Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EI)

EI 3310. Entrepreneurial Mindset: From Ideas to Opportunities. 3 Semester Hours.

Have you ever wondered how entrepreneurs come up with ideas that turn into real businesses? In this course, students explore how entrepreneurs create and identify opportunities, learn what people truly need, and begin shaping ideas that could create real value. Through hands-on research, interviews, and discovery activities, they investigate real problems, explore potential solutions, and build a strong foundation for future venture development. Along the way, students strengthen their creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills while learning how to make smart decisions based on real-world insight. By the end of the course, they leave with a promising opportunity, a better understanding of their audience, and a strong launch point for EI 3340. Hybrid format combining online modules with required in-person working sessions. (Fall, Spring).

EI 3340. Shark Tank-Style Pitch Competition. 3 Semester Hours.

This course is where ideas start becoming real. Students take a business, product, or service idea and begin transforming it into something they can actually build, test, and share with others. Along the way, they learn how entrepreneurs explore what people want, improve ideas through feedback, and create something with real potential to stand out. Students develop a prototype or demo, strengthen their concept, and prepare polished materials that can be used for competitions, presentations, and other real-world opportunities. The course ends with a Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where students present their work in an exciting, high-energy showcase. Offered in a flexible hybrid format, the course combines online learning with required in-person working sessions that bring ideas to life. Prerequisite: EI 3310 or MN 3310. (Fall only).

EI 3390. Innovation and Growth. 3 Semester Hours.

In this course, students explore the opportunities and challenges involved in the management of growth in entrepreneurial settings, both at the individual company and as members of a corporation. This course employs experiential learning methods, such as conducting rotations at existing local entrepreneurial ventures and participating in a management simulation. Prerequisites: MN 3310. ( (Course not currently offered. Please check with Adviser or Dept. Chair).

EI 4300. Special Topics in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 3 Semester Hours.

A study of topics in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Specific subject is indicated each time the course is offered. May be used as elective credit and repeated when the specific subject changes. (Semester offered varies. Check with Dept. Chair).

EI 4310. 3-Day Startup: Innovation in Action. 3 Semester Hours.

In this course, students participate in a 3-day learning by-doing entrepreneurship and innovation workshop. The course is offered in a location that enables creativity and team work, offering an extreme hands-on environment. Students experientially learn about idea generation, team formation, customer feedback, rapid prototyping and pitch crafting. In addition to the 3-day startup workshop, students learn about product and service commercialization, sources of funding, and new venture operations through a series of online lectures, discussions and assignments. This course is open to all students. Prerequisites: none. (Not currently offered. Check with Adviser or Dept. Chair).

EI 4320. AI for Entrepreneurs. 3 Semester Hours.

Want to learn how new businesses are being built with apps, online tools, and AI? This course introduces students to the future of entrepreneurship and shows how digital technology is changing the way businesses are created and grown. Students explore how entrepreneurs use AI to generate ideas, improve decisions, save time, and build exciting new ventures. Along the way, they complete hands-on projects that help them imagine, design, and plan a business for the digital age. Prerequisites: EI 3310 or MN 3310, EI 3340 or MN 3340. Spring only.

EI 4340. Venture Finance & Funding. 3 Semester Hours.

Have a big idea but not sure how to pay for it? This course shows students how entrepreneurs fund new ventures and build businesses that can grow. Students learn the essentials of startup finance in a practical, beginner-friendly way, including how to project costs, manage cash, measure progress, and prepare for funding opportunities. They explore exciting real-world funding options such as crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital, grants, partnerships, and more. By the end of the course, students create investor-style materials that help transform a promising idea into a business with real potential. Prerequisites: EI 3310 or MN 3310, EI 3340 or MN 3340, FN 3310. (Fall only).

EI 4375. Internship in Management/Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 3 Semester Hours.

This course provides students with the opportunity to gain experiential knowledge in entrepreneurship and innovation through internships in startup environments, business incubators, venture capital firms, or other entrepreneurial settings. Students will engage in hands-on activities related to business development, product innovation, and strategic growth, applying entrepreneurial concepts in real-world ventures. All internships require supervision by an industry supervisor and a faculty supervisor. Prerequisites: MT 1305, MT 1306, AC 2301, AC 2302, EC 2301, EC 2303, MN 3330, MN 3370, EI 3310 or MN 3310, EI 3340 or MN 3340 Junior standing. Minimum GPA of 2.8 (Registration requires approval. Consult academic advisor.) (Fall, Spring, Summer).

EI 4380. 3-Day Startup & Senior Project. 3 Semester Hours.

Ready to build something that matters? This course is a high-energy, hands-on experience for students who want to create bold ideas, work with others, and make a real impact. Students complete 8 weeks of flexible online modules before diving into an exciting 3- workshop where they tackle meaningful projects, support real organizations, address community challenges, or bring new venture ideas to life. Along the way, they develop leadership, teamwork, and creative problem-solving skills while gaining valuable real-world experience that sets them apart. Prerequisites: Senior standing; EI 3310 or MN 3310, EI 3340 or MN 3340 (Spring only).

EI 4398. International Entrepreneurship. 3 Semester Hours.

Topics covered include: global expansion of entrepreneurial ventures; methods of small business globalization. Opportunities and risks of global expansion; barriers to entry; impact of globalization on all business functions. Prerequisite: IB 3321. (Fall Only).