Academic Programs for Student Entrepreneurs
In today’s economy, every organization, from startups to established corporations to nonprofits, needs people who can think like entrepreneurs. At the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, we partner with the UW Oshkosh School of Business to offer academic pathways that give you the knowledge, credentials, and entrepreneurial mindset to stand out in any career.
Whether you want to launch your own venture, join a family business, or bring an innovative edge to any industry, these programs are designed for you, regardless of your major.
Management Major (BBA) with Family Business and Entrepreneurship Emphasis
For students who want to make entrepreneurship their focus.
The Management major with a Family Business and Entrepreneurship Emphasis is a Bachelor of Business Administration degree that prepares you to build, grow, and lead ventures of all kinds. This emphasis goes beyond traditional business coursework to develop the skills most valued by entrepreneurs: opportunity recognition, new venture creation, strategic decision-making, and the unique dynamics of family-owned enterprises.
Family businesses make up a significant share of the U.S. economy, and the skills needed to lead them, including managing relationships, navigating succession, and balancing tradition with innovation, are among the most complex in business. This emphasis equips you for exactly that, while also preparing you for entrepreneurial ventures of your own.
What you’ll develop:
- A framework for identifying and evaluating new business opportunities
- Skills in business planning, resource acquisition, and venture launch
- An understanding of family business dynamics, governance, and succession planning
- The strategic and operational tools to grow an existing business
- Real-world experience through hands-on coursework and CEED programs
Ideal for: Students who want to launch a business, join or take over a family enterprise, or pursue a career in entrepreneurship consulting, venture capital, or business development.
Learn More About the Management Major: https://www.uwosh.edu/business/departments/human-resource-management/management-major/
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Certificate
For any student who wants to think and work like an entrepreneur.
You don’t have to be a business major to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Certificate is open to students from all majors and disciplines, and it’s designed to complement whatever you’re already studying by layering in the skills that today’s employers — and tomorrow’s founders — need most.
This nine-credit, three-course program — anchored by MHR 373 Entrepreneurship — provides a structured, cross-disciplinary pathway to study how new ventures are created and how entrepreneurial thinking drives growth and innovation within existing organizations. Upon completion, the certificate appears on your official UW Oshkosh transcript — a tangible credential that signals your commitment to innovation.
What you’ll gain:
- A solid foundation in entrepreneurial thinking, new venture creation, and innovation strategy
- Skills applicable in startups, corporate environments, nonprofits, and beyond
- A transcript credential that complements any major and stands out to employers
- Practical, applicable coursework you can put to use immediately
Ideal for: Students in any major who want to develop entrepreneurial skills, pursue a side venture, or differentiate themselves in a competitive job market.
Learn More About the Certificate: https://www.uwosh.edu/business/departments/human-resource-management/certificates/
Business Minor
For non-business majors who want a competitive edge in any career.
The Business Minor is designed for students pursuing a degree outside the School of Business who want to strengthen their understanding of how organizations operate and compete. By pairing your primary major with a grounded foundation in core business disciplines, you graduate with a versatile skill set that employers across every industry value.
The minor covers essential business knowledge in economics, accounting, information systems, management, and human resources, giving you a broad, practical understanding of the functions that drive every organization, from startups to established enterprises.
What you’ll gain:
- Foundational knowledge in economics and accounting to understand financial health and business decision-making
- Exposure to information systems and how technology supports organizational operations
- Core skills in management and human resources to lead teams and navigate workplace dynamics
- A business credential on your transcript that complements and elevates any major
Ideal for: Students in the sciences, liberal arts, education, nursing, or any non-business field who want to broaden their career options, strengthen their resume, or lay the groundwork for entrepreneurial pursuits.
Learn More About the Business Minor: https://www.uwosh.edu/business/undergraduate/minors/
Ready to Get Started?
Talk to your academic advisor about declaring the Family Business and Entrepreneurship Emphasis or adding the Business Minor to your degree plan.
Visit the School of Business: https://www.uwosh.edu/business/