Entrepreneurship Track
(Approved for Academic Year 2012-2013 Only)
What Is a Track?
A “track” is a specialty area of study crossing over one or more concentration areas. Courses taken to satisfy track requirements can also be used to satisfy concentration requirements. Tracks are available only for Commerce students. Students may not complete more than one track. The Entrepreneurship Track is composed of four required classes, at least two of which will be taken in the student’s fourth year.
Overview
The Entrepreneurship Track provides 30 fourth-year Commerce students with the unique opportunity to explore the entrepreneurship process, learn concepts and analytical tools that facilitate new-venture success, examine the sources of financing for a new venture, evaluate a startup’s ability to make money and generate attractive financial and personal returns for the entrepreneur compared with alternative career options, and apply business principles through practical application with actual new venture concepts and teams. The coursework includes lectures, case discussions, new venture pitches, new venture viability assessments, mock negotiations, guest speakers, and team projects.
Eligibility, Application, and Deadlines
The Entrepreneurship Track is open to all fourth-year Commerce students whose academic requirements allow them the flexibility to take the required 12 credit hours. All interested students must successfully complete COMM 4680 "Entrepreneurship" (3 credit hours) during the fall semester of their fourth year. Admission to the track is offered to 30 fourth-year Commerce students. Admission is first offered to the 10 students of the top two teams from the Venture Viability Assessment (VVA) competition. The remaining 20 slots in the track will be offered to students who have completed the application and been selected by the admissions committee, composed of the instructors of the Entrepreneurship Track courses. Admission criteria are grades, VVA performance (on an individual basis), venture concept quality, and application essay demonstrating clarity of motivation for dedicating significant time and effort in the spring of the fourth year to a new venture concept and the associated teamwork.
2012 deadlines include:
- VVA results: Oct. 22
- Application submission: Oct. 26
- Track admissions notification: Nov. 2
- Declaration form submission: Nov. 5
The Curriculum
Once admitted, in addition to completing COMM 4680, students are required to complete COMM 4681 and two of four electives (listed below), which may also be used to satisfy concentration requirements.
Required Courses
COMM 4680 (F) "Entrepreneurship"
Explores the entrepreneurship process as well as basic concepts and analytical tools that facilitate new-venture success with a focus on a startup's ability to make money and its ability to generate attractive financial and personal returns for the entrepreneur compared to alternative career options. Examines various considerations for generating, screening, and evaluating new venture ideas; creating and presenting compelling business plans; acquiring various forms of early-stage funding and other required resources; as well as measuring value. Prerequisite: fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.
COMM 4681 (S) "Entrepreneurship Track Capstone"
Two sections of this course will be offered to only the 30 Entrepreneurship Track students. This course will be a comprehensive project course that takes the ideas and knowledge developed in COMM 4680 and enables student teams to apply them to actual new venture concepts.
Electives
Entrepreneurship Track students are required to complete two of the following four electives:
COMM 3200 (F/S) "Project Management"
COMM 3330 (S) "Marketing Research Techniques"
COMM 3790 (S) "Venture Capital and the Emerging Firm"
COMM 4330 (F/S) "Negotiating for Value"
For more information, please contact Professor Eric Martin at em5dq@comm.virginia.edu or Professor Brendan Richardson at brr5kb@comm.virginia.edu.