrepreneurship. Students will complete the general education requirements (including business foundation courses), business core requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, and 18 additional credits in the major.
The instructional objectives of the Entrepreneurship major are to provide students with an in-depth and rigorous study of the field of entrepreneurship. Upon graduation, students are better prepared to identify and exploit business opportunities, start their own business, assist other entrepreneurs in starting or running a business, or contribute to entrepreneurial and innovative activities in established organizations.
Students are limited to three business majors/degrees within the Ivy College of Business, or a total of three business majors/minors within the college. This limit is on business majors/degrees/minors only, and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.
Students majoring in Entrepreneurship are not permitted to take Entrepreneurship as a minor.
For more information on the undergraduate major in Entrepreneurship, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/undergraduate/majors-minors/entrepreneurship/
Undergraduate Minor in Entrepreneurship
An Entrepreneurship minor for non-Entrepreneurship majors is also available. This interdepartmental undergraduate minor in Entrepreneurship is available to all undergraduate students at Iowa State University. The minor requires 15 credits from an approved list of courses, including at least 6 credits in courses numbered 300 or above taken at Iowa State University with a grade of C or higher. The minor must include 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. Students must follow college-specific rules in selecting courses for the minor. The college representatives to the supervisory committee for the minor will be responsible for advising students in their college, and will inform students about the details of the college rules. Students with declared majors have priority over students with declared minors in courses with space constraints.
Students are limited to three business majors/degrees within the Ivy College of Business, or a total of three business majors/minors within the college. This limit is on business majors/degrees/minors only, and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.
Students with an Entrepreneurship minor are not permitted to major in Entrepreneurship.
For more information on the undergraduate minor in Entrepreneurship, please visit: http://catalog.iastate.edu/interdisciplinaryprograms/minor/entrepreneurialstudies/
Curriculum:
Entrepreneurship majors are required to complete 18 credit hours of entrepreneurship or management department-approved courses. Included in these 18 credits are four required courses:
| Required Courses (12 credits): | ||
| ENTSP 310 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTSP 313 | Feasibility Analysis and Business Planning | 3 |
| ENTSP 320 | Corporate Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Management | 3 |
| ENTSP 480 | Applied Entrepreneurship: Executing New Ventures and Projects | 3 |
| Elective Courses (6 credits): | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | ||
| ACCT 316 | Business Law | 3 |
| ACCT 371X | Entrepreneurship and Accounting Information | 3 |
| AESHM 474 | Entrepreneurship in Human Sciences | 3 |
| ECON 334 | Entrepreneurship in Agriculture | 3 |
| ENTSP 367 | International Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ENTSP 410 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ENTSP 431X | Small Business Finance Decisions | 3 |
| ENTSP 485 | Trends in Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| FIN 415 | Business Financing Decisions | 3 |
| MGMT 471 | Personnel and Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGMT 472 | Management of Diversity | 3 |
| MKT 447 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| SCM 340 | Project Management | 3 |
| SCM 453 | Supply Chain Planning and Control | 3 |
The X designation after a course number indicates this is an experimental course offered by the Department. Although in an experimental phase, these courses are open for registration just the same as permanent courses listed in the course catalog and count as elective choices in the major.
Entrepreneurship, B.S.
Sample 4-Year Plan (Your plan may differ)
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BUSAD 102 or 103 | 1 | ECON 102 | 3 |
| ECON 101 | 3 | STAT 226 | 3 |
| COM S 113 | 3 | BUSAD 250 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ACCT 284 | 3 |
| MATH 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | BUSAD 203 | 1 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ACCT 285 | 3 | PHIL 230 | 3 |
| SP CM 212 | 3 | ACCT 215 | 3 |
| Business Core Course | 3 | MGMT 371 | 3 |
| Natural Science | 3 | Global/International Perspective@ | 3 |
| MATH 151 | 3 | HUM/SOC SCI | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENTSP 310 | 3 | ENTSP 313 | 3 |
| Business Core Courses | 6 | ENTSP 320 | 3 |
| US Diversity# | 3 | Business Core Courses | 6 |
| ENGL 302 | 3 | HUM/SOC SCI | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENTSP 480 | 3 | MGMT 478* | 3 |
| ENTSP Elective | 3 | ENTSP Elective | 3 |
| HUM/SOC SCI | 3 | HUM/SOC SCI | 3 |
| Global/International Perspective@ | 3 | General Electives | 6 |
| General Electives | 5 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 122 | |||
| @ | Courses in these requirements may also be used as Global Perspective. |
| # | US Diversity courses may be used to satisfy HUM/SOC SCI. |
| * | All core classes must be completed prior to taking MGMT 478 in the graduating semester. |
Students must be admitted to the professional program in business to major in entrepreneurship. The requirements to enter the professional program are:
1. Completion of at least 30 credits, Foundation Courses, ENGL 150, and all ENGL 101/99 courses if required.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.50 either cumulative or in the Foundation Courses. Early admission is allowed for Honors-eligible students. (See your adviser for specific information)
Graduation Requirements:
1. Grade of “C” or higher in at least 30 credits of Core and Major courses.
2. 42 credits of 300+ level courses from a four-year institution.
