Certificate in entrepreneurship
Program information
Develop your entrepreneurial competency and build foundational entrepreneurship skills through a combination of coursework and experiential learning. The certificate provides a hands-on introduction to the field of entrepreneurship.
A certificate in entrepreneurship can benefit all majors and career paths by fostering innovative, strategic thinking.
Certificate changes
Requirements for the certificate in entrepreneurship changed in fall 2023. It is now open to all undergraduate KU students across every major.
Students who enrolled at KU beginning fall 2023:
- Will be required to complete three courses (nine credits), earn points through participation in School of Business entrepreneurship co-curricular activities, and complete a final reflection.
Students who were enrolled at KU before fall 2023:
- Will be required to complete three courses (nine credits) and a final reflection. Though these students are not required to earn activity points, they are encouraged and welcome to participate in experiential activities.
Find details about these requirements below. Questions about eligibility should be directed to your academic advisor. Entrepreneurship certificate students are not eligible for the minor in entrepreneurship.
Getting started
Register for the certificate. Make sure you're registered for the certificate in myKU so that your progress is being properly tracked.
Review certificate requirements. Requirements to earn the certificate in entrepreneurship depend on when you enrolled at KU. Review the requirements listed below according to when you enrolled at KU to ensure you're on the right path.
Current certificate requirements
Students who enroll at KU beginning fall 2023 or after are required to complete the following.
Build your entrepreneurial competency — a way of thinking about problem-solving that can be applied across every industry and every type of organization. Topics may include opportunity recognition, opportunity feasibility, idea validation through experimentation, business model construction, and learning from failure.
Not open to students with credit in ENTR 301 or BBA 404.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 301 satisfies the ENTR 410 course requirement.
This course explores finance through an entrepreneurial lens — both from the perspective of the entrepreneur and from the investor, using numerous case studies and examples to illustrate topics. Topics may include designing revenue models, forms and stages of financing, capital structures for new ventures, and evaluating financial statements.
Not open to students with credit in ENTR 302.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 302 satisfies the ENTR 460 course requirement.
An emerging business venture may have the most innovative technology or distinctive service offering, but if there are no customers, the venture is likely to fail. This course is about how a new venture gets, keeps and grows customers to successfully build the business, often under the constraint of limited resources and a high degree of uncertainty.
Not open to students with credit in ENTR 303.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 303 satisfies the ENTR 470 course requirement.
Students must earn a total of four activity points and should enter each activity into the certificate tracking system as soon as the activity is completed. Most activity types cannot be repeated unless otherwise noted (eg., a student cannot earn four points from attending four speaker events).
Logged activity points must include:
- Date(s)
- Contact person
- Activity description
- Key learnings
New activities will be added to the following list periodically.
Eligible activities + point values
Entrepreneurial internship: 2 points
Should be consistent with the BUS 310 internship requirements (i.e., minimum of 120 hours over a period of no less than 6 weeks). Full academic year participation in RedTire also satisfies the entrepreneurship internship component.
Jayhawk Consulting: 1 point
Students must apply and be accepted into Jayhawk Consulting and be an active participant for a minimum of one full semester to earn 1 point. May be repeated for an additional semester to earn a maximum of 2 points.
The Catalyst: 1 point
Students must apply and be accepted into The Catalyst and be an active participant for a minimum of one full semester to earn 1 point. May be repeated for an additional semester to earn a maximum of 2 points.
Approved experiential learning activity: 1 point
Examples would include participating in a pitch competition (through KU or another university).
Club or leadership experience: 1 point
Applies to entrepreneurship-related experiences. Example would be an officer of the E-Club. Minimum of one full semester to earn 1 point. May be repeated for an additional semester to earn a maximum of 2 points.
Out-of-classroom speaker event or workshop: 1 point
Applies to entrepreneurship-related speakers or workshops. Examples would be One Million Cups, Lunch & Learn, or Startup Jayhawk speaker.
Other approved activity or experience: 1 point
If students have an entrepreneurship-related activity that they think qualifies, they should email entr-cert@ku.edu for review.
Students enrolled at KU before fall 2023 are not required to earn activity points but are encouraged and welcome to participate.
Previous certificate requirements
Students enrolled at KU before fall 2023 are required to complete the following.
Learn the entrepreneurial process — the approach successful entrepreneurs use to find a new business opportunity and determine its viability. Using videos, guest speakers, case studies and step-by-step presentations, the course provides a foundation to help you discover your entrepreneurial strengths, identify a solid new business opportunity and determine the resources necessary to bring that idea to market.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 410 satisfies the ENTR 301 course requirement.
This course introduces the fundamentals of accounting and finance to non-business students. To run a new business, you need to be able to keep score. Learn how to track your business growth, how to talk the language of business to your bankers and investors and how to make smart financial decisions.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 460 satisfies the ENTR 302 course requirement.
Understand how to plan an entrepreneurial marketing program, implement it and evaluate its performance. This includes market analysis, segmentation, the marketing mix (product, price, promotion and distribution) and marketing strategy, all within the constraints of a small new venture budget.
*For students enrolled at KU before fall 2023, completion of ENTR 470 satisfies the ENTR 303 course requirement.