2019-2020

Entrepreneurship, Undergraduate Certificate

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Provost Office

The goal of this undergraduate certificate program is to prepare students to utilize multiple perspectives and resources to start a new enterprise, either apart from an existing entity, or within an existing organization.

This certificate can be a useful companion to a variety of majors and gives students the opportunity to explore this area without the commitments associated with a four-year degree.

 

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2023

  • To receive an undergraduate certificate (at least 15 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

    Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates, if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the "Details" tab for additional information.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 15
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required

Student Learning Outcomes

Students shall be able to:

  • Perform primary and secondary research. 
  • Understand and apply theories of competition. 
  • Construct a differentiating competitive strategy. 
  • Understand the role of entrepreneurship in a capitalistic society. 
  • Construct practical, executable business plans. 
  • Create practical multiyear cash flow projections for a startup business. 
  • Understand the various theories of innovation and apply them to new products, business strategy, and strategic planning. 
  • Use the process of innovation to develop an innovation. 
  • Understand the roles of small investors, Angel investors, and Venture Capitalists. 
  • Understand the acquisition and use of investor financing and debt financing. 
  • Understand different business structures and the related advantages and disadvantages (example: LLC versus an S Corp.). 
  • Prepare and deliver business plan presentations suitable for investors as well as short “elevator pitches”. 
  • Apply the concepts in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to entrepreneurial businesses. 
  • Analyze the business plans of other entrepreneurs. 
  • Utilize conventional and nonconventional marketing methods (example: guerilla, buzz) for an entrepreneurial company or new product offering 
  • Understand the creation and protection of intellectual property (IP). 
  • Apply principles of teambuilding and teamwork to an entrepreneurial team. 
  • Develop basic financial statements including balance sheet, statement of cash flows, and profit and loss. 
  • Apply ethical principles in the development of an entrepreneurial business plan.
  • Understand the application of entrepreneurship in nonprofit startups. 
  • Apply basic concepts from behavioral economics to a business plan. 
  • Understand the unique issues associated with launching a new startup company from within an established company. 
  • Construct logically provable (cause-and-effect) analyses of business development plans in areas including marketing, strategy, and competition. 
  • Validate a business idea. 
  • Understand the concept of business risk, various types of risk, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. 
  • Identify and create new business opportunities. 
  • Develop appropriate sales plans for new products or services.
  • Understand the basics of double entry bookkeeping including account types, debits and credits, and journal entries.

Certificate Requirements

  • This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Federal financial aid cannot be used if the certificate is completed as a stand-alone certificate.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.