Common questions about the
UD Entrepreneurship Program                                                                                      

What type of students become Entrepreneurship (ENT) Majors?
 Just as there are many types of entrepreneurs, UD ENT majors are from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. Some are from family businesses, many double major, and others are simply students who want to independently pursue their dreams and own a business some day, enjoying financial independence and valuing creation.

Will I really be prepared to own and manage a company as a UD ENT major?
Clearly, study after study indicate that the success or failure of an enterprise primarily rests upon the skills of its owner/manager. While the failure rate of new businesses is high, most failures are attributed to the lack of management skills and/or decision-making skills of its owner/manager. Our ENT curriculum will teach most of the necessary skills you will need to conceive, launch, sustain and harvest a successful company.

When do I apply for a major in ENT?
Students apply for the ENT major by February of their freshman year.  The application process consists of a written application, resume and a minimum GPA of 2.7.  Students under a 2.7 GPA will not be considered for the major and should consider applying as a minor in ENT their junior year.  Look for notices of informational meetings for freshmen students in late November of each year.  These meetings explain our complete ENT program and application process. Some students may be asked to have a personal interview in the application process.  Notice of acceptance is normally sent out around March 10 of each year. An important point is that you must (1) be an official  School of Business student and (2) apply before you begin your sophomore year as entry to the major begins as a first semester sophomore.

Is the UD ENT major academically challenging?
The UD ENT major is the only major in the School of Business that requires a minimum GPA for admission to the major.  The average GPA of each entering sophomore class has been 3.3.  Students having GPAs below 2.7 from the freshmen first semester will not be considered for entrance.  Students with 2.7 or 2.8 GPAs may find the time demands of the Entrepreneurship Sophomore  Experience I & II and the cohorting with other ENT majors with higher GPA's too academically demanding and may have little time to experience the terrific extra curricular and social opportunities at UD.  Students with lower GPA's, SAT's or ACT's are encouraged to consider minoring in ENT and choosing another Business School subject as their major.

What types of courses does UD offer in its ENT major?
Please examine the ENT curriculum and specific course descriptions on this website.

What types of activities are offered to ENT majors outside of the classroom?
   *UD Entrepreneurship Club organized and run by students
   *annual participation in the CEO National Conference normally held in Chicago
   *mentoring program for ENT juniors
   *participation in community seminars sponsored by the Crotty Center
   *oversight and advice from the Crotty Advisory Council
   *a special series of programs for female entrepreneurs
   * resource room dedicated to ENT majors for teaming and research
  *The JEM program, whereby selected ENT juniors mentor sophomore  micro-companies  
  *The Entrepreneurs at the Table (EATT) Program, where local entrepreneurs have lunch with ENT majors on a periodic basis, discussing topics of mutual interest
  *visits to the local business incubator & guest lectures from its President
  *frequent guest presentations by Miami Valley entrepreneurs
  *The UD Everest Real Estate Challenge where teams of students study and make recommendations about commercial property
  *The UD Business Plan Contest, an internal contest with $10,000 of prize money

Flyer Enterprises (FE), open to all UD students, are student managed and run companies on the UD campus.  Annual sales ending June 2007 were in excess of $1,300,000, making FE the 4th largest student run enterprise in the nation.  UD ENT majors and minors have taken important roles in the management of Flyer Enterprises.

What is unique about the UD ENT program?
Our ENT program has a year long course where students actually start, run and harvest profit-making micro-companies. The program also has a capstone course that offers hands-on consulting to local entrepreneurial companies. ENT majors are cohorted in many School of Business foundation and upper level courses, having classes specifically designed to better meet the needs of ENT majors.  Our ENT courses are taught by a blend of experienced entrepreneurs and Ph.D.s specializing in entrepreneurial related subjects. Through the Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the close proximity of a vibrant Dayton business community, UD ENT majors have frequent and rich experiences with local entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial organizations.

What careers are available to students with ENT degrees?
While students from family businesses may join family firms immediately out of UD, we do not expect most ENT majors to start a company directly after graduation. Most business start-ups are based on a former vocation. We expect our ENT graduates to join small entrepreneurial-type firms, venture departments of large organizations, nonprofit organizations desiring enterprising recent graduates or even development departments of government entities. It is very common for persons with technical backgrounds to partner with persons having ENT degrees, creating powerful partnerships.  Ultimately, our ENT majors will be prepared for and can start companies or join organizations where they will have major equity positions and decision making authority.