Certificate requirements have been updated
Please see below for revised requirements effective starting with May 2019 graduates. Please note that the Certificate Mangement System through the myKU portal is in the process of being updated to reflect these changes. Contact Charlotte Tritch (ctritch@ku.edu) with any questions.
Entrepreneurs think differently. They see opportunities others miss. Cultivate the skills to be an innovative problem solver who is constantly learning, resilient despite adversity, and able to rebound from failure. This mindset is critical to the success of any type of organization, at any stage of development. With just three courses + a reflection you can earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship. The program is open to all non-business students, both undergraduate and graduate. See below for our course offerings and program details.
REQUIRED COURSES
ENTR 301/701 Starting Your Own Business
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.
- ENTR 301 Starting Your Own Business
- In this course the student examines the disciplines which comprise the critical success factors in entrepreneurship and develops a fundamental understanding of the basic skill set required to manage his/her own business. The course will emphasize the Entrepreneurial Process in which each of the following disciplines will be introduced so that the student understands meaning, interrelationship and the application of the subject matter. First the student will be introduced to entrepreneurship and the personal attributes which historically have produced successful entrepreneurs. Further, the student will learn how to evaluate business opportunities via Feasibility Analysis which encompasses industry and competitor analysis, developing an effective business model, building a new venture team, developing an effective marketing plan, assessing the new ventures financial strengths and preparing the proper ethical and legal foundation for the new business. Finally, on completion of the course the student will possess a beginning comprehension for getting financing for the new venture and preparing for the challenges of business growth. Prerequisite: Goal 1, Outcome 2 and Goal 2, Outcome 1, or instructor approval. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Meyer Jr, Wallace
MW 11:00-12:15 PM CAPF 1020 - LAWRENCE3 46606
- ENTR 701 Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurs are uniquely critical thinkers, they have distinguished themselves by not accepting the status quo, asking the why not questions, developing innovative answers to many challenging issues in science, technology, social issues and commerce. This course will allow students to become rigorous, versatile and agile thinkers by flexing their own critical thinking muscles through an examination of the entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to apply that capability to starting a new business, either their own business or a new business opportunity for a larger organization. This will be accomplished by learning the entrepreneurial process including a lean startup approach, validating the opportunity and the business model via direct customer feedback, projecting the market value of the opportunity with sales, profits forecasting and preparing a commercialization plan that provides a comprehensive opportunity development roadmap. Prior business knowledge is not required; however an open mind that embraces innovative problem solving is essential. Not open to KU School of Business students. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Meyer Jr, Wallace
MW 11:00-12:15 PM CAPF 1020 - LAWRENCE3 50537
ENTR 302/702 Financing Your Own Business
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. We’ll teach you 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.
- ENTR 302 Financing Your Own Business
- This course introduces the non-business student to the language of business, accounting, and its applications in the financial management of new and small business environments. Students will learn how to account for the various activities of the start-up and early stage new venture as well as the importance, utility and construction of financial statements. Further, students will acquire the ability to construct financial projections for a start-up firm and monitor the financial performance of the growing business with a focus on cash flow management. Finally, students will be introduced to various remedies in the event that performance does not meet expectations. Prerequisite: Goal 1, Outcome 2 and Goal 2, Outcome 1, or instructor approval. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Bergeron, Lisa
TuTh 01:00-02:15 PM CAPF 3015 - LAWRENCE3 46607
- ENTR 702 Financing Your Own Business
- This course introduces the non-business student to the language of business, accounting, and its applications in the financial management of new and small business environments. Students will learn how to account for the various activities of the start-up and early stage new venture as well as the importance, utility and construction of financial statements. Further, students will acquire the ability to construct financial projections for a start-up firm and monitor the financial performance of the growing business with a focus on cash flow management. Finally, students will be introduced to various remedies in the event that performance does not meet expectations. Not open to students in the School of Business. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Bergeron, Lisa
TuTh 01:00-02:15 PM CAPF 3015 - LAWRENCE3 47213
ENTR 303/703 Marketing Your Own Business
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.
- ENTR 303 Marketing Your Own Business
- This course focuses on the marketing development of new business ideas for small businesses including creating an environment conducive to innovation, recognizing business opportunities, assessing the industry and its potential customer segments, barriers to entry and competitive set. In addition, students will acquire an understanding of the primary marketing tools available to the entrepreneur to drive customer awareness, initial and repeat purchase and the ability to fully integrate each of those tools into a cohesive, integrated marketing plan, all on an extremely limited budget as typifies start up businesses. Upon successful completion of the course, students will understand how to plan an entrepreneurial marketing program, implement it and evaluate its performance. This includes market analysis, segmentation, the marketing mix of product, price, promotion and distribution and marketing strategy, both long term and annually. Prerequisite: ENTR 301 and ENTR 410, or instructor approval. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Tritch, Charlotte
MW 01:00-02:15 PM CAPF 3011 - LAWRENCE3 46608
- ENTR 703 Marketing Your Own Business
- This course focuses on the marketing development of new business ideas for small businesses including creating an environment conducive to innovation, recognizing business opportunities, assessing the industry and its potential customer segments, barriers to entry and competitive set. In addition, students will acquire an understanding of the primary marketing tools available to the entrepreneur to drive customer awareness, initial and repeat purchase and the ability to fully integrate each of those tools into a cohesive, integrated marketing plan, all on an extremely limited budget as typifies start up businesses. Upon successful completion of the course, students will understand how to plan an entrepreneurial marketing program, implement it and evaluate its performance. This includes market analysis, segmentation, the marketing mix of product, price, promotion and distribution and marketing strategy, both long term and annually. Not open to students in the School of Business. LEC.
Spring 2020 Type Time/Place and Instructor Credit Hours Class # LEC Tritch, Charlotte
MW 01:00-02:15 PM CAPF 3011 - LAWRENCE3 47214
CERTIFICATE COMPLETION PROCESS
1. REGISTER FOR THE CERTIFICATE
Register through the myKU Portal. You can access the certificate management system by logging in to your myKU Portal and selecting the “Undergraduate Certificates” link under “Academics” to register and track your progress.
2. COMPLETE THE 3 REQUIRED COURSES
ENTR 301/701: Starting Your Own Business MW 11-12:15pm
ENTR 302/702: Financing Your Own Business TR 1-2:15pm
ENTR 303/703: Marketing Your Own Business MW 1-2:15pm
Note: All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher to count toward the certificate and an overall GPA of 2.2 or higher is required to earn the certificate.
3. COMPLETE REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Each student must complete a series of reflection questions that tie together the certificate coursework. The reflection prompts and submission details will be available soon through the myKU Portal, and are due by Stop Day of your graduating semester. For those graduating in May 2019, please contact Charlotte Tritch (ctritch@ku.edu or 785-864-7563) for a copy of these reflection questions.
4. APPLY TO GRADUATE
Undergraduate students are required to apply for graduation from the certificate through Enroll & Pay, just as you apply for graduation from your degree program. Deadlines align with the University Registrar’s graduation application deadlines (i.e. deadline for Fall graduation is Nov 1 and Spring graduation is March 1).
For Graduate Students Only
Following the successful completion of all three courses and the reflection questions, graduate students must submit a Certificate application form to Charlotte Tritch via email (ctritch@ku.edu), in person (Capitol Federal Hall, 1030E) or via US mail to the address on the application. Once approved, the Certificate of Entrepreneurship will be mailed to the student's permanent address and the Certificate will be recorded on the student's transcript through the KU Registrar's Office.
