Image
students in idea pitch posing with large checks and donor John Brinzo

B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship

Unleash your entrepreneurial spirit with Kent State's B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship. Our program combines classroom learning with real-world experience to help you develop the skills needed to launch and grow your own business. Enroll now and turn your dreams into reality.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit

lauren hollis

“Being an entrepreneurship student at  Kent State has not only helped me grow  as a student, It has helped me grow as an individual by preparing me for professional life outside of college. Being able to build and grow a company these past four years while being surrounded by like-minded students, faculty that believe in you and provide extensive one-on-one time, and endless opportunities to help your business flourish, is just the beginning of what Kent State’s program has to offer.” - Lauren Hollis, Entrepreneurship

 

Overview

  • Students develop an entrepreneurial mindset through coursework. In the senior year, students start their own venture which gives them the confidence and knowledge to run a business or gain employment at businesses of all sizes upon graduation. Practicing entrepreneurs provide mentorship to students.
  • The John S. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation hosts events for student entrepreneurs including idea pitch and business pitch competitions.
  • The Sigma Nu Tau honor society promotes, recognizes and rewards academic excellence in entrepreneurship and encourages and recognizes the practice of principled entrepreneurship.
  • Students can meet and network with successful entrepreneurs through events such as the ASPIRE Entrepreneurial Workshop Series and Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Speaker Series.
  • Students learn about idea generation, feasibility analysis, how to legally establish a company, how to create a product or service and find financial resources and generate sales.

 

 

 

Interested in pairing a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship with an M.B.A.?

Kent State is proud to offer incoming, high-achieving undergraduate students, direct admission into a business master's program. With direct admission, students can comfortably complete their bachelor’s degree and master's degree within five years. 

Learn More | Combined Degrees

 

 

Program Information for B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship provides students with the academic background and experiential opportunities needed to view business opportunities from an entrepreneurial perspective. The program helps students recognize market and business opportunities and learn when to seize them or take action, all while operating within the context of limited resources and creating value for the customer.

The program contains numerous opportunities to experience entrepreneurship firsthand. During their senior year, students earn course credit by launching and running a business of their own creation. A practicum can earn students credit while developing their own business or assisting entrepreneurs with their business. Students have many opportunities to meet experienced entrepreneurs who discuss their successes and failures in business. Courses in the major are hands-on, with experiential learning central to the course format.

Entrepreneurship students may apply early to the M.B.A. degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions for B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

A minimum 2.000 overall GPA is required for admission into this major. Students who have previously attended Kent State and have completed (or the equivalent of), MATH 11010, COMM 15000, ENG 21011 and ENTR 27056 must have earned a minimum C grade.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of capital formation and financial management in a new venture.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the marketing function in a new venture.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply the entrepreneurial process for the purpose of creating a new venture that generates revenue or obtains capital investment.

Students earning a B.B.A. degree in Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship are expected to have developed skills in the following critical areas of business:

  1. Core Business Knowledge - Recall the strategic frameworks that are used to make business decisions.
  2. Analytical Skills - Use analytical methodologies and critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve business problems. 
  3. Digital Technology – Demonstrate the technological skills necessary to analyze business problems and develop solutions.
  4. Written Communication - Write effective business communications.
  5. Oral Communication - Make effective business presentations, using appropriate technologies.
  6. Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose.
  7. Business Ethics – Recognize ethical business dilemmas and use ethical decision making to resolve the dilemma.
  8. Global - Analyze the key global factors when making business decisions.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ENTR 27056INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP (min C grade)3
ENTR 27466SPEAKER SERIES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP 1
ENTR 37040ENTREPRENEURIAL TOOLS (min C grade)3
ENTR 37045SALES IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE 3
ENTR 37065ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE 3
ENTR 37075ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING 3
ENTR 37080NEW VENTURE CREATION (WIC) (min C grade)3
ENTR 47048ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE I (ELR) (min C grade)3
ENTR 47049ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE II (min C grade)3
Major Elective, choose from the following: 13
ENTR 37070
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENTR 37195
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP I
ENTR 45096
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENTR 47189
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (DIVG) (ELR)
ENTR 47292
ENTREPRENEURIAL INTERNSHIP (ELR)
FDM 35280
FASHION ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MKTG 35056
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
MKTG 45047
ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL SELLING
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ACCT 23021INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 43
BA 34156BUSINESS ANALYTICS II 3
or MKTG 35061 MARKETING ANALYTICS
BA 44062SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 3
BUS 10123EXPLORING BUSINESS 23
BUS 30062ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
CIS 24053INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (min C grade)3
ECON 22060PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
ECON 22061PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
FIN 26074LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
FIN 36053BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) (min C grade)3
MGMT 24163PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
MGMT 44285STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
UC 10162INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Mathematics or Critical Reasoning Elective, choose from the following: 33-5
MATH 10051
QUANTITATIVE REASONING (KMCR)
MATH 11012
INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR)
MATH 12002
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
PHIL 21002
INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL LOGIC (KMCR)
Kent Core Composition 56
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 612
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students may take more than one major elective.

