Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Overview

Clark University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor, housed in the School of Management, is designed to support and complement your quest, passion, business idea, field of study, or whatever motivates you, to change your world for the betterment of self and others. Entrepreneurship at Clark University is experiential and students actually implement there idea through the classroom to be shared with the Clark community. Continuing ventures are supported by many hand-on experiences and activities outside the classroom, helping the young entrepreneur develop their entrepreneurial endeavor.  Seed money mentorship is available through the Ureka Challenge, as well as the E&I Program

A student graduating with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation will have completed a custom designed road map of classes that enhance their entrepreneurial skills and leadership abilities to be an agent of change and an owner of a venture.  Whatever your interest, a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Clark University can help propel you into a world-changing way of life.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor is complimented with several auxiliary organizations and clubs, which enhance learning, and venture growth. Check out our student run website: https://www.clarkstudentventures.com/

For additional information, please contact the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Manager Teresa Quinn at (508) 421-3730 or email tquinn@clarku.edu.
 

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Requirements

The Clark University Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor requires completion of six units:

• Two units in Entrepreneurial Foundations courses,
• Three units in Exploring (electives) Entrepreneurship, and
• One unit in Experiencing Entrepreneurship,

Learning objectives are innovative, relevant and cutting-edge, and are designed to develop applicable skills that can launch meaningful and sustainable ventures.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor is designed as a road map to assist students with progression to start, run, and sustain a business, social cause, or venture. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor pairs well with all Clark University majors to assist students in pursuing their entrepreneurial goals in relation to their field of study.

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in their minor courses. It is recommended that students declare a minor by the end of their sophomore year.

Entrepreneurial Foundations (Complete 2 Units)

Entrepreneurial Foundations courses for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor are designed to develop a general understanding and practice of entrepreneurial ventures. Students will develop skills in business and venture idea generation, ideation, and implementation. Additionally, students interact and gain knowledge from multiple resources on campus, as well as the surrounding community, to understand how business-ownership and entrepreneurship supports positive change. Students pursuing an entrepreneurship and innovation minor must take both Entrepreneurial Foundations courses to complete the minor. 

It is recommended that students take these courses during their first year and/or sophomore year to prepare for the Exploration and Experiential courses. ENT115 Entrepreneurship: Art of the New is the prerequisite course for most Exploring Entrepreneurship elective courses.

• MGMT 100 - The Art and Science of Management (VE PLS Approved)
• ENT 115 - Entrepreneurship: Art of the New

Exploring (Electives) Entrepreneurship (Complete 3 units)

Courses in Exploring Entrepreneurship are designed to offer a variety of different topics for students to explore and continue development of their entrepreneurial and innovative venture. Course selections in this area should be made in consultation with the student’s E&I minor advisor to ensure the progression in their particular entrepreneurial journey.  A combination of one unit and half-unit courses from the Exploring Entrepreneurship list can be used. The courses in this section are offered on a rotating basis to promote flexibility in course selection options.

• ENT 105 - Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation VP approved
• ENT 202 - Entrepreneurial Marketing and Communications POP
• ENT 203 - Art of the Pitch POP and VE approved
• ENT 205 - Innovating in Organizations POP, (.50 unit course)
• ENT 211 - Creating a Movement (.50 unit course)
• ENT 212 - Marketing to You (.50 unit course)
• ENT 216 - Financial Intelligence FA approved
• ENT 217 - Funding Ventures (.50 unit course)
• ENT 222 - Entrepreneurial Design Thinking (.50 unit course)
• ENT 245 - Social Entrepreneurship
• ENT 260 - Student Run Ventures POP, (.50 unit course)

Experiencing Entrepreneurship (Complete 1 unit)

The final requirement of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor is intentionally focused and designed for students to practice and experience entrepreneurship.  The courses in Experiencing Entrepreneurship challenge students to prepare their venture for sustainability after graduation. Your choice of Experiencing Entrepreneurship will reflect your area of interest - business, community, or global entrepreneurship. Courses should be selected in consultation with your minor advisor and/or the E&I Minor Manager.  

• ENT 262 - Global International ELab
• ENT 264 - Community-Based Entrepreneurship
• ENT 265 - Entrepreneurial Experience

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Directed Study

Directed studies are meant to provide credit-bearing independent study opportunities for students interested in pursuing an intensive topic within entrepreneurship with a specific Entrepreneurship and innovation instructor. To take ENT 299, students must receive prior approval from the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Manager, Teresa Quinn tquinn@clarku.edu,  prior to the start of the semester when a student intends to enroll.

• ENT 299 - Directed Study
• ENT 250 - Entrepreneurial Mentoring Credits / Units: .25

Program Supported Opportunities

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor at Clark University supports several opportunities to promote and enhance the student entrepreneurial experience.

Clark Collective

• The Clark Collective, is a retail storefront, as well as a mobile pop-up venue, open to Clark entrepreneurs and student-owned businesses to showcase and sell their products and services to Clark and surrounding communities. 

Food Truck Combi

• The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program added a food truck to the mix in the spring of 2021. This retro VW combi van is completely refurbished with a commercial grade kitchen, including a pizza oven and crepe maker! The truck is currently part of ENT264 Community-based Entrepreneurship, but will eventually be used by the Program and E&I minors interested in operating their business out of the truck in the community.

Ureka Challenge

• The Ureka Challenge provides seed money to Clark student-owned businesses to help them grow and flourish. The seed money belongs to the student business owner and can be used any way they see fit to grow their business. At the end of the contest, students present the outcome of the seed money investment to a panel of Clark alumni entrepreneurs for the opportunity to be awarded additional funds.

TIE - Center for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• TIE is a club that works with several campus staff, faculty, and students to operate a co-working space on campus to foster and promote innovation. TIE also supports students in Hack-a-thons and other innovation and entrepreneurial contests throughout the New England area.

Entrepreneurship Club

• The Entrepreneurship Club aims to provide the resources for motivated, creative, and talented students to collaborate in fostering entrepreneurial activity on campus through including entrepreneur speakers and business competitions. The Entrepreneurship Club holds a charter with the national Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization which supports college entrepreneurship clubs across North America. CEO hosts regional and national conferences for college students to engage with successful entrepreneurs. CEO conferences host nationally recognized speakers and pitch competitions. https://www.c-e-o.org/.

Clark Community Thrift Store

• The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program operates and manages the Clark Community Thrift Store. The store originated out of the Ureka Challenge back in 2010. Although the store has gone through several changes over the years, the store still provides a valuable service to Clark students. You can find the thrift store at all Clark Collective popups!

International Entrepreneurship

• The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor supports understanding entrepreneurship in global economies. Courses within the minor give opportunity to travel nationally and internationally to work closely with social entrepreneurs throughout the world.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor’s full and part-time faculty bring a wide range of entrepreneurial experience. Many professors have worked internationally with entrepreneurs to implement social change; many are authors and businessowners. All of our professors are experts in the field of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years

• ENT 105 - Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• ENT 115 - Entrepreneurship: Art of the New
• ENT 202 - Entrepreneurial Marketing and Communications
• ENT 203 - Art of the Pitch
• ENT 205 - Innovating in Organizations
• ENT 211 - Creating a Movement
• ENT 212 - Marketing to You
• ENT 216 - Financial Intelligence
• ENT 245 - Social Entrepreneurship
• ENT 260 - Student Run Ventures
• ENT 264 - Community-Based Entrepreneurship
• ENT 265 - Entrepreneurial Experience
• ENT 299 - Directed Study
• MGMT 100 - The Art and Science of Management
• MGMT 210 - Management and Behavioral Principles