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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEN BUS 310 | Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors 2 | 3 |
| or ACCT I S 100 | Introductory Financial Accounting | |
| or ACCT I S 300 | Accounting Principles | |
| M H R 434 | Venture Creation | 3 |
| M H R 427 | Entrepreneurial Growth Strategies | 3 |
| M H R 441 | Technology Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| FINANCE 457 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS | ||
| GEN BUS 311 | Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| M H R 300 | Managing Organizations | 3 |
| M H R 305 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| M H R 320 | New Ventures in Business, the Arts and Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| 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 Technology | 3 |
| M H R 628 | Negotiations | 3 |
| M H R/INTEGART 632 | Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| M H R/INTEGART 636 | Entrepreneurship in Arts & Cultural Organizations | 3 |
| MARKETNG 300 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MARKETNG 355 | Marketing in a Digital Age | 3 |
| MARKETNG 426 | Strategic Retailing | 3 |
| REAL EST/A A E/ECON/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| REAL EST 415 | Valuation of Real Estate | 3 |
| R M I 300 | Principles of Risk Management | 3 |
| R M I 650 | Sustainability, Environmental and Social Risk Management | 3 |
| COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE | ||
| COM ARTS 355 | Introduction to Media Production | 4 |
| ECON/A A E/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
| INTL ST/A A E 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| JOURN 447 | Strategic Media Planning | 4 |
| PHILOS 243 | Ethics in Business | 3-4 |
| STS 201 | Where Science Meets Society | 3 |
| COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES | ||
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/M H R 540 | Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Technology | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
| LSC 250 | Research Methods in the Communication Industry | 3 |
| LSC 270 | Marketing Communication for the Sciences | 3 |
| LSC 350 | Visualizing Science and Technology | 3 |
| LSC 432 | Social Media for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| LSC 435 | Brand Strategy for the Sciences | 3 |
| LSC 440 | Digital Media and Science Communication | 3 |
| LSC 625 | Risk Communication | 3 |
| LSC 640 | Case Studies in the Communication of Science and Technology | 3 |
| COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | ||
| I SY E 313 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| I SY E/PSYCH 653 | Organization and Job Design | 3 |
| I SY E/B M E 662 | Design and Human Disability and Aging | 3 |
| M E 349 | Engineering Design Projects | 3 |
| M E 351 | Interdisciplinary Experiential Design Projects I | 3 |
| M E 352 | Interdisciplinary Experiential Design Projects II | 3 |
| M E 549 | Product Design | 3 |
| SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY | ||
| CNSR SCI 250 | Retail Leadership Symposium | 1 |
| CNSR SCI 257 | Introduction to Retail | 2 |
| CNSR SCI 555 | Consumer Design Strategies & Evaluation | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 561 | Consumer Engagement Strategies | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 567 | Product Development Strategies in Retailing | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 665 | Household Risk Management | 3 |
| SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | ||
| ART 338 | Service Learning in Art | 2 |
| KINES 312 | Technology for Physical Activity and Health Professionals | 2 |
| THEATRE 260 | Producing Theatre | 3 |
| THEATRE 501 | The Business of Acting | 3 |
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.
- Correctly demonstrate knowledge of basic market discovery techniques and apply basic market discovery techniques.
- Demonstrate proficiency in knowing the basic steps taken to start a new venture.
- 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 have an assigned academic advisor and career coach. Contact information for a student's assigned academic advisor and career coach can be found here.