Innovate. Lead. Succeed.
The Bachelor of Arts in Enterprise Leadership provides an option for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students wanting to focus on business and entrepreneurial leadership. The major promotes critical thinking, creativity, and innovation through understanding how to strategically address complex issues to meet consumer and organizational needs. Students also learn how to build and lead diverse teams and understand how social and cultural issues impact organizational effectiveness. Even better, this major is available on campus in Iowa City, as well as online for the convenience of our students.
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the Division of Interdisciplinary Programs jointly administer this major; the degree is awarded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Why Iowa?
David Hensley, Clinical Professor and Director of Entrepreneurship Academic Programs, discusses the entrepreneurship program options available at the University of Iowa.
Requirements
- Minimum of 120 s.h., including a minimum of 47 s.h. of work for the major
- Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 in all courses
- All students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program
* Students may earn the BA in Enterprise Leadership or the certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, but not both.
The BA in Enterprise Leadership may be earned at the Iowa City campus or online; more online courses are added each year. Students who wish to enroll in an online course should register in an EX section.
Students may use transfer coursework to fulfill Entrepreneurship and Business Core requirements in place of ENTR:1350 Foundations in Entrepreneurship and ENTR:2000 Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A minimum of 27 s.h. toward the major must be taken at the University of Iowa.
Students may count a maximum of 6 s.h. earned for another major or minor toward the BA in enterprise leadership, with the exception of the business administration minor. Enterprise Leadership majors may count a maximum of three courses toward their major and a business minor.
Clarifications
Please review the following clarifications with your advisor:
- Students in the BA in Enterprise Leadership can double major, however they must follow the “no more than three course overlap” rule.
- Students enrolled in the BA in Enterprise Leadership cannot also pursue the Entrepreneurial Management certificate.
- Students in the BA in Enterprise Leadership may also pursue a business minor as long as they follow the “no more than three course overlap” rule.
- Students in the BA in Enterprise Leadership may also pursue a leadership certificate as long as there are no more than two courses that overlap.
Courses
Students will complete courses from the following six areas of study:
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses introduce students to the basic skills, tools, and concepts they will need for the major. See MyUI for section information regarding modality.
Mathematics or Statistics
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| MATH:1020 | Elementary Functions | 4 |
| MATH:1340 | Mathematics for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1350 | Quantitative Reasoning for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1440 | Mathematics for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH:1850 | Calculus I | 4 |
| STAT:1020/PSQF:1020 | Elementary Statistics and Inference | 3 |
| STAT:1030 | Statistics for Business | 4 |
| STAT:2020 | Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences | 3 |
| STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| STAT:4143/PSQF:4143 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
Entrepreneurship
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| ENTR:1350 | Foundations in Entrepreneurship | 3 |
Sociology
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| SOC:1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3-4 |
Entrepreneurship and Business Core
The entrepreneurship and business core supports students' understanding of the essence and operation of entrepreneurial enterprises.
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| ENTR:2000 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| ENTR:3050 | Professional Preparation for Enterprise Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 1 |
| ENTR:3100 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| ENTR:3200 | Entrepreneurial Marketing | 3 |
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting | 3 |
| ENTR:4400 | Managing the Growth Business | 3 |
Leadership Courses
These courses help students reflect on the importance of leadership while developing their own leadership style and skills.
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| 6 s.h. from these: | ||
| ENTR:3800/MGMT:3800 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy I | 3 |
| LS:1020 | Introduction to Leadership | 3 |
| LS:1024 | Hawkeye Service Breaks | 1-3 |
| LS:2002 | Career Leadership Academy Part 1: Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| LS:2020 | Women in Leadership | 3 |
| LS:3002 | Career Leadership Academy Part 2: Leadership in Action | 3 |
| LS:3004 | Perspectives on Leadership: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| LS:3012 | Leadership Theory to Practice | 3 |
| SOC:1220 | Principles of Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| SOC:3530 | Social Psychology of Small Groups | 3 |
| SOC:3610 | Organizations and Modern Society | 3 |
| SOC:3880 | The Sociology of Networks | 3 |
| SOC:4225 | The Social Psychology of Leadership | 3 |
U.S. Cultural Diversity Course
The following courses provide an overview of the complexity of diversity in the United States and a comprehensive introduction to related issues.
