2023-2024 Academic Catalog
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor
|
|
 Return to: Programs of Study
|
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Overview
Clark University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor, housed within the School of Management, supports your quest, passion, business idea, field of study, or whatever motivates you, to develop endeavors that build your future. Students who choose a Clark University E&I minor are supported with several related initiatives, clubs, and relevant courses, to implement their endeavor. The E&I courses are designed to help a student identify problems, ideate solutions to those problems, and implement the best solution to bring about the desired change. Whether your interest is business ownership or social change, Clark University’s E&I minor complements any major to help you gain the full benefit of your entrepreneurial educational experience and future career goals.
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor is a road map of courses designed that take a student from idea to real-world launch. The minor is fully experiential and students actually implement there ideas in the classroom to be shared with the Clark community. Ventures that move past the classroom are supported by robust hands-on experiences, events, and activities, helping the young entrepreneur develop their entrepreneurial endeavor. Seed money, resources, and mentorship are available through the E&I Program.
To learn more about student entrepreneurial initiatives, check out the student run website: https://www.clarkstudentventures.com/
For additional information on our program offerings, please contact the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Manager, Teresa Quinn at (508) 421-3730 or email tquinn@clarku.edu.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor is to discover, cultivate, and propel innovative and entrepreneurial endeavors of Clark students, regardless of major or field of study. Whether the student is intrinsically motivated to solve social issues or to become financially profitable through business ownership, the Clark University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor supports and guides entrepreneurial progression of the individual, for the betterment of the collective.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor Requirements
The Clark University Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor requires completion of six credits. Learning objectives are to innovative relevant cutting-edge entrepreneurial endeavors and to develop applicable skills that can launch meaningful and sustainable ventures.
- Two units in Entrepreneurial Foundations courses,
- Three units in Exploring (electives) Entrepreneurship, and
- One unit in Experiencing Entrepreneurship,
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 Entrepreneurship and Innovation 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 venture development 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.
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.
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.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Directed Study, Internships, and other Credit Opportunities
Other opportunities to complete your minor or to explore entrepreneurship at Clark University. There are three ENT courses and two courses from outside the minor.
Contact Teresa Quinn, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Manager at tquinn@clarku.edu for more information on these extra opportunity courses.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programing
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor at Clark University is supported with robust programming opportunities to promote and enhance the student’s educational and entrepreneurial experience.
Clark Student Ventures Website
Clark Student Ventures website is 100% developed, designed, and maintained by entrepreneurship students to showcase their activities, initiatives, and ventures. All E&I student programming can be found on this website.
Clark Tank
Clark Tank is the host to four exciting entrepreneurial venture funding events. Clark Tank - Venture Development is the premier funding event that is a months-long commitment that provides seed money and mentorship to student ventures; Clark Tank - Marketing Pitch, helps students design marketing pitches; Clark Tank - Crowdfunding where students actually launch a crowdfunding campaign through a reputable platform; and the Clark Tank - Business Plan Competition, where students develop an idea into a pitch’able venture. All four events involve students pitching to a judges for additional funding. All events have a related course credit which can be used as an elective toward the minor.
Clark Collective
The Clark Collective, is a collection of like-minded Clark students that promote entrepreneurship on campus. The Collective hosts weekly popups on Red Square for all student businesses and social ventures to showcase their products and services. Up to 40 student businesses join the festivities at the popups where all students are encouraged to come shop!
Clark Thrift Store
The Clark Thrift Store (CTS) is a 100% student run business. The CTS sells thrifted clothing at student-budget prices, plus provides space to several student’s businesses through the student vendor partnership program. Additionally, the CTS hosts several events throughout the semester such as student art exhibits, fashion shows, business success workshops, and other entrepreneurial events. The store originated out of Clark Tank back in 2010. The store has gone through several changes over the years, and has blossomed into not only an excellent priced thrift store, but also a retail store front for Clark’s student small businesses. The store is located at 930 Main Street.
E&I for You & I Podcast - all things Clark Entrepreneurship
Be a part of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program’s weekly podcast, E&I for You & I, by bringing your take on entrepreneurship. Along with a regular student host, alumni, and local business owners, students in the E&I Program can be a part of the podcast through guest speaking, events information, business and venture marketing, and other related topics.
Entrepreneurship Club
The Entrepreneurship Club is a resource and gathering place for motivated student entrepreneurs to propel their entrepreneurial endeavors to the next level. The club members also act as student ambassadors to guests and visitors of the the Entrepreneurship and Innovation department.
Student Small Business Center
The Student Small Business Center (SSBC) is a 100% student run business. The center provides services such as business card, sticker, and flyer printing, shipping assistance and label making, as well as assistance with website design and marketing. The SSBC is located on the second floor of Carlson Hall.
Food Truck Combi
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program added a food combi 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 and is regularly seen out on Red Square with the weekly Clark Collective popups. However, the truck can also be used by the Program and E&I minors interested in operating their business out of the truck in the community.
Entrepreneurship Honor Society - Sigma Nu Tau
Clark University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program joined Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society in the spring of 2022. Clark students will be recognized and inducted into SNT at the end of the school year and will receive one year of membership. Students qualify for membership with a 3.6 GPA in entrepreneurship courses, must be a junior or senior, with a completed minor including currently enrolled courses. Additionally, to be considered for SNT, the student must be active in entrepreneurship across campus.
Student Recognition and Awards
Students are recognized in three categories for their outstanding entrepreneurial work and contributions to the overall success of the E&I program at the year-end awards ceremony.
- Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year
- Clark Student Venture of the Year
- Up & Coming Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year - reserved for first and second-year students.
TIE - Center for Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
The 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 which fosters and promotes innovation. TIE also supports students in Hack-a-thons and other innovation and entrepreneurial contests throughout the New England area.
International Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor supports understanding entrepreneurship in global economies. The Program collaborates with non-profits throughout the world to experience entrepreneurship on endeavors that support entrepreneurial growth.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Courses
Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years
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 business owners. All of our professors are experts in the field of entrepreneurship.
|
Return to: Programs of Study
|
|
|
