The leadership, ethics and organizational sustainability (LEO) program encourages students to re-examine business practices in light of social, environmental, political and economic shifts to prepare them to become strong, effective and ethical leaders.
Entrepreneurship
The best way to predict your future is to create it. That’s the thinking behind Saint Joseph’s University’s entrepreneurship program. This program will help you learn the skills, theories and tools needed to launch your own business, bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the corporate world, enhance a family business or develop a social venture and make a difference in the world.
It is estimated that there are over 31 million entrepreneurs in the United States. These entrepreneurs have created and run businesses that span from home-based businesses to international companies. All industries are represented as fertile ground for entrepreneurs to capitalize on opportunities. Entrepreneurs have been a driving force in our economy and will continue to be an integral component as we move forward.
The curriculum is structured around a skills-based, multidisciplinary, hands-on approach to entrepreneurship that offers students a chance to not only understand the field of entrepreneurship, but to do so in an experiential learning environment. The program allows students flexibility based on their individual career goals, and several of our entrepreneurship students have developed or enhanced their own entrepreneurial ventures.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship students will leave the program with the tools necessary to strategically launch a new company, move up the ranks in the corporate world, develop a social venture or manage a family firm. The skillset developed while pursuing an entrepreneurship major are valuable and easily transferable to whatever career path you wish to embark.
Graduates have pursued careers in a wide array of industries, including hospitality, retail, food & beverage, real estate, finance, marketing, information technology and so much more. Several students have started businesses while attending Saint Joseph's University, others have launched businesses after graduation and many have returned to family businesses upon graduation.
Career opportunities for entrepreneurship majors are extremely diverse, including:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or C-level management
- Mid-level management
- Finance manager
- Business consultant
- Sales & marketing
- Research & development
What Sets Our Program Apart
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This major is designed in a way that students gain experience with the key skills needed to successfully recognize opportunities, plan the venture, leverage networking, build an effective entrepreneurial team and integrate the important components of accounting, finance, marketing, management and business law. We have developed specific learning objectives for the entrepreneurship major to help students build on their entrepreneurial skillset as they progress through the curriculum.
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Through the entrepreneurship major, you will learn how to assess risks associated with business management, make responsible decisions and recognize opportunities within and outside your own business. Through case studies and experiential exercises, you will have the opportunity to develop your business ideas under the guidance of instructors.
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You will have the opportunity to build your network and interact with entrepreneurs through course guest speakers, the Haub Innovation Speaker Series and numerous other lecture events across campus.
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Our course curriculum offers the opportunity to explore different cultures and expand your business mindset while studying abroad. Entrepreneurs who choose to study abroad will expand their network internationally and practice their language and business skills in another country.
Why Study Entrepreneurship in Philadelphia?
According to Pennsylvania Business, there are over 1.1 million small businesses in the state of Pennsylvania, making it a popular place to start a business. Philadelphia is in close proximity to New York City and Washington D.C., offering convenient access to network with larger businesses without a long commute. Additionally, Philadelphia is more affordable than New York City, Washington D.C., Boston and other comparable cities, making it a manageable place to start a business without expensive overhead.
Program Details
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4+1 BS/MS
Saint Joseph’s University offers an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program that allows current undergraduate students in entrepreneurship to start earning their MBA or Master of Science in organization development and leadership during their senior year. This model enables you to complete your undergraduate and graduate work in just five years, instead of the traditional six or seven. Combining your bachelor’s with a master’s degree can help you save time and money.
Entrepreneurship majors interested in this unique option must apply to the graduate program in their junior year and be provisionally accepted before they complete their bachelor’s degree.Double Majors and Minors
You can choose to major in entrepreneurship or declare it as a minor. Many students often decide to double major or add minors to their studies. The multidisciplinary aspects of the entrepreneurship major allow overlap with other majors so you can utilize required courses from other majors to satisfy entrepreneurship electives.
Students interested in the entrepreneurship major often pursue the following additional areas of study:
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Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed breakdown. Financial aid in the form of scholarships, federal and state grants, loans and discount eligibility may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.
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Visit the course catalog to review curriculum and coursework for the entrepreneur major. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.
Entrepreneurship Major Admission Information
To apply for the entrepreneurship major, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they will strengthen your application.
Learn more about admissions requirements and how to apply as a first-year student, transfer student or international student. You can also get a feel for life as a Hawk with our in-person and virtual visit opportunities.
Related Programs
The business intelligence and analytics major at Saint Joseph's University helps students develop a deep understanding of data. In the program, students learn to use the information to guide organizations in making strategic business decisions.
The marketing program provides you with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to stand out in today's ever-changing marketplace. The curriculum paired with Saint Joseph's co-op program will prepare you for a successful career as a marketer.