The entrepreneurial management certificate is an excellent addition to any student’s educational experience. It teaches students to apply innovative approaches to solve problems, create and communicate value, and impact the community. All businesses and nonprofits are seeking individuals with these skills, regardless of their size or type industry. Students may begin the certificate at any time during their college career.
Students who pursue the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management develop a solid foundation in entrepreneurial management, professional leadership, and communication skills that prepare them for a variety of career opportunities or to start their own business. They are able to apply their innovative problem-solving and critical thinking skills to contemporary issues, to develop strategies to seize upon opportunities, and to build and lead successful teams.
Students learn from a select team of faculty members, business executives, and entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in the business world and have a unique ability to successfully teach theory and practice. Students will have the opportunity to meet successful alumni and entrepreneurial leaders to help them build their professional network. Several cocurricular programs also are available to help students develop additional marketable skills and strengthen their résumés for career success.
Students develop the following skills in the program: innovation and creativity, opportunity recognition, developing and executing business strategies, building and leading interdisciplinary teams, market assessments, financial forecasting and evaluation, professional communications, critical thinking, and problem solving.
The undergraduate Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management requires a minimum of 18 s.h. of credit. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in work for the certificate.
The certificate program is open to all current University of Iowa undergraduate students and to individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree and are not enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program, except to students earning the BBA in management (entrepreneurship management track) or the BA in enterprise leadership.
Undergraduate students must declare their intention to pursue the certificate. Business students should contact the Tippie College of Business Undergraduate Program office. Liberal arts and sciences students should contact the CLAS Undergraduate Programs office.
Students earning the certificate in conjunction with the Bachelor of Applied Studies (University College) or the Bachelor of Liberal Studies (University College) may complete the certificate's coursework by distance education.
Students may begin working toward the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management during their sophomore year. They may count a maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit toward the certificate, with approval from the entrepreneurship program director. Credit earned in entrepreneurship courses (prefix ENTR) is counted as semester hours earned in business.
The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management requires the following coursework. Many certificate courses have prerequisites and other requirements for registration; students must complete a course's prerequisites and must meet its registration requirements before they may register for the course.
Entrepreneurship Core
To begin work on the certificate, students should first enroll in ENTR:2000 Entrepreneurship and Innovation or its equivalent; for non-business and non-engineering students, ENTR:1350 Foundations in Entrepreneurship must be taken prior to, or concurrently with ENTR:2000.
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
ENTR:2000 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| |
ENTR:3100 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
ENTR:3200 | Entrepreneurial Marketing | 3 |
ENTR:4400 | Managing the Growth Business | 3 |
Electives
Students must complete an additional 6 s.h. in elective courses from the lists below. There are many options for student to select electives tied closely to their career interests or simply choose two of the courses to complete the certificate. Students who wish to use a course not in the lists below must consult with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center's director of undergraduate studies.
Recommended course options for specialty areas include the following.
Social Entrepreneurship
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
ENTR:3500 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| |
ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship (must be a social entrepreneurship internship) | arr. |
Technology Entrepreneurship
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
ENTR:3400 | Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation | 3 |
ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship (must be a technology internship) | arr. |
| |
ENTR:3550 | Commercializing New Technology I | 3 |
ENTR:3575 | Commercializing New Technology II | 3 |
International Entrepreneurship
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
ENTR:4460 | Entrepreneurship and Global Trade | 3 |
| |
ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship (must be a international entrepreneurship internship) | arr. |
General Entrepreneurship
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
ENTR:1800 | Innovation in Action: Sustainability | 0-1 |
ENTR:2800 | Entrepreneurial Experience | 1-3 |
ENTR:3000 | Practicum in Entrepreneurship | 1-3 |
ENTR:3400 | Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation | 3 |
ENTR:3500 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
ENTR:3550 | Commercializing New Technology I | 3 |
ENTR:3575 | Commercializing New Technology II | 3 |
ENTR:3595 | Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I | 3 |
ENTR:3600 | E-Commerce Strategies for Entrepreneurs | 3 |
ENTR:3700 | Sustainable Product Innovation and Management | 3 |
ENTR:3800 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy I | 3 |
ENTR:3850 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II | 3 |
ENTR:4000 | Topics in Entrepreneurship | 1-3 |
ENTR:4050 | Directed Readings in Entrepreneurship | arr. |
ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
ENTR:4300 | Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture | 3 |
ENTR:4460 | Entrepreneurship and Global Trade | 3 |
ENTR:4510 | Arts Leadership Seminar | 3 |
ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship | 3 |
ENTR:4999 | Honors Thesis in Entrepreneurial Studies | arr. |
MGMT:4100 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |