Entrepreneurship, BBA
This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship combines advanced applied learning with real-world experiences, preparing students to innovate, lead, and create value in any setting. The program develops students’ skills in innovation and creativity, opportunity recognition, design thinking, strategic planning, entrepreneurial finance and marketing, and professional communication. Students can customize their studies through emphasis areas such as technological innovation, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial finance, launching new ventures, corporate entrepreneurship, or general entrepreneurship. The degree works equally well as a stand-alone major or as a complementary double major with any other business discipline—without duplicating coursework. Courses are taught by experienced faculty who have launched and led successful ventures and who integrate theory with practical application. Several courses are open to all University of Iowa undergraduates who wish to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) requires a minimum of 120 s.h. of credit, including at least 48 s.h. earned in business courses and at least 52 s.h. earned in non-business courses.
BBA students must earn 45 s.h. at the University of Iowa following admission to the BBA program. At least 24 s.h. in business courses must be earned with Tippie College of Business coursework. At least two-thirds of the semester hours in a student's major must be earned in the student's major department at the Tippie College of Business. Nonresident instruction includes coursework at colleges and universities other than the University of Iowa.
To graduate, BBA students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all college-level coursework attempted, all college-level business coursework attempted, all college-level major coursework attempted, all college-level coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, all college-level business coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, and all college-level major coursework attempted at the University of Iowa.
Common BBA Requirements
BBA students must fulfill the following common requirements or approved equivalents. For approved equivalents, consult the college's Undergraduate Program Office.
General Education
Students may not count courses taken to fulfill General Education Program requirements toward other course requirements for the BBA.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Perspectives | 3 | |
| International and Global Issues | 3 | |
| Interpretation of Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences (without lab) | 3 | |
| Rhetoric | 4 | |
| Social Sciences (excluding ECON:1100 and ECON:1200) | 3 | |
| Understanding Cultural Perspectives | 3 | |
| Values and Society | 3 | |
| World Languages | 0-10 | |
World Languages
Tippie College of Business students may complete the World Languages requirement using one of three options. One year of high school language study is generally equivalent to one semester of college language study.
Option One
Attain fourth level proficiency in a single world language. Students attain fourth level proficiency in a single world language by completing four years of that language in high school or four semesters in college, or an equivalent combination of high school and college coursework, or pass an achievement test or evaluation at fourth level proficiency.
Option Two
Attain third level proficiency in a single world language and complete a World Language and Cultural Exploration course. Students attain third-level proficiency in a single world language by completing three years of that language in high school or three semesters in college, or an equivalent combination of high school and college coursework, or pass an achievement test or evaluation at third-level proficiency. Option two does not qualify students to earn credit under the Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP).
Option Three
Attain second level proficiency in each of two world languages. Students attain second level proficiency in each of two world languages by completing two years of each language in high school or two semesters of each language in college, or an equivalent combination of high school and college coursework, or pass achievement tests and/or evaluations at second-level proficiency in each language. Option three does not qualify students to earn credit under the Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP).
