Entrepreneurship
- Mission Statement
The mission of the Entrepreneurship Program is to prepare and adequately train students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and launch and grow new ventures.
- Student Learning Outcomes
- Certificate
Students earning a Certificate in Entrepreneurship may take Entrepreneurship courses, including the 3-credit courses, on an á la carte basis. Students earning the certificate take 10 credit hours, which can be completed with a minimum of 6 courses, out of the 13 courses available in the program. In addition to being able to take any combination of courses to meet the credit requirements, students do not have to take the courses in sequence. The implication of this structure is that the Certificate program does not have program-level learning outcomes. While there are a number of course outcomes that are common across multiple courses (e.g., critical and creative thinking), the program structure and student choice mean that we cannot create program-level outcomes. Course-level outcomes for each of the courses in the Entrepreneurship program can be found in the curriculum grid.
- Associate Degree
Students earning an Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship take General Education courses appropriate for the Associate of Science degree, 16 credits of Entrepreneurship courses, and 9 credits in one of 6 areas of emphasis - Business Administration, Communications, Computing, Outdoor Recreation, Product Design & Development, and Psychology. The structure of the program means that students must take all but one of the 1-credit courses in the Entrepreneurship program (there are a total of 17 credits in the entire program). Student Learning Outcome for the Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship are:
1. Students will be able to identify issues and problems, gather and organize relevant data and information to analyze and validate issues and problems, and draw logical conclusion through analysis and reasoning, and posit viable alternative solutions. (Analytical and Critical Thinkers*)
2. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of key business and area emphasis disciplines (Knowledge of Key Concepts*)
Students will demonstrate proficiency in these learning outcomes in the following ways:- Learn the process of market and product innovation
- Gain an understanding of community resources available to entrepreneurs
- Learning business scalability and exit strategies
*Analytical and Critical Thinkers, and Knowledge of Key Concepts, are two of the main learning outcomes that the Goddard School focuses on as part of Assurance of Learning processes for AACSB accreditation. The numbered items above pertain to the Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship and map on to their respectively-listed AACSB learning outcomes, in parentheses. The bulleted items above are how we operationalize these outcomes in this particular program. - Bachelor Degree
- Certificate
- Curriculum Grid
Entrepreneurship Curriculum Course Name Course Number Course-level Learning Outcomes Assessment Tools AS Mapping AACSB Mapping Startup Innovation ENTR 1002 Individual development - resiliency, vision, goal setting, change, creative confidence
Fundamentals - entrepreneurial mindset & models, evaluation of new venture ideas, value propositionSignature Assignment - one-page landing website, 60-second marketing video, established pre-sales and/or sales Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources Analytical & Critical Thinking; Knowledge of Key Concepts Marketing Strategy ENTR 2002 Marketing - strategy, differentiation, branding, consumer targeting Signature Assignment - a written marketing audit Market & Product Innovation Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Marketing Execution ENTR 2003 Marketing execution - differentiation, branding, consumer targeting Signature Assignment - a complete written marketing plan Market & Product Innovation Knowledge of Key Concepts Branding ENTR 2004 Business model design, opportunity analysis Comprehensive Module Exams (2 modules) Market & Product Innovation; Scalability & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Product to Market ENTR 2005 Business analysis - operationalization of idea to product, product to customer Comprehensive Module Exams (4 modules) Market & Product Innovation; Scalability & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers E-Commerce ENTR 2006 Marketing execution - consumer targeting, pricing, web design, Supply Chain, Scalability Signature Assignment - fully functioning live website linked to Google Analytics, CRM functions, advertising Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources; Scale & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Product Design & Prototyping ENTR 2007 Product design and development - prototyping, concept development, the development cycle Signature Assignment - a complete and comprehensive product design and development plan and presentation Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Legal Foundations ENTR 2008 Legal environment of business, ethical business practices Comprehensive Module Exams (10 modules) Community Resources; Scale & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Money Management ENTR 2009 Financial accounting - balance sheet, income statement, financial projections Signature Assignment - a comprehensive financial model and plan and presentation Community Resources; Scale & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Funding ENTR 2010 Managerial finance - new venture financing, financial evaluation and projections Signature Assignment - a research paper covering entrepreneur, lender, and investor perspectives on financial models and plans Community Resources; Scale & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Results-Focused Leadership ENTR 2011 Leadership - motivation, persuasion
Teams - leading teams, team problem solvingComprehensive Module Exams (2 modules) Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts People Management ENTR 2012 Leadership - essentials, leadership development, ethical leadership Comprehensive Module Exams (4 modules) Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Scale & Exit ENTR 3002 Innovation - market and product innovation
Scalability and ExitCumulative assignments merging course content with customer/potential customer interactions Market & Product Innovation; Community Resources; Scale & Exit Analytical & Critical Thinkers; Knowledge of Key Concepts Area Emphasis Curriculum (these are folded into AS in Entrepreneurship program learning outcomes) Business
