Entrepreneurial Studies Certificate

The state of Colorado and the CU-Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business are widely recognized for their unique entrepreneurial climate. The Leeds School's Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship鈥檚 undergraduate program is consistently ranked among the top 20 nationally by U.S. News & World Report providing students an ideal environment in which to study the field.

The entrepreneurship and small business management area of application reflects that nearly all new job creation in the United States is produced by new ventures and small-to medium-sized emerging growth businesses. This application area provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills to create, organize, and manage new ventures or small- to medium-sized and emerging growth businesses as independent entities, or within corporate structures.

Students examine theory and research, but the fundamental thrust of this application area is to experience entrepreneurial cultures through professional experiences such as meeting entrepreneurs in the classroom, internships, writing feasibility and business plans, and developing other practical skills.

Career Opportunities

Some entrepreneurship graduates immediately begin work on their own businesses, while others work in existing entrepreneurial enterprises. Graduates also gain experience in larger businesses, learn an industry and its markets, and later find a niche to create a start-up business.

Entrepreneurship students learn the qualities to be 鈥渟elfstarters,鈥 disciplined workers, and capable team players who know how to find and use business information.

Entrepreneurship students graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the elements of a business through their business plan preparation experience. These graduates are attractive job candidates in all areas of business and are capable of creating new ventures either as start-up businesses or within existing corporate structures.

This certificate is awarded to Leeds students only, and it will appear on your transcript.

Full Information Sheet

Declaration of Intent

Please complete Declaration of Intent or email deming@colorado.edu if you have any questions.

Once you have completed the Declaration of Intent, you are required to email the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at deming@colorado.edu to schedule an in-person meeting to finalize.

Certificate Requirements:

  • Complete 3 required entrepreneurship courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in those three courses: ESBM 3700 Entrepreneurial Environments ESBM 4570, Entrepreneurial Finance and ESBM 4830 Business Plan Preparation
  • Complete 2 required BCOR courses: BCOR 2301 鈥 Business Law (1.5)  and BCOR 2304 鈥 Strategic and Entrepreneurial Thinking (1.5) 
  • Complete an approved 60+ hour internship.
  • Participate in the area鈥檚 entrepreneurial eco-system to better understand entrepreneurship (minimum of 8 events).
  • Pass a video exam by the end of the semester you will graduate.
  • Submit write-ups about each event and your internship experience (2-3 pages single spaced for internship paper and a paragraph per event).  

Students who satisfactorily complete the requirements, internship, and pass the exam will be awarded the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies. This certificate is awarded to business majors only and it will appear on your transcript!

Learn More

Visit the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship for additional information on the Entrepreneurial Studies Certificate.