Entrepreneurial Studies Minor

“Students enter E3 with an idea, and emerge eight months later as CEOs of their own companies.”

The Boston Globe

The Emerson Experience in Entrepreneurship, the program known as E3, is a year-long immersion in the study of entrepreneurship, and learning how to build and launch a new business venture. Completion of two semesters of program coursework leads to a minor in entrepreneurial studies.

E3 features a combination of applied and academic learning experiences that take students from the classroom into the world of entrepreneurship. Students examine the many aspects of entrepreneurship — the role of the entrepreneur in our society, recognizing and assessing opportunities, crafting business plans, making business presentations, implementing efficient operations, and engaging business partners and resources for their ventures. The skills learned in the program will benefit students whether involved in building their own businesses, or working for another company as entrepreneurial thinking is not confined to start ups.

Students completing the minor, register for eight credits (two courses) each semester. These courses are uniquely constructed as a series of modules, building blocks, each addressing a specific aspect of entrepreneurship. These modules - covering such topics as communication, law, finance, leadership, management, marketing, and sales - are integrated across both semester courses.

Students learn from experienced professionals skilled in the various module topics. In addition to the primary course instructor, visiting lecturers known in the program as “tutors” contribute to teaching the various modules. The tutors are all working professionals with entrepreneurial experience, as well as advanced academic backgrounds, thus bringing a broad viewpoint to the entrepreneurship program.

The 16-hour program is open to all upper division students, across all departments at Emerson College. The entrepreneurship program encompasses an academic year, and requires permission of the instructor. Enrollment in the highly competitive program is limited. (With permission of the instructor, students intending to study abroad or in the Los Angeles Program may complete the Fall semester modules alone).

Topics include:

1. Introduction to entrepreneurship
2. Ethics and the entrepreneur
3. Business strategy and planning
4. Critical thinking and creative problem solving
5. The processes of innovation
6. Marketing and creating a brand
7. Selling and sales management
8. Money and the entrepreneur
9. Operations, process and project management
10. Leadership

Topics Include:

1. Strategic Planning
2. Law and the entrepreneur
3. The design of corporate collateral
4. Human capital management
5. Fine-tuning business plans and operations
6. Effective presentations and presentation skills
7. Diversity and entrepreneurship
8. Business etiquette
9. Lessons learned along the way
10. Preparation for the E3 Exposition

The Minor in Entrepreneurial Studies is open to any student, in any department at Emerson College.