Prerequisites for Admission to the BBA Program
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON:1100 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| One of these: | ||
| RHET:1030 | Rhetoric: Writing and Communication | 4 |
| RHET:1040 & RHET:1060 | College Writing and Reading and College Communication and Reading | 6 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:1500 | Business Technology and Artificial Intelligence (preferred) | 2 |
| CS:1020 | Principles of Computing | 3 |
| ENGR:1300 | Introduction to Engineering Computing | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| MATH:1350 | Quantitative Reasoning for Business (preferred) | 4 |
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH:1560 | Engineering Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH:1850 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH:1860 | Calculus II | 4 |
| One of these: | ||
| STAT:1030 | Statistics for Business (preferred) | 4 |
| BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| PSQF:4143/STAT:4143 | Introduction to Statistical Methods (minimum grade of B required) | 3 |
| STAT:2010 | Statistical Methods and Computing | 3 |
| STAT:2020 | Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences | 3 |
| STAT:3100/IGPI:3100 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I | 4 |
| STAT:3101/IGPI:3101 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| STAT:3120/DATA:3120/IGPI:3120 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 | Biostatistics (minimum grade of B required) | 3 |
| STAT:4100/IGPI:4100 | Statistical Inference I | 3 |
Prerequisites for Declaring a BBA Major
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT:2100 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON:1200 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
BBA Core
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT:2200 | Managerial Accounting Analytics and Data Visualization | 3 |
| BUS:2200 | Discover Business at Tippie | 1 |
| BUS:3000 | Business Communication and Professionalism | 3 |
| FIN:3000 | Introductory Financial Management | 3 |
| MGMT:2000 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| MGMT:2100 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| MKTG:3000 | Introduction to Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:2800 | Foundations of Business Analytics | 3 |
| ECON:4800 | Econometric Analysis: Advanced Causal Inference With Data | 3 |
| STAT:2020 | Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences | 3 |
| STAT:3120/DATA:3120/IGPI:3120 | Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| STAT:4101/IGPI:4101 | Statistical Inference II | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:3000 | Operations Management | 2 |
| ISE:3300 | Manufacturing Systems | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BAIS:3005 | Information Systems | 2 |
| CS:1210 | Computer Science I: Fundamentals | 4 |
| CS:2110 | Programming for Informatics | 4 |
Experiential Learning Requirement: Tippie RISE
RISE is an acronym for hands-on experiential learning in the form of research with faculty, internship course, study abroad, and experiential course. All BBA students in the Tippie College of Business students must successfully complete at least one of these four experiences. Courses that satisfy Tippie RISE are as follows.
Research With Faculty
Working closely with a faculty mentor, students explore a research question of interest for a semester or more. By conducting academic research, students enhance their critical thinking skills, learn techniques to collect and analyze data, and apply their findings to business practices. These skills are highly useful for a variety of businesses and graduate programs.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT:4999 | Honors Thesis in Accounting | arr. |
| BAIS:4999 | Honors Thesis in Business Analytics | arr. |
| BUS:3600 | Mentored Research | arr. |
| BUS:4999 | Honors Thesis in Business | arr. |
| ECON:4999 | Honors Thesis in Economics | arr. |
| FIN:4999 | Honors Thesis in Finance | arr. |
| MGMT:4999 | Honors Thesis in Management | arr. |
| MKTG:3702 | Marketing Institute Seminar II | 2 |
| MKTG:4999 | Honors Thesis in Marketing | arr. |
| URES:3991 | Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects | 0 |
| URES:3992 | Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects | 0 |
| URES:3993 | Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects | 1-4 |
| URES:3994 | Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects | 1-4 |
| URES:3995 | Independent Creative Research by Undergraduates Summer Internship | 0 |
Internship Course
As students gain valuable hands-on work experience in a professional internship, they complete one of the approved internship courses to assist them in having a meaningful learning experience. The internship courses encourage students to take on relevant job responsibilities, outline strategies to meet internship goals, regularly communicate with their supervisors, explore the career field, and reflect on their growth throughout the experience.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS:3100 | Academic Internship or Cooperative Education | 0 |
| BUS:3900 | Business Communication Internship I | 3 |
| BUS:4900 | Academic Internship | arr. |
| CCP:1201 | Academic Internship | 1-3 |
| CCP:2020 | Washington Center Internship Program | arr. |
| CCP:2202 | International Student Full-Time Academic Internship | 9 |
| ENTR:4300 | Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture | arr. |
| ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship | arr. |
| EVNT:3300 | Internship in Event Management | 0,3 |
| LS:3011 | Leadership Certificate Capstone | 0-2 |
| SRM:4199 | Independent Sport and Recreation Field Experience | arr. |
Study Abroad
By taking advantage of short-term, summer, semester, or academic year programs, students can expand their worldview and learn alternative business and cultural practices outside of the United States. Students can participate in Tippie RISE study abroad programs such as London Winter, International Business in Sydney, CIMBA Italy, Global Internships, spring break programs through the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, or any of the many UI study abroad programs in over 40 countries. Any study abroad program is accepted for credit, including virtual programs, short-term faculty-led programs, and summer, semester, or year-long programs. These courses may be study abroad courses (prefix ABRD) or select study abroad international activities courses (prefix INTL) but are not required to be; see Study Abroad in the catalog.
