Entrepreneurship Minor Program Overview

Today, industries want graduates who can not only find a job, but create jobs for others. Entrepreneurship is the most powerful economic force known to mankind (Kuratko and Hodgetts). The entrepreneurship revolution has captured our imagination and permeated every aspect of business thinking and planning. During the past decades, entrepreneurial dynasty builders such as Sam Walton of Wal-Mart, Fred Smith of FedEx, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Michael Dell of Dell Computers, and Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines demonstrated the applications of creativity, risk taking, innovation, and passion in a way that has led to economic development achievements far greater than anyone could imagine. The twenty-first century presents newer and more complex challenges than ever before; however, entrepreneurial drive and determination will provide our next decades with yet to be discovered dynasty builders. The Trine Entrepreneurship Minor will provide students the theory, process, and practice for exploring the development of new and emerging ventures and present them in an exciting, organized, and challenging manner. It is neither an entrepreneurial engineering minor nor an entrepreneurial business minor, but instead an entrepreneurial minor where both engineering and business students, in fact all Trine students, can study, learn and experience both the science and art of entrepreneurship. The minor seeks to deliver a learning experience that embodies both the ëscienceí and ëartí of entrepreneurship.

Sequence of Courses

Entrepreneurship Minor for Business Students	24 Hours
ENT 303 Entrepreneurial Leadership	(3)
ENT 313 Business Concepts	(3)
- or -
ENT 323 Engineering Concepts	(3)
ENT 333 Entrepreneurship Seminar Series	(3)
ENT 413 Creativity in Product/Service Development	(3)
ENT 423 Entrepreneurship & Venture Planning	(3)
Management or Engineering electives	(9)

Course Descriptions

ENT 303 Entrepreneurial Leadership 3-0-3

This course examines leadership, influence, and power as it relates to entrepreneurship with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial character traits and business ethics. Historical, literary, and contemporary examples of successful entrepreneurs provide a framework for examining the theories of leadership and power.

ENT 313 Business Concepts (for non-business major) 3-0-3

A survey course designed to introduce non-business majors to business issues and practices. All major functions of business are included (management, marketing, law, finance, economics, operations, accounting, information technology) as well as issues facing the business person (ethics, globalization, motivation, etc.). Not open to students enrolled in the business programs.

ENT 323 Engineering Concepts (for non-engineering major) 3-0-3

Fundamental engineering concepts are introduced, with an emphasis on developing foundations for lifelong learning of technological issues. Broad-based technologies and the importance of technical communication are emphasized. Current and future technologies are discussed by visiting practitioners. Not open to students enrolled in the engineering and technology programs.

ENT 333 Entrepreneurship Seminar Series 3-0-3

Through case studies, simulations, guest lectures, and reading, students become aware legal business structures, legal issues related to emerging ventures (patents, copyrights, trademarks, licensing, franchising, employment law, etc.), venture financing, and venture marketing. Prerequisites: ENT 313 or 323.

ENT 413 Creativity in Product/Service Development 3-0-3

This course explores the nature of creativity from four interacting viewpoints: person, process, product, and environment. Its goal is to develop students' awareness of their creative potential. Activities include group work, discussion, and the development of an idea or invention. Prerequisites: ENT333.

ENT 423 Entrepreneurship & Venture Planning 3-0-3

This course focuses on entrepreneurship and small business management. Through case studies, simulations, guest lectures, reading and business plan development, students become aware of the unique challenges facing small business owners and entrepreneurs. Students become familiar with the resources available to small business owners, by developing and presenting a business start-up plan. Prerequisites: ENT 413.

Note: Students from either the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Education may elect to take both ENT 313 and 323.

Entrepreneurship Minor Electives

Students in the Entrepreneurship Minor can select from the following electives:

• Any 300- and 400-level courses prefixed by AC, BA, FIN, LAW, MGT or MK
• COM 213 Business Communication
• COM 233 Intercultural Communication
• COM 313 Effective Team and Organizational Communication
• COM 323 Broadcasting and Electronic Communication
• COM 363 Persuasion and Argumentation
• COM 463 Public Relations
• CS 263 Database Management
• CS/MA 323 Operations Research
• CS 403 Advanced Database
• ECO 213 Microeconomics
• ENG 133 Technical Communication
• ES 382 Engineering Economics
• GE 401 Professional Practice
• HIS/ECO 393 Economic History of the U.S.
• HIS 382 The Gilded Age
• HIS 383 Rise of the US to a World Power
• HPS 253 Risk Management in Sport
• HPS 313 Principles of Sport & Recreation Management.
• HPS 452 Developing Health Promotion Programs