Entrepreneurship
Why pursue a degree in entrepreneurship at North Central College?
Entrepreneurs know how to build, promote and manage their own business, and are typically known as innovators who are good at coming up with new ideas, services and goods. Entrepreneurs also play the role of “jack of all trades”, learning how to develop, design, produce, market and sell. This program is designed to give you a comprehensive business core as well as hands on experience in on-campus clubs like American Marketing Association. At North Central, you will acquire the skills necessary to start a business from the ground up. You will also learn how to apply your creativity and entrepreneurial energy into making an existing business more productive. You may go on to own and operate a small store, tech startup, creative online idea or add value to an existing business. Whatever you may do with your entrepreneurial skills, entrepreneurship will be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
- Building, promoting and managing your own business
- Identifying needs and innovating solutions in the marketplace
- Taking on the role as CEO or leader of your own company
then a degree in ENTREPRENEURSHIP might be for you.
Why study entrepreneurship at North Central College?
In the Classroom
Coursework topics:
- 11-course comprehensive business core
- Applied entrepreneurship
- Design thinking for social impact
- Entrepreneurship experimentation
- Entrepreneurship exploration
- Entrepreneurship strategy
- Finance and law for social impact
- Introduction to web development
- Marketing in social impact
- Marketing research
- Professional selling
- Social entrepreneurship
- Social innovation
Beyond the Classroom
As an Entrepreneurship major, you can:
- Simulate trading and access thousands of proprietary reports in the Bloomberg Finance Lab, equipped with ten dual-monitor workstations, Bloomberg Terminal software, and Bloomberg’s unique keyboards.
- Become “Bloomberg Certified” by completing a series of advanced financial modules in our Bloomberg Finance Lab.
- Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.
- Attend presentations by guest speakers who share their experiences, offer advice and answer questions.
- Apply what you’ve learned in class to entrepreneurial projects through student organizations like the Entrepreneurship and International Business Organization (EIBO) and Enactus.
- Attend professional events such as the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) annual conference in Chicago and the Self Employment in the Arts (SEA) Conference.
- Complete a student consulting project through North Central’s business accelerator ConVerge.
Entrepreneurship, B.B.A.
Entrepreneurship focuses on developing capabilities in new enterprise development, customer validation and small and family business management. Courses specifically build competencies in the entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity recognition, opportunity evaluation, business model design, raising capital and the lean startup methodology.
For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.
Common SBE Core
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SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society
SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society
4.00 credit hours
An introductory course identifying the role of the business institution in our society, how business behavior is shaped and influenced by its stakeholders-managers, consumers, employees, government and community members. Key topics include: business systems, corporate governance, the business and society relationship, business and public issues, ethical dilemmas in business, corporate social responsibilities in relation to stakeholders, globalization, ecological and sustainability issues and the influence of technology on business and society.
-
ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting
ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to accounting principles and procedures as they are employed in the communication of financial information to various users, such as management, stockholders and government agencies. Topics include accounting for assets, liabilities, owner's equity and other reporting issues.
-
ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting
ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting
4.00 credit hours
Analysis of accounting for managerial decision-making, planning and control. Topics include budgeting, variance analysis, traditional and nontraditional product costing methods and cost-volume profit analysis.
-
BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics
BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics
4.00 credit hours
Surveys the major aspects of the law governing business and commerce including the domestic and international legal environment, the range of dispute resolution processes, legal liability including torts and negligence, contracts, employment law including employment discrimination, business entities, commercial transactions and intellectual property—all with particular emphasis on business ethics and ethical decision making.