Experiential Course
In approved experiential courses, students improve their understanding of academic concepts by applying them to a class project with a company or nonprofit organization. Using real circumstances and issues, students engage with the organization to make a lasting impact. Students have support from classmates and guidance from their instructor throughout the duration of the project. Experiential courses are offered in many BBA majors and as business and non-business electives. Courses must be taken at the University of Iowa to satisfy Tippie RISE.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT:3451 | Tax Practicum (VITA) II (spring only) | 1 |
| BAIS:4150 | Business Analytics and Information Systems Capstone | 3 |
| BUS:3920 | Business Case Competitions Professional Preparation | arr. |
| ECON:3360 | Experimental Economics | 3 |
| ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| FIN:4250 | Applied Equity Valuation | 3 |
| FIN:4310 | Advanced Corporate Finance | 3 |
| FIN:4350 | Applied Wealth Management | 3 |
| FIN:4460 | Insurer Operations and Captive Management | 3 |
| FIN:4470 | Insurtech Innovation | 3 |
| LS:1024 | Hawkeye Service Breaks (spring only) | 3 |
| LS:3002 | Career Leadership Academy Part 2: Leadership in Action | 3 |
| MGMT:3600 | Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness II | 3 |
| MGMT:3850/ENTR:3850 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II | 3 |
| MGMT:4600 | Nonprofit Ethics and Governance | 3 |
| MKTG:3100 | Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKTG:3103 | Advanced Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKTG:3700 | Marketing Institute Seminar I | 2 |
| MKTG:3701 | Marketing Institute Field Studies | 2 |
| MKTG:4250 | Marketing and Sustainability | 3 |
| MKTG:4800 | Marketing Consulting Project | 3 |
| SRM:4197 | Sport and Recreation Field Experience (not fans first section) | arr. |
Major Area of Study
All BBA students must complete a major area of study. The college offers BBA majors in accounting, business analytics and information systems, economics, finance, management and entrepreneurship, marketing, and risk management and insurance. The requirements for each major are established by the department that offers the major.
Students With Associate of Arts Degrees
Students who have been granted an Associate of Arts (AA) from a community college participating in the Iowa and Illinois Community College/Regents Articulation Agreements are considered to have met all high school unit requirements for admission to undergraduate degree-granting programs in the Tippie College of Business, as well as all the General Education Program requirements listed under "General Education Requirements," except for the Understanding Cultural Perspectives and World Languages requirements. The program of study for which a student was awarded the AA must have included:
-
a minimum of 60 s.h. (or 90 quarter hours) of credit acceptable toward graduation from the University of Iowa;
-
completion of the agreed-upon group of courses at the community college; and
-
a GPA of at least 2.00.
Mathematics courses comparable to MATH:0100 Basic Algebra I are not accepted toward graduation. Completion of an Associate of Arts does not guarantee admission to to undergraduate degree-granting programs in the Tippie College of Business. See Admission in Undergraduate Programs for a complete list of requirements for admission to the BA, BBA, or BS programs.
Students who use the provisions of the articulation agreement are granted a maximum of 60 s.h. of transferable credit from two-year colleges toward the 120 s.h. required for an undergraduate degree from the Tippie College of Business. Credit earned for the AA beyond the 60 s.h. transferable maximum is used in computing a student's grade-point average, and it may be used to satisfy course requirements, but it does not count towards credit hour requirements for the undergraduate degree. Transfer credit for business courses taken during the first and second years is counted toward the undergraduate degree program only if such courses are usually offered as lower-division courses at the University of Iowa.
Transfer Courses
Students who have taken courses at another institution that are similar to those approved for the common business requirements at Iowa may request that these courses be evaluated for transfer credit. Students who transfer fewer hours than needed to meet a common business requirement may use only approved courses to complete the remainder of the requirement. Only courses taken at accredited four-year institutions may be used to satisfy business course requirements numbered 3000 or above. Students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of business coursework at Iowa and at least two-thirds of the coursework in the major in the department awarding the major. They must also meet the 45 s.h. residence requirement of the Tippie College of Business. Credit earned through online courses may be counted toward all requirements for graduation, subject to approval by a student's major department.
