Flexible MBA Specialization: Entrepreneurship

Add a specialization in Entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial thinking is a fundamental aspect of every organization, whether large or small, young or old.

It is not confined to the skills required to start new enterprises. 

This specialization is designed for those who would like to learn more about the methods, processes, challenges, and success factors in innovating and creating new products, services, and enterprises. Graduate ready to take on creative roles in your current organizations, commercialize your ideas, or create new venture enterprises.

Curriculum highlights

Required courses to earn the Entrepreneurship specialization

*BU.233.730 Entrepreneurial Finance (2 Credits)

This course introduces you to identifying, accessing, and evaluating sources of financing for start-ups and expanding technology companies. The approach uses case studies, group interaction, and presentations from experts in the field. Attention will be given to financial theory, risk assessment, valuation options, term sheets, due diligence techniques, and the setting up of financial reports for monitoring progress toward meeting milestones.

*BU.152.710 Entrepreneurial Ventures (2 Credits)

This course focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable entrepreneurs to pursue opportunities in business development. You will form teams to experience each step of the entrepreneurial process. The end result is an opportunity assessment of a business idea. Emphasis is placed on a hands-on approach with learning supplemented by cases appropriate to each phase of the course. You are exposed to real entrepreneurial operations and businesses, through final projects and presentations.

Electives (must take at least three to earn the specialization)

BU.132.601 Business Law (2 Credits) 

A thorough working knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in which businesses operate is essential for well-prepared business executives. This course provides an overview of the legal and regulatory environment affecting business in the United States. Topics include forms of business organization, contracts, torts and product liability, intellectual property, constitutional law business transactions, and discrimination and employment issues. Students are expected to utilize electronic library and Internet resources to complete assignments. 

BU.152.740 City Lab Catalyst: Business Innovation for Social Impact  (2 Credits) and BU.152.745 City Lab Practicum: Social Impact Project  (2 Credits) 

For the first time in history, humans are an urban species; the livability of cities now determines the future of humanity and the planet. CityLab is an urban innovation platform engaging students in a global experiment of reinventing cities by revitalizing urban neighborhoods from within. The CityLab toolkit immerses you in the concrete context of people and places dealing with the disruptive uncertainty and frustration of livability challenges that threaten the environment, human health, social cohesion, civic order, and prosperity of cities. It introduces strategies, tools, and practices for tackling these challenges as opportunities to co-create value for the flourishing of humanity and the planet. This course is a hands-on, active learning experience requiring a high degree of individual commitment, initiative, self-discipline, adaptability, and collaboration. Learn more

BU.210.680 Cost Measurement and Control (2 Credits) 

This course emphasizes the vocabulary, methods, and processes by which managerial accounting concepts and cost management practices are applied across organizations to improve operational performance and achieve strategic goals. Topics include cost behavior, profit planning, product costing, overhead allocation, cost estimation, costing systems for short-term and long-term decision-making, capital budgeting, variance analysis, responsibility accounting, and performance measurement. 

BU.150.710 Discovery to Market I (2 Credits) and BU.150.715 Discovery to Market II (2 Credits) 

This course teaches the process of bringing scientific discoveries to market. Learn about innovation and invention processes, how to identify opportunities, the steps required to bring a product to market, including intellectual property protection and regulatory processes, and strategies to license early-stage inventions to third parties for further development. Work in small teams on early-stage invention projects that are patented or patent pending, sourced by an instructor from university or government technology transfer offices.

BU.003.903 Global Immersion: Chile - Business in Latin America (2 Credits) 

This course aims to develop in-depth knowledge of current trends and skills in sustainable innovation. Innovation is at the heart of economic growth and the lives of millions depend on it in developing countries. At the same time, market expansion in these countries has often brought massive changes that threaten the economic and environmental sustainability of the most vulnerable. Both Carey Business School faculty and professors at local universities will provide classes on the history and current status of innovation in business in Chile and their impacts on sustainability. Of particular importance will be the discussion of how private initiatives can deliver successful business opportunities while contributing to local sustainability. Corporate and government organization visits will complement lectures and case studies to assess how businesses are adjusting to changing business landscapes. 

BU.300.620 Managing Complex Projects (2 Credits)

This course aims to equip you with effective techniques, methods, and practices for defining, scoping, and planning a project, and then managing it to successful completion. Areas of emphasis in the course are driven by practical experiences with large and complex projects frequently being late, over budget, and failing to meet specifications. We will pay particular attention to understanding project complexity, risk, and uncertainty so that you are prepared to address these challenges successfully. You will gain experience using a leading project-management software package.

BU.410.601 Marketing Research (2 Credits)

This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts, processes, and techniques in marketing research. The goal is to enable you to apply these tools to solve real-world problems and to differentiate good research from bad. The topics in this course cover the whole process from defining research problems, selecting appropriate research designs and research methods, and conducting data analysis to making strategic recommendations. The course will also build on the foundations of statistics and introduce more advanced statistical tools relevant for marketing decision making.

BU.460.730 New Product Development (2 Credits) 

While developing new products and services is vital to the growth of any company, it is also one of the most risky business decisions. This course examines the strategies and processes used by leading companies for successful new product development. First, you will identify consumers’ pain points and then use practical techniques to navigate the processes of ideation, market analysis, new product development, and commercialization.

BU.883.704 Pharmaceutical Strategy (2 Credits)

Based on an overview of scientific, clinical, legal, financial, and ethical perspectives, this course focuses on new strategic developments in the pharmaceutical industry. Topics covered include business strategies in research and development, intellectual property, clinical trials, getting approval from regulatory bodies, pricing, reimbursement, and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry. It explores fast-evolving market models for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry in the context of changing global demographics.

BU.152.725 Real Estate Entrepreneurship (2 Credits)

The real estate industry is made up of real estate entrepreneurs. This class examines how to become a real estate entrepreneur and compete in today’s marketplace. Course topics focus on the skills and knowledge real estate entrepreneurs successfully use to thrive. Students will learn techniques such as: how to create wealth, real estate pro-formas, back-of-the-envelope calculations, leverage, attracting external investors, and creating a winning business plan. Students will work in teams on case studies.