-
BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics
BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics
4.00 credit hours
Provides an overview of basic statistics as it applies to business. The focus is on learning statistical concepts by applying analytical reasoning to business applications. Examples illustrating the relevance of statistics to broad areas of business are used. The course requires students to use spreadsheet programs, statistical programs, the Internet and other computer tools in analyzing statistics. The focus is on application of the material and on solving problems. Only one of BUSN 265 and
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BUSN 485 - Business Strategy
BUSN 485 - Business Strategy
4.00 credit hours
The capstone course requirement for all business majors. As befits a capstone, student skills in business strategy are developed in a highly integrative manner such that students use knowledge and frameworks from all functional areas of business to develop a holistic perspective of firms and competitive advantage. The knowing component of this course is focused on theoretical knowledge and frameworks applied in the critical analysis of business case studies. The doing component of this course centers on an online simulation where students compete to run a successful business.
-
ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.
-
ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to macroeconomic theory, with emphasis on factors which explain changes in national income, unemployment and inflation. Other topics include money and banking, fiscal and monetary policies, distribution of income and economic crises.
-
FINA 350 - Corporate Finance
FINA 350 - Corporate Finance
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to corporate financial management. Topics include financial statement analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, bond and stock valuation, common stock/debt financing, risk and return, cost of capital, and capital budgeting.
-
MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior
MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior
4.00 credit hours
Provides a formal overview of why organizations exist and how they operate within the context of society. Basic management issues such as the structure of organizations are explored. In many cases management topics are covered in a generic manner that can be applied to any organization. Other issues are addressed with specific applications to certain firms. This course examines our role as individuals as it pertains to organizations. It is generally meant to provide a framework to analyze organizations that exist in the U.S. but will also cover some international topics.
-
MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing
MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing
4.00 credit hours
Presents an overview of Marketing as a principle, a discipline, and as a profession. Students examine all elements of Marketing including integrated promotional strategies, consumer behavior, and ethics and social responsibility. Emphasis is placed on the Marketing Mix (Product, Place, Promotion and Price) as students design and implement a comprehensive marketing plan.
Entrepreneurship Courses
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BUSN 170 - Entrepreneurship Exploration
BUSN 170 - Entrepreneurship Exploration
4.00 credit hours
Designed primarily to provide an overview of entrepreneurship, develop an entrepreneurial frame of mind and skills in discovering and communicating entrepreneurial opportunities. Students come up with a business idea and explore its potential for becoming a viable business. They learn to do market research and communicate—both in writing and orally—their findings in a final Pitchdeck project. Other important aspects of the course include self-assessment to determine one's strengths and weaknesses, and gaining a proactive perspective on life. This introductory course is open to students from all majors across campus who are interested in Entrepreneurship.
-
BUSN 370 - Entrepreneurship Experimentation
BUSN 370 - Entrepreneurship Experimentation
4.00 credit hours
Applies the principles of lean startup, customer development and iterative market testing to test whether you have a profitable business idea. This is a project-based course where skills in customer and market discovery, opportunity testing, iterative product development and entrepreneurial strategy are developed. In addition, skills in self-awareness, market responsiveness and creation of competitive advantage for oneself are cultivated.
-
BUSN 470 - Entrepreneurship Strategy
BUSN 470 - Entrepreneurship Strategy
4.00 credit hours
This is the capstone course in the Entrepreneurship major. This workshop-based course is a study in the application and integration of marketing, management, financial and operational resources, among others, needed to prepare a business plan, implement a new venture or grow an existing business. Students evaluate the obstacles facing entrepreneurs in start-up situations, including launching businesses and capitalizing on market opportunities.
Two of the following:
-
INFS 115 - Introduction to Website Development
INFS 115 - Introduction to Website Development
4.00 credit hours
A hands-on course which enables students to create websites. Includes an introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web; HTML and HTML editors; artistic, organizational, technical and ethical considerations of website design and implementation; delivery across multiple platforms, from traditional computer display to mobile devices; and requirements analysis, design specifications, graphics optimization. Also, introduction to XHTML, DHTML, CSS and introduction to scripting (such as Ajax and JavaScript). Integrated laboratory.
