Entrepreneurship, Undergraduate Certificate
NAU Yavapai
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.
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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
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Take the following 15 units:
Complete the following (9 units):
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Choose 6 units from the following:
- ENTY 310 (1 unit)
- ENTY 331 (1 unit)
- ENTY 350 (2 units)
- ENTY 400 (1 unit)
- ENTY 410 (1 unit)
- ENTY 420 (2 units)
- ENTY 450 (1 unit)
Students in the Interdisciplinary Studies - Service Management and Leadership degree program may not complete the Certificate in Entrepreneurship.
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Available only to Northern Arizona University-Yavapai students.
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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.
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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.