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 disciplines and career paths by fostering innovative, strategic thinking.
Updated certificate requirements
Requirements for the undergraduate certificate in entrepreneurship changed in fall 2023. It is now open to all undergraduate KU students, regardless of major.
Additionally, graduate KU students who hold an accredited undergraduate degree may also pursue the certificate.
Undergraduate certificate requirements vary depending on when a student first enrolled at KU. To ensure you're viewing the correct requirements, select the link below that matches your enrollment term.
Questions about eligibility should be directed to your academic advisor. Undergraduate students pursuing the entrepreneurship certificate students are not eligible to also pursue the minor in entrepreneurship.
Requirements beginning fall 2025
Undergraduate students who enrolled at KU starting fall 2025 are required to complete:
- Three courses (totaling nine credit hours)
- Points earned through participation in KU Business entrepreneurship co-curricular activities
- A final reflection
Graduate students who enrolled at KU starting fall 2025 are required to complete:
- Four courses (totaling 12 credit hours)
Graduate students are not required to earn activity points.
Undergraduate students who enrolled at KU starting fall 2025 are required to complete:
- Three courses (totaling nine credit hours)
- Points earned through participation in KU Business entrepreneurship co-curricular activities
- A final reflection
Graduate students who enrolled at KU starting fall 2025 are required to complete:
- Four courses (totaling 12 credit hours)
Graduate students are not required to earn activity points.
Undergraduate 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 school's experiential learning requirement (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.
Undergraduate requirements beginning fall 2023
Undergraduate students who enrolled at KU beginning fall 2023 through spring 2025 are required to complete:
- Three courses (totaling nine credit hours)
- Points earned through participation in KU Business entrepreneurship co-curricular activities
- A final reflection
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 school's experiential learning requirement (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.
Undergraduate requirements before fall 2023
Undergraduate students who enrolled at KU before fall 2023 are required to complete:
- Three courses (totaling nine credit hours)
- A final reflection
While activity points are not required for this group, students are encouraged and welcome to participate in experiential activities.
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 above according to when you enrolled at KU to ensure you're on the right path.