Entrepreneurship, MS
Program Executive Director: Madhavan Parthasarathy
Contact: jakejabs.center@ucdenver.edu
Website
Introduction
The MS in Entrepreneurship program equips students with a bootstrapping mindset so that they can think lean and create growth in any organization with minimal resources. Courses heavily emphasize experiential learning, and many are taught by Colorado’s top entrepreneurs through a variety of methods and formats to maximize accessibility and flexibility in student schedules. Through topics covering leadership, marketing, legal, financial, analytical, and operational skills, students are tasked with going beyond the classroom to build and test their ideas in real-world settings.
Beyond business fundamentals, though, entrepreneurs need guidance, inspiration, exposure, and practice before launching or joining a successful startup. The Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship will connect students to industry collaborations, mentorship opportunities, startup job openings, and collaborative events with the Denver entrepreneurial community. Studying entrepreneurship in the heart of Denver—one of the top entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country—will help bring to life how to actually launch new ideas, drive innovation within existing organizations, and disrupt traditional markets with tech-driven advancements.
At the end of this program, students will be able to:
- Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Practice. Develop strategies designed to sustain competitive advantage and optimize stakeholder value. Analyze information to address an entrepreneurial concept.
- Communicate Effectively. Apply effective and professional written/verbal communication skills around new concepts and ventures.
- Lead Entrepreneurially. Collaborate and lead effectively within diverse business teams, leveraging teamwork and leadership skills in new ventures.
- Be Purpose Driven. Gain an understanding around impact of different socio-cultural, political/institutional, legal, financial, and/or economic contexts on business ventures and new strategies.
- Develop Successful Business Models for Innovation. Embrace risk-taking and creative problem solving, in both one’s organization and career, to continually evolve in today’s uncertain and skills-driven markets.
Requirements
The MS in Entrepreneurship program is stackable and students must earn 30 credit hours by taking ten graduate level ENTP courses. Students can choose to earn a general entrepreneurship certificate after completing the first three courses and then another general entrepreneurship certificate after taking the next set of three courses. There are no prerequisites or required core courses in entrepreneurship.
The MS in Entrepreneurship program does not require GMAT or GRE scores in its application. Instead, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better from a US accredited four-year undergraduate institution (or equivalent from an international university) or the successful completion of a graduate degree and three or more years of full-time professional work experience.
However, if you received your bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of less than 3.00 or have less than 3 years of professional work experience, you will be asked to submit a statement that outlines other indicators of exceptional motivation, such as solid upper-division performance, GMAT or GRE scores, and other relevant professional experience. The MS in Entrepreneurship admissions committee may require a minimum GMAT or GRE score for students that do not automatically qualify by GPA and prior work.
How Admissions Decisions Are Made
The admissions committee considers each candidate’s entire record of achievement. This is demonstrated through:
- Academic transcripts
- Essay responses
- Work experience
- Extracurricular and community activities
- Letters of recommendation if applicable
- GMAT/GRE scores (optional)
No work experience or formal business education is required for admission. However, professional experience strengthens your application. Candidates with less work experience can show potential through academic and experiential success.
Scholarships
At the graduate level, scholarships exclusive to entrepreneurship are available to only in-state students. Any in-state student, degree-seeking or non-degree, who is currently enrolled in an ENTP course(s) AND is pursuing an ENTP certificate, MBA specialization, or the MS ENTP degree is eligible and strongly encouraged to apply. Students must have a current FAFSA submitted because award amounts vary based on need. However, out-of-state students are charged in-state tuition for all entrepreneurship courses. For more information, please visit https://jakejabscenter.org/tuition-and-scholarships/.
Program Delivery
Courses are offered in the following formats: online, in-person, and hybrid. Professors teaching in the hybrid format are required to offer 50% of the course content in an in-person format. Courses are offered in an 8-week timeframe in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Any ten graduate level ENTP courses. Explore class options here: https://catalog.ucdenver.edu/cu-denver/graduate/courses-a-z/entp/. | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Important Note: Dual masters (MS) program options are available (for example: a dual MS in ENTP and INFS). Dual MS programs allow you to complete two masters programs by taking 14 classes. Certificate options within other majors (for example: management) may also be available within the ENTP MS. Please email JakeJabs.Center@ucdenver.edu if you are interested in exploring dual degree or certificate options.