OSU greatly expands entrepreneurism course offerings

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Entrepreneurism is taking off at Oklahoma State University and all students are encouraged to sign up!

The OSU School of Business launched a program in entrepreneurship in 2004 and is vastly expanding its work in this important area with the newly created Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises.  In addition, entrepreneurial applications and outreach initiatives are managed by the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship.

“It is important that students understand entrepreneurship knows no boundaries,” said Michael Morris, professor, Malone Mitchell Chair and department head.  “Entrepreneurial thinking is vital to every OSU student.  If we are to become the world-class entrepreneurial university we envision, it must infect the culture of OSU.”

The opportunity for students to begin the entrepreneurial journey begins in a big way this fall. Building on the foundation already in place, the department of entrepreneurship will be offering 15 new courses for business and non-business majors. The department is waiving any pre-requisite requirements. Sample offerings include Intro to Entrepreneurship, Imagination, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Dilemmas and Debates in Entrepreneurship, and Emerging Enterprise Consulting.

“We are hitting the ground running with a number of outstanding opportunities for students,” Morris said.  “We’re offering a horizontal dimension, where entrepreneurship is integrated into each of the schools and colleges on campus, and a vertical dimension, where students have a total immersion in entrepreneurship both inside and outside the classroom.”

Pending approval from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, OSU will offer a major in entrepreneurship, a minor in entrepreneurship for both business and non-business majors, an MBA concentration in entrepreneurship, and a Ph.D. program.

To support its vision to dream, believe, create, the Department of Entrepreneurship is launching a campus-wide Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Learning Community.
OSU’s entrepreneurship department is one of only a handful in the nation and will meet a growing need to provide students advanced, educationally based competencies in entrepreneurship.  

The OSU entrepreneurship program was jump-started by a multi-million gift announced last year from Texas oil and ranching alumni Amy and Malone Mitchell 3rd.
To learn more about entrepreneurship at OSU or sign up for courses, visit the Spears School of Business, Suite 104; e-mail entrepreneurship@okstate.edu or visit spears.okstate.edu/eee

 Spears School welcomes new living and learning community  

Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholars Program