3. 50% of required Business courses must be earned at ISU.
4. At least 32 credits and the LAST 32 credits must be earned at ISU (exceptions for study abroad and internship may be requested).
5. 122 Credits minimum and a Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 with no quality point deficiencies.
6. A grade of C or better in ENGL 250 required, and also in one other required ENGL course.
7. All 300-level and higher business credits must be earned at a four-year college.
8. Multiple business majors must have at least 15 distinct credits in each of the major requirements; when applicable, one course can be shared between business majors; see your adviser regarding multiple business degree requirements.
Graduate Study
The Department of Management participates in the PhD in Business and Technology with an Entrepreneurship (ENTSP) specialization. The program is a 56-credit (minimum) curriculum designed around four interrelated areas (core, specialization, minor, and research methods) and dissertation. The focus of the specialization is on preparing students to conduct and publish scholarly research in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology Management.
For more information about the PhD program with a specilization in Entrepreneurship, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/phd/
Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is designed to teach students the process through which new ventures are created and to ensure students understand the role of innovation in entrepreneurship.
The certificate allows post-graduate students from any discipline to learn about entrepreneurship, innovation, and the new venture creation process. The interdisciplinary certificate program provides students an opportunity to gain business skills they can use in starting a business without a large time commitment. It is flexible so that students can design a program that provides core entrepreneurship education through Management 566 as well as discipline-specific training from entrepreneurship courses in other colleges.
For more information about the graduate certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/masters/graduate-certificates/
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(Cross-listed with MGMT). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Review of the entrepreneurial process with emphasis on starting a new business. How to analyze opportunities, develop an innovative product, organize, finance, market, launch, and manage a new venture. Deals with the role of the entrepreneur and the importance of a business plan. Speakers and field project.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: MGMT 310
Developing an idea for a new business venture, conducting a feasibility study, researching the potential market, analyzing the competition, and writing a formal business plan. Basic business functions are discussed in terms of their application to conducting feasibility analysis and writing a business plan for an entrepreneurial venture.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 2 times. F.S.
Prereq: MGMT 310
Entrepreneurial approaches aimed at the identification, development and exploitation of technical and organizational innovations, the management of new product or process developments, and the effective management of new ventures in the context of mid-size to large corporations in manufacturing as well as in service industries. Development of an awareness and understanding of the range, scope, and complexity of issues related to the creation of a corporate environment that is supportive of entrepreneurial endeavors as well as to gain insights concerning the effective implementation of technological and organizational innovations in corporate settings.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
The essentials of operating an entrepreneurial firm in an international environment. Topics include understanding the role of entrepreneurship in economic development, starting and developing a business in an international market, financing international ventures, international management issues and exchange rates.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Introduction to issues related to the role of social entrepreneurship in helping to solve social problems, including innovation, opportunity recognition, planning and the launch of new non-profit organizations.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: MGMT 310; MGMT 313 or MGMT 320
Experiential learning through student-identified project. Students identify, propose and execute an experiential learning project that will be completed during the semester. The course provides application oriented learning of entrepreneurship. The course project must include a significant experiential learning activity, such as launching a venture or business, writing a business plan, or completing an internship in an entrepreneurial setting. Requires a field project.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: ENTSP 310
A broad examination of historical, literary, and business perspectives on entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial process is studied by examining the role of individuals, new ventures, and established organizations in the discovery, evaluation, and exploitation of economic opportunities. Emphasis is placed on tracing the evolution of entrepreneurship theories over time, as well as analyzing current trends related to the study of entrepreneurship.
Courses for graduate students:
(Cross-listed with MGMT). Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Critical review of theory and research in the field of strategic management. Introduction to representative conceptual and empirical research. Review theories that provide the foundation for management research, and review current research in associate research streams. The review will cover fundamental questions in strategy.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). Cr. 3.
Prereq: Enrollment in the PhD Program
Seminal readings, theoretical perspectives, and historical roots of Entrepreneurship research. A broad variety of core foundational theories, perspectives, and approaches are discussed.
(Cross-listed with MGMT). Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: Enrollment in the doctoral program
Current theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches in entrepreneurship research. Current entrepreneurship research is inherently interdisciplinary such that we will draw on insights from scholars across a range of disciplines.