Appeal of entrepreneurship classes on rise for all majors
Entrepreneurship has become a hot subject in recent years on the college and university campuses across Southeast Michigan. As interest grows, the schools are meeting the demand by launching, expanding and considering new programs that teach entrepreneurship to all students, not just business majors. Wayne State University is in the process of approving an entrepreneurship and innovation certificate for nonbusiness undergraduate students and community members. Wayne State could approve the certificate this fall and then begin offering entrepreneurial courses as part of the certificate as soon as January, said Margaret Smoller, associate dean of WSU's Mike Ilitch School of Business. Smoller said students could participate in the certificate program after they complete prerequisite business courses, while nonstudents will need to have an undergraduate degree. The proposed program would begin with an introduction to entrepreneurship and build to a hands-on capstone such as pitching a business idea to potential funders, said Smoller. Smoller said many nonbusiness students have asked about entrepreneurial courses, including participants in the university's Blackstone LaunchPad and its business accelerator TechTown Detroit. "So I know there's a lot of interest in Detroit for this type of program," she said.
