2022-2023

Entrepreneurship, Undergraduate Certificate

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

The W. A. Franke College of Business

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.