Course Descriptions

ENTR Course Descriptions

• ENTR 101 IMAGINATION,CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

  Students will experience what it means to discover the patterns that produce breakthrough ideas when attempting to solve business problems. Participants in this class will be exposed to a systematic approach to changing the way they create, identify and sell these ideas. They will also be introduced to a number of techniques, concepts and methods that can be added to their creative skills toolkit. The course is designed around real methods that have been proven to work in some of the leading corporations in the world. These methods are conveyed through both interactive and experiential learning approaches. Students will form teams for the purposes of developing creative solutions to problems and coming up with a concept around which a venture can be based. [CTE] [SBS]

• ENTR 305 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION (3)

  An introductory course on entrepreneurship and innovation with emphasis on concepts of new market opportunity identification in both new ventures and existing organizations. Students will apply creative problem solving to identify entrepreneurial opportunities which are financially viable. Interdisciplinary analysis will be utilized and involves identifying, evaluating, and determining whether a scalable business opportunity exists. Students will develop the analytical and conceptual skills required to understand and explore the creative and innovative underpinnings of new products, services, and organizations. Similarities and differences in creativity and innovation across different levels, from the individual level to the organizational or industry level, will be highlighted, as are differences in financing options and early-stage sources of capital for new ideas. The course includes oral, visual, and written communication, including distilling an entrepreneurial idea into elevator pitches and summarizing complex market opportunities into a multi-stakeholder dialogue.

• ENTR 320 OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (3)

  Developing the analytical and conceptual skills required to test the feasibility of a concept for a new venture. A venture feasibility study involves undertaking activities that may help determine whether one should go forward with an opportunity. The process of feasibility analysis involves identifying, evaluating and determining whether to exploit an opportunity. Students will learn a number of practical skills and techniques that are applied to opportunities that students will explore. The creation of a feasibility study is the primary activity of the class. The course involves a significant amount of outside work that is time consuming, ambiguous, complex and multi-functional in nature. Feasibility analysis forces students to: undertake a significant amount of field research; develop and think critically about business concepts; answer fundamental questions about strategic, marketing, financial, operational and human resource issues about business concepts; and then research a decision about going forward to start the venture that is proposed. prerequisite: ENTR 305

• ENTR 390 ENTREPRENEURSHIP MENTORSHIP (1)

  Linked to the first three practice in the Entrepreneurship Fellows Program. Consists of approximately 4 hours per week of mentorship with a local expert entrepreneur. Prerequisite: Status as an Entrepreneurship Fellow. Department permission required.

• ENTR 430 CAPITAL ACQUISITION & STRATEGIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR ENTREPRE VENTURES. (3)

  Provides knowledge and training in the area of capital acquisition strategies and tactics through the life cycle of an entrepreneurial venture, and coverage of valuation techniques as applied to the allocation of business assets. Topics include start-up and mezzanine financing, and bridging to initial public offers on the capital acquisition side, as well as capital budgeting and internal control techniques applied in the strategic context developed in earlier courses. Prerequisite: ENTR 300/ Merrick School of Business or by permission of the instructor

• ENTR 450 ENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATION, PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION (3)

  The capstone course of the specialization in entrepreneurship. Students apply knowledge and experience gained in prior courses to develop and implement a new venture. Outside entrepreneurs bring real-world problems to class and students participate in field experiences. Emphasis is placed on creating and continuously enhancing an overall management system to guide the entrepreneurial venture as it grows. Prerequisites: ENTR 305 and ENTR 320 / Merrick School of Business student or by permission of the instructor

• ENTR 460 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (3)

  Successful nonprofit organizations are consistently challenged to expand their impact, be socially responsible and fiscally accountable, and find new sources of revenue. In response, more and more organizations are discovering innovative ways to generate both financial and social returns on their investments. Students and selected nonprofits learn about successful ventures and engage in lectures and hands-on work to determine the feasibility of entrepreneurial ideas, recognize and overcome financial obstacles, and convert social venture ideas into reality. prerequisites: FIN 331 and ENTR 305 / Merrick School of Business student or by permission of instructor

