Entrepreneurial coursework will allow you to thrive in any industry or field, start your own enterprise, invent something amazing, and impact the world. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ENTI) Minor is just one curricular program option. This page serves as a hub to discover the breadth of undergraduate entrepreneurial curricular (coursework) and co-curricular (alongside or with coursework) opportunities at Penn State.
Degree Programs
Intercollege Programs
Curricular
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor (ENTI)
Channel your passion into an entrepreneurial venture and be an agent of positive change through the ENTI Minor. This is the minor with a major impact! Broaden your education and differentiate yourself with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills. Learn how to deliver products and services to meet market needs; address significant problems in any field, recognize opportunity, build self-efficacy, learn from failure, and enhance your communication and leadership skills. Students learn through three core courses (9 credits) common to all ENTI students, and a then concentrate on a discipline-specific area. This focus area is called a cluster, and there are ten to choose from, sponsored by various colleges. Each cluster is composed of 9-10 additional credits depending on which cluster a student chooses.
Smeal College of Business, Management & Organization Department
Curricular
Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) Major
The Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) major is designed to help you develop problem solving and creative thinking skills, along with the ability to spot trends, recognize opportunities, and develop plans to capitalize on high-potential ideas. Emerging entrepreneurs and innovative managers of small to large businesses must be competent in various mediums of communication, have good negotiation skills, lead with ethics and integrity, and be grounded in business aspects of planning, capital investing, goal setting, and decision making.
Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) Graduate Credit Certificate Program
The graduate certificate in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a 12-credit online program for industry professionals who are interested in developing a knowledge base and skill set in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship in the corporate sector.
Penn State Altoona
Curricular
B.S. in Business with Entrepreneurship Option
Penn State Altoona’s Entrepreneurship option embraces a broad vision of an entrepreneur, including both the individuals who start their own businesses as well as those who work intrapreneurially within existing organizations. Whether a small, midsize, or large business, organizations can achieve greater success through the creative and innovative thinking of the entrepreneur.
An entrepreneur is commonly thought of as one who starts a small business. At Penn State Altoona, we have a more encompassing vision of an entrepreneur, which includes the person who can work intrapreneurially within an existing organization. Whether a small, midsize, or large business, organizations can achieve greater success through the creative and innovative thinking of the entrepreneur.
Penn State Berks
Curricular
B.S. in Hospitality Management
The hospitality industry is a major economic driver in the Berks County area, and the Hospitality Management degree program is offered in response to demand for graduates with degrees in the hospitality industry. Penn State Berks is the only campus outside University Park to offer this degree program with the Entrepreneurship option.
This interdisciplinary minor uses problem-based learning to prepare students in any major to create value (including new products) and be agents of positive change. The world needs new innovative products, services and solutions in all disciplines: arts, business, engineering, science, agriculture, healthcare, communication, education.
Penn State Great Valley
Curricular
New Ventures & Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate, Penn State
Designed specifically for current and aspiring entrepreneurs, this 12-credit certificate will help students conceptualize and develop new business ventures and/or new products to take to market. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree or a post-secondary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree. Current Penn State Great Valley graduate students in all programs are also welcome to apply and enroll in this certificate.
World Campus
Curricular
An entrepreneur is commonly thought of as one who starts a small business. At Penn State, we have a more encompassing vision of an entrepreneur, which includes the person who can work intrapreneurially within an existing organization. Whether a small, midsize, or large business, organizations can achieve greater success through the creative and innovative thinking of the entrepreneur.
Master of Business Administration
These courses, offered entirely online, are primarily designed to target industry professionals’ intent on adding or developing a knowledge base, and skill set, focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. The knowledge and skills associated with innovation and entrepreneurship are of tremendous value in many different contexts and industries, including the areas of leadership, strategic planning, business model development, managing or launching new ventures, developing new products, improving services and business processes, technology commercialization and technology transfer initiatives, customer development, and starting a business. These courses target individuals in the corporate sector where product/service innovation and continuous improvement are imperative, however, students interested in launching startup companies will also find this program beneficial.
Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT) Graduate Credit Certificate Program
The graduate certificate in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a 12-credit online program for industry professionals who are interested in developing a knowledge base and skill set in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship in the corporate sector.