-
BUSN 374 - Applied Entrepreneurship
BUSN 374 - Applied Entrepreneurship
4.00 credit hours
Offers students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge about entrepreneurship and small business at a real startup in the Naperville area. This is accomplished through a combination of academic and practical components. Each course is tailored to meet the specific context of startups with all courses including: opportunity recognition, market discovery, customer creation and company building. Additionally, the course consists of weekly meetings with the faculty supervisor, a letter of agreement outlining the scope of the work, industry specific case studies, a mid-term status report and an end of term presentation of recommendations to the startup entrepreneur.
-
LEAD 100 - Design Thinking for Social Impact
LEAD 100 - Design Thinking for Social Impact
4.00 credit hours
As members of a diverse and global community, we face a variety of complex social issues. Students will learn the theory and practice of human-centered design, a creative approach to problem-solving that leads students through a process to empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test their ideas. Through readings, case studies, hands-on activities, field experiences, and interaction with community leaders and residents, students will develop the mindset and toolkit needed to create innovative solutions for change, regardless of the discipline or field of study they pursue. Students will identify local social or environmental challenges and work collaboratively to address them through the design thinking process.
-
LEAD 200 - Social Innovation
LEAD 200 - Social Innovation
4.00 credit hours
Students learn to utilize design thinking and systems thinking methodology in approaching social and environmental problems. Students will develop an innovative skillset and apply it directly to complex issues of their choosing, while building their efficacy as change-makers. Social innovation is derived from the practice of solution-oriented thinking, that seeks to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
-
LEAD 300 - Social Entrepreneurship
LEAD 300 - Social Entrepreneurship
4.00 credit hours
An immersion into the rapidly-growing field of social entrepreneurship, teaching students how to address complex social or environmental challenges through the creation of market-based solutions that are innovative, measurable, sustainable and scalable. Through readings, interactive workshops, guest speakers, and field experiences, students will identify systemic social challenges and corresponding opportunities, pinpoint root causes, ideate and test possible solutions, explore funding sources, consider legal structures, and prepare an impact measurement plan. The course will culminate in a written social venture plan and pitch that communicates a viable solution to a social challenge.
-
LEAD 370 - Marketing for Social Impact
LEAD 370 - Marketing for Social Impact
4.00 credit hours
Effective marketing can be a lever for the creation of both economic and social value. Startups and existing organizations, whether focused on marketing goods, services, ideas or values, need a complete strategy for maximizing social impact. Social entrepreneurs face a unique challenge in not just identifying a market opportunity, but tackling a neglected market gap. In addition to understanding product, place, price, and promotion in the creation of a marketing plan, students will learn the theory and practice of branding and identity, storytelling and communication, and the use of available technological tools that contribute to positive social impact.
-
LEAD 380 - Finance and Law for Social Impact Business
LEAD 380 - Finance and Law for Social Impact Business
4.00 credit hours
Two early, but significant, challenges facing social entrepreneurs are financing the enterprise and determining what type of business entity the enterprise will be. This course explores a range of financing models and approaches, all of which present the social entrepreneur with the opportunity to both start and scale up a successful social enterprise. The course also considers the range of business entity options, both traditional and social enterprise specific, available to the social entrepreneur. Students will develop finance plans and business formation documents as major projects in the course.
-
MKTG 340 - Professional Selling
MKTG 340 - Professional Selling
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the fundamental principles and concepts of personal selling. Focuses on developing and maintaining relationships with customers, and managing the sales process of prospecting, approaching, interacting with, and keeping consumers while achieving the organization's goals. Emphasis is also placed on developing strong communications skills to deliver an effective sales presentation.
-
MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management
MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management
4.00 credit hours
Examines the basic functions of personnel and labor relations. Discussions focus on valuing, employing, developing, motivating and maintaining human resources in organizations. The history of the American labor movement and the collective bargaining process is also examined.