Multiple Majors in Business
Students may earn the BBA degree with more than one major; they may also combine the BBA degree with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in economics (except for the BBA in economics). The Four-Year Graduation Plan is not available to students earning more than one major or degree. Students have access to degree audits in MyUI for all of the programs of study they have officially declared. They also have access to all program courses, with some limitations, during early registration. A student must be in good academic standing in order to declare more than one major. See Double Majors and Joint Degrees on the Tippie College of Business website.
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a major in entrepreneurship requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 22 s.h. of work for the major. To graduate, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all college coursework attempted, all coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, all college business coursework attempted, all business coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, all college management and entrepreneurship coursework attempted, and all management and entrepreneurship coursework attempted at the University of Iowa.
Students in this major are not eligible to earn the BA in enterprise leadership or the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management.
The BBA with a major in entrepreneurship requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurship Common Required Courses | 16 |
| Entrepreneurship Elective Courses | 6 |
Entrepreneurship Common Required Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| ENTR:3050 | Professional Preparation for Enterprise Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| ENTR:3350 | Entrepreneurial Strategy | 3 |
| BAIS:3150 | Emerging Technology Driving Business Innovation | 3 |
| FIN:3900 | Advanced Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| MGMT:3250 | Leading Innovation | 3 |
| MKTG:4201 | Professional Selling | 3 |
Entrepreneurship Elective Courses
Students complete two courses (6 s.h.) from one of the following categories: entrepreneurial finance, entrepreneurial leadership, technology entrepreneurship, general entrepreneurship, or applied entrepreneurship. Students are not guaranteed specific elective options. The availability of courses may be subject to prerequisites or restricted to students who have declared a second major within the respective department.
Entrepreneurial Finance
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| ENTR:4650 | Applied Venture Finance | 3 |
| 3 s.h. from these: | ||
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship | arr. |
| FIN:4470 | Insurtech Innovation | 3 |
Entrepreneurial Leadership
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| ENTR:3800 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy I | 3 |
| ENTR:3850 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II | 3 |
Technology Entrepreneurship
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| ENTR:3550 | Commercializing New Technology I | 3 |
| ENTR:3575 | Commercializing New Technology II | 3 |
General Entrepreneurship
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| ENTR:4400 | Managing the Growth Business | 3 |
| 3 s.h. from these: | ||
| ENTR:3500 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ENTR:3550 | Commercializing New Technology I | 3 |
| ENTR:3800 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy I | 3 |
| ENTR:4000 | Topics in Entrepreneurship | 1-3 |
| ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| ENTR:4300 | Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture | arr. |
| ENTR:4650 | Applied Venture Finance | 3 |
| ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship | arr. |
| MGMT:4100 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |
Applied Entrepreneurship
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| 3 s.h. from these: | ||
| BAIS:4150 | Business Analytics and Information Systems Capstone | 3 |
| MKTG:4500 | Marketing Capstone | 3 |
Graduates with a BBA in Entrepreneurship pursue a wide range of career paths where innovation, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition are highly valued. In addition to launching new ventures, students are well-prepared for roles in product development, innovation management, business development, sales leadership, consulting, project management, and positions within startups, growth-stage companies, and corporate innovation teams. Employers value entrepreneurship graduates for their adaptability, creative thinking, and ability to turn ideas into actionable plans. Many alumni also contribute to family businesses, nonprofit and social-impact organizations, and intrapreneurial initiatives within established companies.
Tippie Undergraduate Career Services (TCS) offers personalized career support, job leads, and timely, relevant information tailored to students’ majors and academic progress. Complementing existing university resources offered by the Pomerantz Career Center, the office provides targeted outreach, interactive tools, and convenient access to resources to help you thrive in your career and professional journey.
Sample Plans of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Entrepreneurship, BBA
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.