ENT 375      Introduction to Entrepreneurship (4)

Introduction to entrepreneurship emphasizing the critical role of recognizing and creating opportunities in small business, new ventures, corporate projects, and other organizational settings.  Topics include attributes of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial careers, idea conceptualization, introduction to marketing and finance, profitability, opportunity evaluation, and introduction to business plan writing.

ENT 378      Entrepreneurial Technology Management (4)

Technology provides entrepreneurs with a vast, evolving medium for engaging in all phases of business activity.  New business opportunities are literally evolving with the introduction of new technological developments.  As pioneers in the exciting new dimension of business, students will study trends that have evolved, learn what methods and standards currently exist, learn how to analyze existing business web activity, and develop web business strategies for launching their own business activities on the net.  Both classroom and computer laboratory are integrated providing a real-time learning by doing environment.

ENT 395      Design Culture and Collaborative Methods (4)

Design Culture offers insights about various humanistic and social aspects of designers through exploring collaborative design methodologies developed and used by architects, designers, and urban planners. The course specifically builds upon the other prerequisite creativity coursework required for the CEV minor by exploring the interconnectedness of human values, human and technology relations, ethical behavior, design culture, historical context, and methods for beneficial innovation. Students are exposed to contemporary theories which encompass collaborative design methods that embrace paradox and are structured, distributed, and socially creative through the engagement of multiple constituencies. Moreover, students experientially practice, through embedded activities, collaborative design methods to creatively and ethically frame large amorphous social challenges and generate ideas for positive social change.

Embedded Applied Learning Activities: With the aim of helping students develop concepts and ideas that may be subsequently used for developing a venture plan, they are required to participate in one (1) of the following experiential design culture treatment (DCT) events during the course: InoovationChallenge New York (ICNY); Mohawk Valley Mini-Maker Faire (MVMMF); or other relevant DCT event as selected by the course instructor.

ENT 485         Reimaging Entrepreneurship: Ethical Venturing for Social Impact (4)

Reimaging entrepreneurship provides a systemic view of management and business issues involved with the formation of early-stage ethical ventures which builds upon all other prerequisite creativity and ideation coursework required for the CEV minor. The course is the final integrative “capstone” experience required for awarding of the CEV minor and focuses on overarching and emergent philosophical views central to Stiegler’s “economy of contribution” as a reimagined alternative to traditional entrepreneurial and venturing models based on consumer capitalism. Students learn about the organizing processes involved with transforming ideas to ethical and socially beneficial small positive social impact (e.g., beneficial innovation). Furthermore, students are exposed to proven approaches and tools that enable accelerated development of new sustainable ventures. They are required to collaborate in teams to learn the underpinnings of technology transfer and the specifics of crafting business models and plans by transforming their previously created ideas (from either ICNY, MVMMF, or other sources) to ethical ventures. Coaches with relevant subject matter expertise will coach teams and help prepare them for participation in one or more of the business plan competitions listed below.

Embedded Applied Learning Activities: The course blends traditional instruction with on-going experiential venture development coaching which culminates with teams presenting their new entrepreneurial organizational plans in one (1) of the following required competitions: Students Veterans of America National Business Plan Competition; New York State Business Plan Competition; Herkimer and Oneida Counties Community Foundation’s “Big Ideas” Impact Opportunity Challenge; or other relevant business plan competition as selected by the course instructor. Actual competition designations subject to change.

ENT 492         Entrepreneurship Internship (4)

Supervised, discipline based experience in business organization.  Emphasis on application, process and techniques used by business to sustain and promote growth.  Specific skills and competencies needed to be a successful decision-maker are targeted.  Oversight provided by the School internship coordinator, min-semester evaluation and a final, comprehensive written report are required.  Prerequisite: ENT 375, ENT 378, and Permission of Instructor.  Only S/U grades are awarded for this course.