-
MKTG 370 - Marketing Research
MKTG 370 - Marketing Research
4.00 credit hours
Studies all stages of the marketing research process. Student teams work with clients from the business community who are in need of quantitative and qualitative research before making important managerial decisions. Students learn how to: design a survey instrument, collect and analyze primary data using various statistical tests, draw viable conclusions and propose solid recommendations. Emphasis is placed on writing a comprehensive research document and making a final oral presentation to a client at the end of the semester.
Entrepreneurship Minor
Entrepreneurship focuses on developing capabilities in new enterprise development, customer validation and small and family business management. Courses specifically build competencies in the entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity recognition, opportunity evaluation, business model design, raising capital and the lean startup methodology.
For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.
A minimum of 24 credit hours, including:
-
SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society
SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society
4.00 credit hours
An introductory course identifying the role of the business institution in our society, how business behavior is shaped and influenced by its stakeholders-managers, consumers, employees, government and community members. Key topics include: business systems, corporate governance, the business and society relationship, business and public issues, ethical dilemmas in business, corporate social responsibilities in relation to stakeholders, globalization, ecological and sustainability issues and the influence of technology on business and society.
-
BUSN 170 - Entrepreneurship Exploration
BUSN 170 - Entrepreneurship Exploration
4.00 credit hours
Designed primarily to provide an overview of entrepreneurship, develop an entrepreneurial frame of mind and skills in discovering and communicating entrepreneurial opportunities. Students come up with a business idea and explore its potential for becoming a viable business. They learn to do market research and communicate—both in writing and orally—their findings in a final Pitchdeck project. Other important aspects of the course include self-assessment to determine one's strengths and weaknesses, and gaining a proactive perspective on life. This introductory course is open to students from all majors across campus who are interested in Entrepreneurship.
-
BUSN 370 - Entrepreneurship Experimentation
BUSN 370 - Entrepreneurship Experimentation
4.00 credit hours
Applies the principles of lean startup, customer development and iterative market testing to test whether you have a profitable business idea. This is a project-based course where skills in customer and market discovery, opportunity testing, iterative product development and entrepreneurial strategy are developed. In addition, skills in self-awareness, market responsiveness and creation of competitive advantage for oneself are cultivated.
-
ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.
Elective
Two of the following:
-
BUSN 374 - Applied Entrepreneurship
BUSN 374 - Applied Entrepreneurship
4.00 credit hours
Offers students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge about entrepreneurship and small business at a real startup in the Naperville area. This is accomplished through a combination of academic and practical components. Each course is tailored to meet the specific context of startups with all courses including: opportunity recognition, market discovery, customer creation and company building. Additionally, the course consists of weekly meetings with the faculty supervisor, a letter of agreement outlining the scope of the work, industry specific case studies, a mid-term status report and an end of term presentation of recommendations to the startup entrepreneur.
-
BUSN 470 - Entrepreneurship Strategy
BUSN 470 - Entrepreneurship Strategy
4.00 credit hours
This is the capstone course in the Entrepreneurship major. This workshop-based course is a study in the application and integration of marketing, management, financial and operational resources, among others, needed to prepare a business plan, implement a new venture or grow an existing business. Students evaluate the obstacles facing entrepreneurs in start-up situations, including launching businesses and capitalizing on market opportunities.
-
MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management
MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management
4.00 credit hours
Examines the basic functions of personnel and labor relations. Discussions focus on valuing, employing, developing, motivating and maintaining human resources in organizations. The history of the American labor movement and the collective bargaining process is also examined.
-
MKTG 340 - Professional Selling
MKTG 340 - Professional Selling
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the fundamental principles and concepts of personal selling. Focuses on developing and maintaining relationships with customers, and managing the sales process of prospecting, approaching, interacting with, and keeping consumers while achieving the organization's goals. Emphasis is also placed on developing strong communications skills to deliver an effective sales presentation.
-
MKTG 370 - Marketing Research
MKTG 370 - Marketing Research
4.00 credit hours
Studies all stages of the marketing research process. Student teams work with clients from the business community who are in need of quantitative and qualitative research before making important managerial decisions. Students learn how to: design a survey instrument, collect and analyze primary data using various statistical tests, draw viable conclusions and propose solid recommendations. Emphasis is placed on writing a comprehensive research document and making a final oral presentation to a client at the end of the semester.