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | 3 | |
| AFAM:1020/AMST:1030 | Introduction to African American Culture | 3 |
| AFAM:1030 | Introduction to African American Society | 3 |
| AFAM:2079/SPST:2079 | Race and Ethnicity in Sport | 3 |
| AFAM:2267/HIST:2267 | African American History to 1877: From Slave Cabin to Senate Floor | 3 |
| AFAM:3500/HIST:3160/RELS:3808 | Malcolm X, King, and Human Rights | 3 |
| AMST:2025 | Diversity in American Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:2165/AMST:2165/NAIS:2165 | Native Peoples of North America | 3 |
| GWSS:1001 | Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:1002 | Diversity and Power in the U.S. | 3 |
| HIST:1040 | Diversity in History | 3 |
| HIST:3275/AFAM:3275 | History of Slavery in the U.S.A. | 3-4 |
| JMC:1500 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| LATS:2280/HIST:2280 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | 3 |
| RELS:2000 | Engaging Religious Diversity for Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 | Inequality in American Sport | 3 |
Communication Courses
The following courses help students develop an understanding of contemporary communication theory and how it is applied.
Oral Communication
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| COMM:1112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM:1117 | Advocacy and Argument | 3 |
| COMM:1130 | The Art of Persuading Others | 3 |
| COMM:1170 | Communication Theory in Everyday Life | 3 |
| MGMT:4100 | Dynamics of Negotiations | 3 |
| RHET:2055 | Persuasion and Advocacy | 3 |
| RHET:2065 | Persuading Different Audiences: Launching a Successful Career | 3 |
| RHET:2085 | Speaking Skills | 3 |
| THTR:2610/RHET:2610 | Acting for Success | 3 |
Written Communication
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| BUS:3800 | Business Writing | 3 |
| CNW:3640 | Writing for Business | 3 |
| CW:3218/INTD:3200 | Creative Writing for New Media | 3 |
| INTD:3005/CW:3005/WRIT:3005 | Professional and Creative Business Communication | 3 |
Capstone Experience
Students engage in an entrepreneurial leadership experience and apply their knowledge and skills through a business consulting/field study project or internship with an external business or nonprofit organization. The capstone experience should be related to a student’s career goals and involve the development and application of professional business skills such as project management; market research, analysis, and planning; financial management and forecasting; operations management; sales; organizational leadership; or professional business communications. Students also may choose to plan and launch their own business to meet the capstone requirement.
Students are encouraged to complete multiple capstone courses to enhance their professional development and strengthen their professional résumé.
| COURSE # | TITLE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| At least 3 s.h. from these: | ||
| ENTR:3000 | Practicum in Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ENTR:3575 | Commercializing New Technology II | 3 |
| ENTR:3850/MGMT:3850 | Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II | 3 |
| ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact (may be taken more than once) | 1-3 |
| ENTR:4200 | Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting (may be repeated) | 3 |
| ENTR:4300 | Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture | 3 |
| ENTR:4900 | Academic Internship | 3 |
Another experiential learning course from a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences major, with prior approval from the director of enterprise leadership
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center offers two innovative final-year experiences: the Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy (ELA) and the Commercializing New Technology Academy (CNTA). The two ELA courses, ENTR:3800 Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy I and ENTR:3850 Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II, provide selected students with an advanced study of leadership, communications, and project management and include an advanced management consulting project. ENTR:3800 is a prerequisite for ENTR:3850; only ENTR:3850 may count toward the capstone requirement. The two CNTA courses, ENTR:3550 Commercializing New Technology I and ENTR:3575 Commercializing New Technology II, provide selected students with an advanced opportunity to learn the process of identifying technology solutions, developing business models, and preparing business plans and pitch decks. ENTR:3550 is a prerequisite for ENTR:3575; only ENTR:3575 may count toward the capstone requirement.
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