Entrepreneurship Courses - Business Certificates and Minors

Channel your innovative spirit through our academic courses

An entrepreneurial mindset isn’t limited to business majors. There’s a need for innovative thinking in every field and industry — from veterinary sciences to creative writing. The College of Business’s Institute for Entrepreneurship is excited to support a variety of courses and programs open to students from across Colorado State University, whether they’re business students or not.

Supported entrepreneurship courses

Designing for Defense

Our Designing for Defense course is sponsored by the Department of Defense and offers students the chance to use their skills to address real-world security issues. The course is structured so that you’ll learn and apply Lean Startup principles and work in the field to produce a minimum viable product for your DOD problem sponsor. This is primarily a graduate-level course, but a few slots are also available for exceptional undergraduates. Students from all programs are encouraged to apply for this course.

Learning objectives

Design for Defense encourages students to apply the problem-solving and design thinking methodologies of an entrepreneur to address complex problems. At semesters end, students will be able to:

Employ design thinking methodology
Synthesize data into usable information
Apply ideation techniques individually and in groups
Analyze and evaluate alternative solutions
Utilize various data gathering methods
Design prototype integrated solutions

Past projects

CSU students have collaborated with a variety of government organizations to develop solutions to pressing issues and challenges. Students from the fall 2020 course created the following products:

Weather to Fly - predicting weather-related flight decisions
The Tripler Foundation - assisting our nation's veterans
Bio Metric - solving heat casualties one biometric sensor at a time

Past government problem topics have come from a range of organizations, such as:

NASA
The Joint Improvised Threat Defense (JIDO)
U.S. Navy 3rd Fleet
Asymmetric Warfare Group
Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
U.S. Special Operations Command
NORAD/NORTHCOM

FAQs

How many credits is the course?

The Designing for Defense course is three credits.

When is the class offered?

Currently, the class is scheduled for Mondays from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm.

Is this something I could use for a resume?

Yes! This course will provide professional experiences and use essential skills that many employees look for in hiring candidates.

How do I sign up for this course?

Graduate students and exceptional undergrad students can begin the application process by emailing our program coordinators. We will then invite students who have been selected for the course to register online.

What is the selection committee looking for in the application process?

The Designing for Defense faculty are reviewing applications to build dynamic and diverse student teams which represent different majors and programs across campus. Applicants with working experience or knowledge of design thinking and innovation practices are given priority.

I need to register for classes. When will I hear if I am accepted to register?

We encourage students who are interested in the course to apply online and hold Mondays from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm open in your schedule. We will make admissions decisions as we receive applications, so we encourage you to apply soon.

Do you need to be former or active-duty military to join this program?

You do not need to have any former experience in the military sector, but it certainly can help!

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Social and Sustainable Venturing

The Social and Sustainable Venturing (MGT 360) course engages students in local business projects that assist partner organizations across Colorado in accomplishing their social and sustainable goals. These projects are hands-on interventions with social/sustainable ventures, which involves the scoping, design, and creation of new social opportunities that chosen social/sustainable ventures could serve in the local community. Students in this program work directly with the venture to scope and design one change/solution that could improve economic viability without jeopardizing its social/sustainable mission.

Learn more

Other entrepreneurship opportunities

Refine your entrepreneurial mindset by exploring the role of an entrepreneur in depth. The College of Business offers a minor and a certificate in entrepreneurship, which teach you how to identify opportunities and develop business models that capitalize on them.

Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Prepare to step into a role as a founder, investor, policymaker or leader by declaring a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This minor introduces students to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, corporations, sustainable ventures and other groups. This 24-credit program introduces students to entrepreneurship concepts from the College of Business, as well as courses from other majors. Admission to the minor is competitive and interested students need to complete an application and meet eligibility requirements.

Learn more about the Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Entrepreneurship Certificate

In this multi-disciplinary certificate program, students will explore the idea of entrepreneurship as a career and the role they might play in start-ups and innovation-focused firms. You’ll learn how to identify and evaluate new business opportunities, network with investors and position your work in the economy. This 12-credit certificate emphasizes management concepts and is open to all CSU majors, excluding entrepreneurship and innovation minors.

Learn more about our certificates