Nov. 5, 2013 – More and more students want to be their own boss, and the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business is answering that demand with a new Interdisciplinary Certificate in Entrepreneurship for undergraduate students. Available to every student, regardless of their major, the certificate adds to the business school’s already nationally recognized entrepreneurship program.

“Entrepreneurship is more popular than ever, and this certificate allows more students to learn the fundamentals from experts,” says Bill Schulze, academic director of entrepreneurship programs and a professor of strategy at the David Eccles School of Business.

The David Eccles School of Business already offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. This is the first time the school has opened its doors to students from any major who want to learn how to start a company.

Business school faculty created the certificate to address changing trends in the economy and education. There is a growing demand for the skills needed to start a company, launch a new product or test an idea and companies increasingly seek students who have practical business skills in addition to industry expertise.

“It’s no longer enough to have a chemistry, engineering or art degree,” Schulze says. “Students also need to know what makes a company tick and why they succeed.  This certificate fills that void by allowing any student to complement their degree by teaching them how to test their ideas, and design and launch a company. This ability will benefit any student and make them much more employable.”

Enrollment for the course begins in Nov. 2013. The first classes will be taught in spring 2014. Completion of the certificate requires six courses, including four at the David Eccles School of Business and two electives in another department. Business classes include: Entrepreneurship and Society, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Discover.

In addition to the certificate, the David Eccles School of Business offers many other ways for students across campus to get involved with entrepreneurship through the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, which provides competitions, programs and networking opportunities for student innovators.

About the David Eccles School of Business

From its beginnings in 1896 as part of the Economics and Sociology Department, what is now the David Eccles School of Business educates nearly 3,500 students a year and boasts more than 31,000 alumni. Students manage a university venture fund of $18.3 million, the largest of its kind in the nation. In Jan. 2012, the school opened its new, $72 million Spencer F. Eccles Building, offering students a cutting-edge learning environment packed with state-of-the-art technology.

About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is the hub for student entrepreneurship at the University of Utah.  Founded in 2001 and maintained through the generous support of Pierre Lassonde, the institute provides a growing number opportunities for students to get involved with entrepreneurship through competitions, programs, scholarships and more.