(choose 9 credit hours)ACTG 2010 - Survey of Accounting I
ACTG 2020 - Survey of Accounting II
ECON 2010 - Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2020 - Principles of Macroeconomics
QUAN 2600 - Business Statistics ICommunication
(choose 9 credit hours)COMM 1020 - Principles of Public Speaking
COMM 1140 - Writing for Workplace Communication
COMM 2110 - Interpersonal and Small Group Communications
COMM 2250 - Essentials of Digital Media
COMM 2400 - Social Media for Communicators
COMM 2550 - Communication in Professional SettingsComputing
(one required; choose 6 credit hours from remaining)CS 1030 - Foundations of Computing (required)
CS 1400 - Programming I
NET 2200 - Microcomputer Operating Systems
WEB 1400 - Web Design and Usability
CS 2550 - Introduction to Database Design and SQLOutdoor Recreation
(all required)REC 1535 - Leave No Trace Trainer
OCRE 2500 - Introduction to Outdoor Pursuits
OCRE 2550 - Leadership and Safety Management for Outdoor PursuitsProduct Design & Development
(all required)PDD 1030 - Introduction to Product Design and Development
PDD 1010 - Introduction to Engineering & Technical Design (SolidWorks)
PDD 1160 - Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerance Using 3D CADPsychology
(all required)PSY 1010 SS - Introductory Psychology
PSY 2000 SS - The Psychology of Human Relationships
PSY 2250 - Learning & Memory - Program and Contact Information
The Entrepreneurship programs at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ are unique in two key ways that affect establishment and assessment of learning outcomes. The first relates to the broader curricular structure of the programs, and the second relates to the purpose for which individual courses are structured and delivered. These features are common to all of our Entrepreneurship programs; here, we provide information on the Certificate and Associates programs.
The broader curricular structure is comprised of a group of 1-credit courses that cover a wide variety of topics that prepare entrepreneurs for specific functions and activities as they launch their small businesses. Two exception are ENTR 1002, Startup Innovation and ENTR 3002 (now ENTR 2550), Scale and Exit. The former is a broad introductory course and the latter, while not a capstone, does require a deeper dive into key areas of study.
Individual courses were developed for the purposes of highly focused and applied study in a specific functional area or activity related to planning, launching, growing, and maintaining a small business. The curriculum grid, provided below, illustrates the nature of the courses. The courses were originally developed this way for the Certificate program to ensure maximum flexibility for both matriculated students and community adult learners who are currently developing small businesses. The Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship was developed to give matriculated students a more comprehensive program anchored in Entrepreneurship and complemented by one of 6 areas of emphasis. Certificate students must earn 10 credit hours in Entrepreneurship courses to earn their certificate. Program and course structure drive assessment at the course level for the Certificate in Entrepreneurship program.
The Associates of Science in Entrepreneurship was developed for matriculated 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students, and includes 16 credit hours in Entrepreneurship courses and 9 credit hours in the student's choice of one of 6 areas of emphasis, in addition to General Education requirements for the Associates degree.
Contact Information:
Dr. Dave Noack
Associate Professor and Hall Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship
(801) 436-7749
davidnoack@weber.edu
Brandon Stoddard
Director, Hall Global Entrepreneurship Center
(801) 243-0663
brandonstoddard@weber.edu
Dr. Jennifer S. Anderson
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Business Administration and Marketing
(801) 332-9706
janderson2@weber.edu - Assessment Plan
Certificate:
For the certificate program, assessment occurs at the course level. Learning outcome assessment is aligned with the Assurance of Learning cycle required for AACSB accreditation, which is every two years. The Goddard School completed AACSB reaccreditation in Spring 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, and assessment of learning outcomes for the certificate will be measured in the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 academic years. Because certificate learning outcomes are at the course level, data is gathered for each course, each year, even though the assessment of that data occurs every two years. Data is collected from Canvas and house on secure university servers (e.g., Box) for review. For the biennial review period (2021-2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ; covered in our latest AACSB review), program faculty used graded assignments in each course to evaluate achievement of course-level learning outcomes. The majority of courses utilize a comprehensive signature assignment to evaluate learning outcomes.
Associates:
For the Associates program, assessment occurs at the program level. The Associates degree was launched in Fall of 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, and thus falls in step with current AACSB Assurance of Learning processes and timing. The Goddard School completed AACSB reaccreditation in spring 2023 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, and assessment of learning outcomes for the Associates will be measured in the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 academic years. Data will be gathered every two years, and will be drawn from a combination of online modules (Canvas) and applied learning activities. Online modules will include outcome-based assignments and worksheets focusing on the three areas of proficiency they will be expected to demonstrate as listed in Section B below. Applied learning activities will consist of preparations for, and participation in, juried pitch competitions and pitch events that students engage in, as part of their program of study. Pitch competitions and events are judged by a panel of community business leaders (e.g., entrepreneurs, businesspeople, Chamber of Commerce members, Goddard School leadership). Documents associated with pitch preparations will be matched with judges' feedback on pitches in competitions and events, and this information will be compared to the areas of proficiency listed in Section B below.
- Assessment Report Submissions
- Program Review
This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.