Entrepreneurship Curriculum Plan

Wittenberg’s curriculum currently includes four classes in different aspects of entrepreneurship.  Each of these classes is designed to add value to students in any major. 

WITTSEM: Calling All Student Entrepreneurs:
So You Want to Change the World?

This WittSem course is designed to channel the creative energy of students as they enter college.  We explore the efforts of student entrepreneurs around the world in every possible context, celebrating their successes as well as their failures.  We study how they made change happen and the barriers they had to overcome.  We also assess the impact of their innovative efforts and how they inspired others to join their efforts.  Students are be challenged to explore the concept of “life entrepreneurship” and how to apply their vision, talents, creativity, and energy not only to their work but to their entire lives, changing the world for themselves and those around them.  Most important, we abandon the idea that serious entrepreneurial activity should be put off until after graduation.  By studying other successful student entrepreneurs and challenging our own creative abilities, the members of this class prepare to hit the ground running – ready to make an impact on the world.   

Entrepreneurship (for all majors) 

This introductory course serves as a starting point for understanding and practicing entrepreneurship.  We study entrepreneurial behavior at its best – in the context of for-profit ventures as well as its application in several other settings.   This is not a course in “how to start a business.” Rather, we use this course to explore current and potential applications of innovative thinking in their respective fields of study, challenging students to think better about a wide variety of problems and opportunities, The course has been designed to allow students with no prior business education to be successful.  It has no prerequisites and requires sophomore standing. 

Venture Creation 

This course focuses on the process of transforming creative ideas into viable ventures.  The skills gained in this course are intended to benefit all students, regardless of the type of entity they seek to create.  We will explore feasibility analysis, sound venture design and how to plan for a successful launch.  Admission to this course requires prior completion of the Entrepreneurship course.  

Leading the Family Enterprise 

This course is designed to prepare students for positions of leadership within a family business – as an owner, manager, director and/or family leader.  We explore family dynamics within and across generations and how these issues play out at various times in the family and business life cycle.  We also review various leadership structures, including unitary leadership, sibling teams, cousin collaborative, and non-family leadership models.  In addition to numerous, predictable transition issues, we study best practices shared by successful business-owning families, typical family business crises, and how to avoid them.  This course has no prerequisites and is open to all Wittenberg students with at least junior standing.