Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Entrepreneurship (ENTR)

Sloter Chair of Entrepreneurship: Azriel

The minor in Entrepreneurship is designed to support all other major and minor fields of study at Lycoming College. The structure of the entrepreneurship program is based on the idea that a student’s entrepreneurial interests revolve around their major field of study. The entrepreneurship curriculum along with associated lectures, simulations, and practical application of essential entrepreneurial skills enhances students’ preparation for starting their own venture or careers with any sized organization in any field. Employers are looking for graduates who can think and act entrepreneurially. 

Career possibilities include:

1. Starting or acquiring a student’s own venture within the student’s major 
2. Obtaining a position of employment with an emerging growth (entrepreneurial) organization
3. Contributing to any organization (for-profit and not-for-profit) in a more entrepreneurial manner

The entrepreneurship minor is designed to enhance the student’s major field of study by instructing students about entrepreneurial skills in innovation, value creation, and necessary business skills along with a study of human performance techniques which are required for long term sustainable success in for-profit, non-profit, and public organizations.

While not required to complete the minor field of study, students are encouraged to consider the following courses as a complement to entrepreneurship: ECON 110, ECON 111, and PSY 110.

Minor Requirements

    1. Four Core Courses

      BUS/ENTR 315    Privately Owned Business Management or BUS/ENTR 320 Social                                                                                   Entrepreneurship
      ENTR 200             Entrepreneurship
      ENTR 220             Entrepreneurial Finance and Intellectual Property
      ENTR 400             Applied Entrepreneurship

    2.  One additional course from the following:

      ANTH 334             Economic Anthropology
      BUS/ENTR 315    Privately Owned Business Management
      BUS/ENTR 320    Social Entrepreneurship
      BUS/ENTR 325    Digital Marketing
      ENTR 210               Human Performance in Entrepreneurship
      ENTR 335               Readings in Entrepreneurship
      ENTR 470-479       Internship
      ENTR N80-89        Independent Study
      PSCI 260                 Globalization and Sustainable Development
      THEA 145                Acting I

All students minoring in Entrepreneurship must complete the core courses: ENTR 200, 210, 220, and at least one other ENTR course numbered 300 or higher.

200
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Intended for all students regardless of major or year. After an overview of entrepreneurship within new venture creation, middle market, and larger established organizations, the course concentrates on the process and mindset of identifying, creating, evaluating, and acting on opportunities within any field of study. With a focus on value creation, students examine varied business models and methods of financing with both for-profit and not-for-profit objectives. Students apply entrepreneurial concepts to their major fields of study by creating and presenting a business venture pitch deck. Class format includes lectures and discussion, business simulations, in class exercises, guest lecturers, and pitch deck presentations.

210
HUMAN PERFORMANCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A study of how productivity, psychology, and leadership skills training can be applied to achieve sustained high performance individually and essentials of developing a high performance team. The skills training can be applied to entrepreneurship, sports, the performing arts, academia, and everyday life. Topics include: self-awareness, goals setting, self-regulation, time management, stress and anger management, entrepreneurial leadership, focus, communication, wellness, and health and self-assessment. Topical lectures are combined with frequent case studies. Prerequisite: ENTR 200.

220
ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The study and application of the necessary corporate financial skills and financing methods for Entrepreneurs of both for-profit and not-for-profit/social entrepreneurial organizations. The course examines the fundamentals of financial statements and financial statement preparation along with the ladder of financing methods available to entrepreneurs including: bootstrapping, friends and family, angel investing, venture capital, private placements, public offering, filing for grants, and crowdfunding. The course also examines the protection of intellectual property through the trademark, copyright, and patent processes. Designed for business and non-business/finance students from any major. Prerequisite: ENTR 200.

315
PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Explores how to manage a privately-owned firm from developing the business idea, managing day-to-day issues, and exit strategies and succession planning. Students examine how to adapt tools developed for publicly-owned firms to create effective strategies for private firms including small and family-owned businesses. Topics include general management issues such as developing and supporting organizational culture, employment best practices, and using budgets as planning tools. Cross-listed as BUS 315. Prerequisites: ENTR 200; or  BUS 228, 238, and 244; or consent of instructor.

320
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Focuses on creating a business to solve a social problem with the intent of achieving both a social impact and financial sustainability. The course views social entrepreneurship as a distinct alternative to public sector initiatives, especially in its approach to pervasive problems in society. Students build on principles learned in ENTR 200 and apply them and additional strategies to impacting social issues. Cross-listed as BUS 320.  Prerequisites: ENTR 200; or  BUS 228, 238, and 244; or consent of instructor.

325
DIGITAL MARKETING
With the rapid shift of advertising dollars away from traditional media to digital platforms, it is becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurs and marketing graduates to be well-versed in digital marketing fundamentals. Through readings, papers, videos, case studies, and hands-on projects, students come away with an understanding of successful digital marketing strategies, user generated content, search, social media and networks, mobile, and web analytics. Students also complete a hands-on project to build a marketing plan for a local business. Students exit the course with a solid understanding of digital marketing tactics, tools, and resources available for ongoing education. Cross-listed as BUS 325.  Prerequisites: ENTR 200; or BUS 228, 238, and 244; or consent of instructor. 

335
READINGS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Examines classic literature in entrepreneurship in order to enhance entrepreneurship teaching, namely, by discussing the social and institutional basis of entrepreneurship, as well as its economic meaning and implications to successful entrepreneurial ventures. Readings highlight a number of key themes from the economics of enterprise, such as the importance of institutions, the roles of risk and uncertainty, the causes of profit, the process of entrepreneurial decision-making, the sovereignty of consumers, and the effects of entrepreneurial competition.

400
APPLIED ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Provides a dynamic, practical, hands-on approach that encourages students to immerse themselves in the vision, research, and planning aspects of a new business or not-for-profit venture. Designed to integrate business learning from the students’ previous undergraduate experiences. Students research, develop, and write detailed business plans used to create successful businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Students gain exposure to contemporary business topics through periodic presentations by local professionals. Prerequisite: C- or better in ENTR 200, 220, and 315 or 320, or consent of instructor.

470-479
INTERNSHIP
Students may work with a company in virtually any industry with the idea that the student would have significant exposure to either the owner or senior level management to acquire practical experience in building an entrepreneurial organization. The internship could also be with a larger organization in the field of corporate venturing. Prerequisites: ENTR 200, 210, and 220, or consent of instructor.

N80-89
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Allows for research in a proposed area of entrepreneurship or the pursuit of an entrepreneurial idea. Prerequisites: ENTR 200, 210, and 220, or consent of instructor.