2

A student changing to a program in the college, transferring, or incoming students with college credits may be waived out of BUS 10123 if:

  1. 30 or more credit hours have been earned and any two classes (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053) have successfully been completed.
  2. 60 or more credit hours have been earned and the student has successfully completed one course from (ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053)
  3. At the discretion of the dean's office, the student has sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in a business field (as demonstrated by a CLEP exam or Credit by Exam) but does not meet the requirements listed above.
3

Taking MATH 10051 or PHIL 21002 will not replace a low grade in either MATH 11012 or MATH 12002. Students are required to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002 if they change their major to, or want to double major with, the Economics major or Finance major and/or intend to declare the Data Analytics minor. Students who intend to enroll in certain graduate programs and/or are working toward Phi Beta Kappa status are highly encouraged to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002.

4

Students who have taken MATH 10041 for another program may use it as a substitute for BA 24056.

5

Minimum C grade required in ENG 21011 or HONR 20197.

6

Students may take or use any course at any level as long as the minimum 39-credit hours requirement for upper-division courses is satisfied for graduation with a B.B.A. Expectations: Maximum 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be counted toward the 120 total credit hours or 39-upper-division-hours graduation requirement. General elective courses may be selected from any area and at any level provided students do not go over the PWS restriction and they satisfy the 39 credit hours upper-division requirements. Any other exceptions must be approved by the assistant dean. A minor (business or non-business) is encouraged.

Progression Requirements
  • Minimum 2.000 overall GPA
  • Minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011, ENTR 27056, ENTR 37040, ENTR 37080 and MATH 11010

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Students are permitted to register for ENTR 47049 while taking ENTR 47048.
  • Entrepreneurship majors who are also majoring in Marketing, and who have taken ENTR 37045, are not required to take MKTG 35046 for the Marketing major; however, a Marketing major cannot waive ENTR 37045 by taking MKTG 35046.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of business credit hours (required for the business degree) in-residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of their major credit hours in residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete two measures of outcomes assessment as specified by the college for complete satisfaction of the B.B.A. degree.
Roadmap

Roadmap

 

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BUS 10123 EXPLORING BUSINESS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
CIS 24053 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
!ENTR 27056 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 3
!ENTR 27466 SPEAKER SERIES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP 1
UC 10162 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Mathematics or Critical Reasoning Elective 3-5
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
Required: minimum overall GPA of 2.000 by the end of this semester  
FIN 26074 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
Required for progression in the major: Minimum 2.000 overall GPA, minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011, MATH 11010 and ENTR 27056.  
ACCT 23021 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BUS 30062 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
!ENTR 37040 ENTREPRENEURIAL TOOLS 3
MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Required: minimum overall GPA of 2.000 by the end of this semester  
BA 24056 BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 3
!ENTR 37075 ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING 3
!FIN 36053 BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Required: minimum overall GPA of 2.000 by the end of this semester  
BA 34156
or MKTG 35061
 BUSINESS ANALYTICS II
or MARKETING ANALYTICS
3
!ENTR 37080 NEW VENTURE CREATION (WIC) 3
ENTR 37065 ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Required: minimum overall GPA of 2.000 by the end of this semester  
BA 44062 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 3
!ENTR 37045 SALES IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE 3
ENTR 47048 ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE I (ELR) 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Required: minimum overall GPA of 2.000 and completion of The Assurance of Learning Assessment given in MGMT 44285  
ENTR 47049 ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE II 3
MGMT 44285 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Business owner
  • Business founder
  • Sole-proprietor
  • Entrepreneur
$42,000-$46,000
Average Annual Starting Salary*
$14/Hour
Average Internship Wage

*Information based on the class of 2021. Salary range represents 25th-75th percentile.

Where can I get a job?

One out of three 2021 entrepreneurship graduates started or continued running their own companies following graduation. The remainder obtained work at companies including: Amazon Cleveland Clinic • Enterprise • Huntington National Bank  Techtronic Industries • Quicken Loans Inc •  and more! 

© 2025 Kent State University All rights reserved.