-
INFS 115 - Introduction to Website Development
INFS 115 - Introduction to Website Development
4.00 credit hours
A hands-on course which enables students to create websites. Includes an introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web; HTML and HTML editors; artistic, organizational, technical and ethical considerations of website design and implementation; delivery across multiple platforms, from traditional computer display to mobile devices; and requirements analysis, design specifications, graphics optimization. Also, introduction to XHTML, DHTML, CSS and introduction to scripting (such as Ajax and JavaScript). Integrated laboratory.
-
LEAD 100 - Design Thinking for Social Impact
LEAD 100 - Design Thinking for Social Impact
4.00 credit hours
As members of a diverse and global community, we face a variety of complex social issues. Students will learn the theory and practice of human-centered design, a creative approach to problem-solving that leads students through a process to empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test their ideas. Through readings, case studies, hands-on activities, field experiences, and interaction with community leaders and residents, students will develop the mindset and toolkit needed to create innovative solutions for change, regardless of the discipline or field of study they pursue. Students will identify local social or environmental challenges and work collaboratively to address them through the design thinking process.
-
LEAD 200 - Social Innovation
LEAD 200 - Social Innovation
4.00 credit hours
Students learn to utilize design thinking and systems thinking methodology in approaching social and environmental problems. Students will develop an innovative skillset and apply it directly to complex issues of their choosing, while building their efficacy as change-makers. Social innovation is derived from the practice of solution-oriented thinking, that seeks to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
-
LEAD 300 - Social Entrepreneurship
LEAD 300 - Social Entrepreneurship
4.00 credit hours
An immersion into the rapidly-growing field of social entrepreneurship, teaching students how to address complex social or environmental challenges through the creation of market-based solutions that are innovative, measurable, sustainable and scalable. Through readings, interactive workshops, guest speakers, and field experiences, students will identify systemic social challenges and corresponding opportunities, pinpoint root causes, ideate and test possible solutions, explore funding sources, consider legal structures, and prepare an impact measurement plan. The course will culminate in a written social venture plan and pitch that communicates a viable solution to a social challenge.
-
LEAD 370 - Marketing for Social Impact
LEAD 370 - Marketing for Social Impact
4.00 credit hours
Effective marketing can be a lever for the creation of both economic and social value. Startups and existing organizations, whether focused on marketing goods, services, ideas or values, need a complete strategy for maximizing social impact. Social entrepreneurs face a unique challenge in not just identifying a market opportunity, but tackling a neglected market gap. In addition to understanding product, place, price, and promotion in the creation of a marketing plan, students will learn the theory and practice of branding and identity, storytelling and communication, and the use of available technological tools that contribute to positive social impact.
-
LEAD 380 - Finance and Law for Social Impact Business
LEAD 380 - Finance and Law for Social Impact Business
4.00 credit hours
Two early, but significant, challenges facing social entrepreneurs are financing the enterprise and determining what type of business entity the enterprise will be. This course explores a range of financing models and approaches, all of which present the social entrepreneur with the opportunity to both start and scale up a successful social enterprise. The course also considers the range of business entity options, both traditional and social enterprise specific, available to the social entrepreneur. Students will develop finance plans and business formation documents as major projects in the course.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Internships and Jobs
A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.
Internships
- Alive Center
- CIS Onsite
- Hilary Lamon
- Michael R Trauscht CPA PC
- MSUS
- Painting with a Twist
- R. Streiter Ltd.
- Southern Wine and Spirits
- Walker Athletics
- WreathWorks Home and Garden
Careers
Graduates employed with the following companies
- DSW
- T-PROMOS, LLC
- Division D
- Nordstrom
- Travelers
- DLT Upholstery Supply
- RSM
- WreathWorks Home and Garden
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