• ENTR 490 ENTREPRENEURIAL STRATEGY (3)

  One of the courses that comprise the final practicum in the Entrepreneurship Fellows program. Using entrepreneurial strategy as the integrating framework, students reflect on what they have learned in the program, integrate that learning with their new venture concept and prepare to launch their new venture upon or before graduation. prerequisites: status as an Entrepreneurship Fellow and completion of the Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Markets, Human Capital in a New Venture and Economics of New Venture Financing practica

• ENTR 493 HONORS SEMINAR (3)

  An advanced interdisciplinary seminar that focuses on important books and issues and encourages independent thinking, clear presentation and an understanding of the concerns and methods of various disciplines. The course may be team taught; topic and instructor(s) may change from semester to semester. Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes. prerequisites: 3.3 GPA and permission of the Denit Honors Program director

• ENTR 494 HONORS PROJ/THESIS (3 - 6)

  Directed individual instruction in an advanced project of the student's choice; the project must be academically related to this discipline. Each student works closely with a faculty director who guides his/her progress. The project must be of honors quality and must be finally approved by both the faculty director and a second faculty member. Course is eligible for a continuing studies grade. prerequisites: 3.3 GPA and permission of both the Denit Honors Program director and the faculty director

• ENTR 497 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

  The entrepreneurship faculty, from time to time, offer an opportunity to integrate new material into the undergraduate program reflecting changes in the field and in the educational needs of students. Prerequisite: ENTR 305.

• ENTR 499 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1 - 6)

  An independent study completed under the direction of a faculty member. For eligibility and procedures, refer to the Merrick School of Business Independent Study Policy. Prerequisites: Merrick School of Business student and permission of the instructor.

• ENTR 605 CREATIVITY AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET (1.50)

  Focuses on personal and organizational creativity and enables students to recognize and develop creative abilities in organizations. Includes a final team-based new product pitch that allows students to apply creativity in a business context. prerequisite: graduate standing

• ENTR 740 BUSINESS APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

  Introduces students to the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in entrepreneurship. Main topics include the practical applications of AI in opportunity identification, evaluation and exploitation, the role of AI in shaping startup activity, and societal implications of AI-driven entrepreneurship.

• ENTR 750 LEADING AND MANAGING INNOVATION (3)

  Focuses on leading and managing innovation in various organizational settings, including the for-profit, non-profit, and public sectors. Enables students to improve habitats for organizational innovation. Includes a final team-based consulting project with organization seeking to boost its innovative capacity. Prerequisite: ENTR 605

• ENTR 760 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

  Provides a study of how successful nonprofit organizations respond to the challenges of expanding their impact, being socially responsible and fiscally accountable, and finding new sources of revenue. The course will investigate innovative ways to generate both financial and social returns on their investments. Students will engage with live social entrepreneurs to evaluate and respond to market opportunities to develop and grow social enterprises. prerequisite: FIN 505 or permission of instructor.

• ENTR 761 PATENTS (3)

  This course covers the basic principles of U.S. patent law. The course will examine issues that arise in the acquisition and assertion of patent rights, including patent validity requirements, the elements of a claim of patent infringement, affirmative defenses to such a claim, and remedies for infringement. This course is cross-listed with LAW 761 and taught by Law School faculty. Students will be subject to Law School academic policies and follow the Law school academic calendar.

• ENTR 771 THE DESIGN /BUSINESS LINK (3)

  Design could very well be the major competitive strategy for both manufacturing and service companies. This course has two goals: 1) to provide UB students with an understanding of the role of design in today’s business organizations to more effectively use design to achieve the mutual goals of businesspeople and designers, and 2) to teach students how they can invent, produce and distribute their own products and be entrepreneurs. prerequisites: MKTG 504 or MKTG 505.

• ENTR 792 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (1.50)

  As specified in the course syllabus

• ENTR 797 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (3)

  As specified in the course syllabus

• ENTR 799 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3)

  Investigation into a particular subject in more depth than can be accommodated by an existing course. Students work closely with an individual faculty member. Prerequisites: ENTR 605 and approval of instructor, department chair and academic advisor