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The undergraduate certificate in entrepreneurship is one of the most popular certificates at UW–Madison. It offers opportunities for non-business undergraduates interested in learning the skills for entrepreneurial thinking. These skills are critical both now and in the future if you are starting a new venture, working for a startup, or tackling new ventures within existing organizations. Modern businesses rely heavily on the ability to recognize and seize opportunities. Cutting-edge technologies, innovative business models, and ever-changing market landscapes determine which firms thrive and which do not. Taking initiative, thinking entrepreneurially, and acting upon opportunities are key ingredients of success in this environment.

This certificate program offers a distinct array of courses that combine business entrepreneurship classes with the curricula of several colleges and schools at UW–Madison. Classes in entrepreneurship and related topics provide the skills necessary to succeed throughout a student's career. Student projects outside the classroom with local firms or student ventures provide students with hands-on business experience. This comprehensive certificate program helps prepare students for roles such as business founder, product manager, engineer/scientist, new product designer, marketing or finance professional, nonprofit administrator, or consultant.

The certificate is open to undergraduate students who have home departments outside of the School of Business and are in good academic standing. Business undergraduates should explore the entrepreneurship major option.

To declare the certificate in entrepreneurship, go to the Academic Forms page and complete the declaration form.

A total of 15 credits is required to complete the certificate. The required foundation course, advanced entrepreneurship coursework, and electives from across the campus are used to earn the 15 credits. Coursework options available for fulfilling the certificate program are shown in the accompanying tables. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in related non-credit entrepreneurship immersion experiences such as competitions and student organizations.

Students will:

1. Take one 3-credit required foundation course (M H R 322 OR M H R 422)
2. Choose 3 additional credits from a list of approved School of Business advanced entrepreneurship courses
3. Choose 9 credits of additional courses from a list of approved other electives or advanced entrepreneurship courses.

At least 9 of the required 15 credits for the certificate must be completed in residence.

Students must earn a  2.5 cumulative GPA in all certificate in entrepreneurship coursework.

Required Foundation Coursework

M H R 322 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Management (restricted to non-business majors)3
or M H R 422 Entrepreneurial Management

Advanced Entrepreneurship Coursework1

Students must choose at least 3 credits from the following list of courses:

GEN BUS 310 Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors 23
or ACCT I S 100 Introductory Financial Accounting
or ACCT I S 300 Accounting Principles
M H R 434 Venture Creation3
M H R 427 Entrepreneurial Growth Strategies3
M H R 441 Technology Entrepreneurship3
FINANCE 457 Entrepreneurial Finance3
1

Some courses listed have pre-requisites, so please make sure those are satisfied before selecting a course.

2

Non-business majors are strongly recommended to take GEN BUS 310 instead of ACCT I S 100 or ACCT I S 300.

 

Elective Coursework

9 credits of other elective coursework (below) can be counted toward the required 15 certificate credits.

BUSINESS
GEN BUS 311 Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors3
M H R 300 Managing Organizations3
M H R 305 Human Resource Management3
M H R 320 New Ventures in Business, the Arts and Social Entrepreneurship3
M H R 321 Social Entrepreneurship (restricted to students in the StartUp Learning Community)1
M H R 365 Contemporary Topics (Creative Destruction Lab I)1
M H R 365 Contemporary Topics (Creative Destruction Lab II)2
M H R/​A A E  540 Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Technology3
M H R 628 Negotiations3
M H R/​INTEGART  632 Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship3
M H R/​INTEGART  636 Entrepreneurship in Arts & Cultural Organizations3
MARKETNG 300 Marketing Management3
MARKETNG 355 Marketing in a Digital Age3
MARKETNG 426 Strategic Retailing3
REAL EST/​A A E/​ECON/​URB R PL  306 The Real Estate Process3
REAL EST 415 Valuation of Real Estate3
R M I 300 Principles of Risk Management3
R M I 650 Sustainability, Environmental and Social Risk Management3
COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE
COM ARTS 355 Introduction to Media Production4
ECON/​A A E/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  671 Energy Economics3
INTL ST/​A A E  373 Globalization, Poverty and Development3
JOURN 447 Strategic Media Planning4
PHILOS 243 Ethics in Business3-4
STS 201 Where Science Meets Society3
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
A A E/​INTL ST  373 Globalization, Poverty and Development3
A A E/M H R 540 Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Technology3
A A E/​ECON/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  671 Energy Economics3
LSC 250 Research Methods in the Communication Industry3
LSC 270 Marketing Communication for the Sciences3
LSC 350 Visualizing Science and Technology3
LSC 432 Social Media for the Life Sciences3
LSC 435 Brand Strategy for the Sciences3
LSC 440 Digital Media and Science Communication3
LSC 625 Risk Communication3
LSC 640 Case Studies in the Communication of Science and Technology3
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
I SY E 313 Engineering Economic Analysis3
I SY E/​PSYCH  653 Organization and Job Design3
I SY E/​B M E  662 Design and Human Disability and Aging3
M E 349 Engineering Design Projects3
M E 351 Interdisciplinary Experiential Design Projects I3
M E 352 Interdisciplinary Experiential Design Projects II3
M E 549 Product Design3
SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY
CNSR SCI 250 Retail Leadership Symposium1
CNSR SCI 257 Introduction to Retail2
CNSR SCI 555 Consumer Design Strategies & Evaluation3
CNSR SCI 561 Consumer Engagement Strategies3
CNSR SCI 567 Product Development Strategies in Retailing3
CNSR SCI 665 Household Risk Management3
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
ART 338 Service Learning in Art2
KINES 312 Technology for Physical Activity and Health Professionals2
THEATRE 260 Producing Theatre3
THEATRE 501 The Business of Acting3

Certificate COMPLETION REQUIREMENT

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

  1. Correctly demonstrate knowledge of basic market discovery techniques and apply basic market discovery techniques.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in knowing the basic steps taken to start a new venture.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of career paths in entrepreneurship (M H R 322 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Management/M H R 422 Entrepreneurial Management).

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Students who have declared the Certificate in Entrepreneurship will be assigned to the Business Certificate Advising and Career Committees.