Introduction to Entrepreneurship - ENT 150
This course is structured to provide an overview of entrepreneurial activities relevant to both start-up companies and ongoing business expansions. It is applicable to students in all majors interested in starting or owning businesses, while maintaining relevance for existing business owners looking to gain an edge.
The course details the fundamental principles and processes of entrepreneurship. It will focus on entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial thinking, idea generation, market evaluation, financing options, business plan essentials, the execution phase, growth strategies and exit plan development.
The Entrepreneurial Marketplace - ENT 220
This course focuses on two critical issues for entrepreneurs; the evaluation of market potential during the concept development and business plan stage and the challenges of growing sales of high-potential ventures. Investors look for highly detailed and reasoned data on market potential for new ventures.
Many early stage entrepreneurs fail to develop a compelling stories as to why their ventures are needed. Early marketing analysis becomes the basis of the business plan and sets the expectations of employees and investors alike.
Once financed, these ventures many times have objectives of either doubling sales for existing businesses or ramping to millions in sales within three to five years. The expectations of employees and investors must be tempered with the constraints of time and available cash.
Entrepreneurial marketing focuses on challenges created by the push for rapid growth in sales. Prerequisite: Completion of ENT 200 with a grade of 2 or better.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management - ENT 260
Entrepreneurial Management takes the student from the company’s inception (initial funding, product prototype, strategic authorization etc) through the unique challenges of managing an organization in a high growth environment. The “real- world” orientation of the class is geared to students who have aspirations to develop careers with entrepreneurial companies. This is a highly interactive, participatory program utilizing guest lecturers, case studies, team exercises and workshops. Issues such as staffing challenges to meet aggressive goals, cash flow, legal issues, logistics of delivering the product or service, developing the financing package and working with investors are investigated.
It is anticipated that students will acquire concepts, frameworks, and tools which will be helpful to address the managerial problems encountered in a growing company. Prerequisite: Completion of ENT 200 and ENT 250 with a grade of 2 or better.
Gender and Minority Issues In Entrepreneurship - ENT 280
This course is designed to review and analyze the role of women and minority entrepreneurs in today's marketplace. The course will focus on the major traditional and nontraditional theories that have been developed in this field. This course will also examine the unique challenges and problems that women and minority entrepreneurs face in today's competitive marketplace. Topics such as venture capital, funding sources, human capital, leadership, networking, and diversity will be discussed. Case analysis, experiential exercises, and readings will supplement the coursework.
Introduction to Franchising - ENT 320
This course is designed to review and analyze the role of franchising in today's marketplace. The course will focus on the major traditional and nontraditional theories that have been developed in this field. This course will also examine the unique challenges and problems that franchisers face in today's competitive marketplace. Topics such as acquiring a franchise, leasing options, funding sources, capital investment, leadership, networking, and diversity will be discussed. Case analysis, experiential exercises, and readings will supplement the coursework.
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Entrepreneurship
- ENT 340
Understanding the constraints and opportunities created by various laws can afford opportunity. This course examines the legal issues that every entrepreneur should understand, from early start-up through exit. These issues may begin with leaving your current employer to start a venture, then establishing an appropriate ownership structure, developing funding documents, protecting intellectual property, hiring and retaining employees, partner agreements, contracting with suppliers and customers, and finally a review of laws affecting exiting the business.
Financing Entrepreneurial Ventures - ENT 360
Geared to students and entrepreneurs interested in starting or purchasing new ventures, joining or working in rapidly expanding organizations, and in private equity/ venture capital.
Emphasis is placed on exploring various funding sources including commercial banks, angel investment, venture capital companies, underwriters, private placement-financial consultants, and state/ federal grants.
Entrepreneurial financing can be viewed in terms of a life cycle, beginning with identifying and valuing opportunities, assembling resources, structuring the deal, executing the business plan and realizing an exit return. Guest lecturers support the course content and provide potential avenues for networking. Prerequisite: Completion of ENT 200 and ENT 250 with a grade of 2 or better.
International Entrepreneurship - ENT 410
Today, few products and services are not impacted or provided opportunity by international forces. This is especially true with the widespread use of electronic technology. This course examines the success factors of businesses with an international market potential. The impact and utilization of e-commerce is reviewed in detail along with importing and exporting essentials. Specific countries are used in practical applications, and the students can select specific countries of interest for detailed analysis and submission of a market penetration analysis which will also include cultural and technical issues, financing opportunities, and legal constraints.
Small Business Consulting - ENT 450
In developing their entrepreneurial skills, students will be required to assist small business owners in diagnosing and solving business problems. Material covered in the course will allow students to develop an understanding of the consulting industry, the skills required for effective business consulting, and developing an effective consulting presentation. Student groups will work with local small business owners to assist them in solving these issues in a variety of areas ranging from, but not limited to: marketing, financial analyses, product line development, break-even analysis, acquiring financing, and strategic planning.
Business Plan Writing - ENT 495
This course provides a dynamic, practical, hands-on approach that encourages students to immerse themselves in the vision, research, and planning aspects of a new business venture. It is designed to : 1) integrate business learning that has occurred across the course of the students' undergraduate experience; 2) teach students how to research, develop, and write detailed business plans that can be used to help create successful businesses; and 3) provide presentation opportunities to local business professionals.
Entrepreneurial Internship - ENT 490
Designed for students interested in an entrepreneurial career path, this course places students into part-time internships during the school year and in some cases summers, with start-up and early stage companies, non-profits organizations, real estate developers, venture capital firms, and other entrepreneurial ventures. To select an opportunity, students should consult with the Center. Grading is based on the company’s evaluation of their work and a paper submitted by the student providing an overview of their work and evaluation of job dynamics.
Companies are requested to place a senior employee with the intern and that individual to give the intern as broad an overview of the workings and dynamics of the company as possible. Students from all majors with an interest in starting or building a business are invited to investigate this opportunity since many will have the opportunity to do so during their career.
Over time, additional courses will be added to the curriculum. Below are some courses under consideration:
Intellectual Capital
In a majority of industries and especially in R&D intensive industries, management of knowledge is critical to competitive advantage and ongoing success. This course details how organizations should manage, protect and exploit their intelligence capital/property at founding, creation and growth stages. Also examined are strategies for creating value through commercialization, transfer and licensing.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisitions
This course is designed to provide owners of existing businesses and individuals interested in acquiring other firms the inspiration and tools necessary to complete such a transaction. It provides students with another entrepreneurial career path where the acquisition of a company provides opportunity that a change in management brings. Some individuals are more effective in an environment where they acquire a company and grow it as compared to the challenges associated with starting a new venture. This course addresses the range of relevant topics including structuring and negotiating the deal, business valuations, capital sources, management teams including professional consultants, tax implications, and recognizing product life cycles of the potential acquisition.
E-Entrepreneurship
This course focuses on the use of the internet and other electronic mediums for entrepreneurs to create venture value through product recognition, sales, service, and buyer feedback. Many early-stage entrepreneurs understand their product but fail to utilize technology as a critical tool to enhance their opportunity for success. Other entrepreneurs are creating products sold and use solely through new electronic strategies,
This class starts with e-business models and applies them to global markets through segmentation and targeting strategies.
E-marketing management includes online pricing, integrated marketing communications, direct distribution, and electronic customer relations. E-marketing has had a tremendous impact on start-up companies. The use of technology can provide exposure to products or services unimaginable 10 years ago.
© 2007 J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship and York College of PA
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