Apply to the Case in Entrepreneurship Program

Program Description

Designed to provide graduate students, as well as working professionals, with in-depth entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship training, the CASE in Entrepreneurship program teaches the fundamental tools and provides the direct experience necessary to transform a disruptive, scalable idea into a high-impact venture. Great entrepreneurs come from a wide range of academic, professional, and personal backgrounds, and successful entrepreneurial projects are often those that incorporate feedback from multiple points of view. Thus, students who graduate from this program will have enhanced interdisciplinary and teamwork skills, in addition to the knowledge and mindset needed to guide product and process development both on their own and as part of a larger organization. The CASE in Entrepreneurship is administrated and awarded by the Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) on behalf of the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Eligibility 

There are two target audiences for the program: current graduate students (masters or doctoral candidates) from the University of Michigan, and working professionals seeking to enhance their entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial skills. The CASE in Entrepreneurship is a program of the College of Engineering; however, students from other colleges at the University of Michigan are welcome to apply. 

The admissions requirements for the CASE in entrepreneurship are:

1. 4-year Bachelor’s degree (a degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or Life Sciences is preferred but not required);
2. A GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of relevant coursework. If the student has advanced degrees, the cumulative GPA for each degree must be at least 3.0;
3. One year of working experience is recommended but not required;
4. For international students, the test of English Language Proficiency (TOEFL), or Michigan Language Assessment (MELAB) or IELTS is required;

Note: Admission to the certificate program must occur before six credit hours are earned towards the certificate.

Program Requirements

To complete the CASE in Entrepreneurship, students must take at least one class from each of five categories for a minimum of fifteen total credits of coursework in entrepreneurship, earn a cumulative grade point average of 5.00/9 (“B” average), and complete the program requirements within four years. The five course categories are:

1. Required - Entrepreneurship Hour (ENTR 407; 1 credit; P/F) and Discussion Session for Entrepreneurship Hour (ENTR 417; 1 credit; graded)
2. Core Course in Entrepreneurship (3-4 credits): Core courses in entrepreneurship offer a broad introduction to entrepreneurship, and show students how to turn innovative ideas into viable businesses. Core classes are often project-based and designed to guide students through the entrepreneurial process. 
3. Elective Course in Entrepreneurship (1-3 credits): Elective courses focus on entrepreneurship, or relevant auxiliary topics, such as entrepreneurial ownership, intellectual property, marketing, and general industry trends. Although the central theme of these courses is entrepreneurship, broader latitude is given to subject matter.  
4. Flexible Technical Elective (3-4 credits): For this requirement, students may select a 500-level or above technical elective from their particular area of focus. Once students elect a flexible technical elective, they must submit a course petition form to the Center for Entrepreneurship to have the course approved for CASE in Entrepreneurship credit.
5. Entrepreneurship Practicum (3 credits): The practicum is a self-directed, project-based course designed to give students firsthand experience in entrepreneurship by allowing them to work on the development of a new startup venture idea. Through this course, students will learn how to assess the viability of a business concept, along with the steps involved in starting a company.  

Note: A core course may be used to fulfill an elective requirement. All courses must be taken for a grade, with the exception of Entrepreneurship Hour, which is only offered pass/fail. Any transferred credits must be approved by the Center for Entrepreneurship curriculum committee.

For a complete list of courses currently approved for the CASE in Entrepreneurship, visit the Entrepreneurship Courses page.

How to Apply

To apply for the CASE in Entrepreneurship, submit an application through the College of Engineering Graduate Professional Programs ApplyWeb website. Applicants must first create an account with the ApplyWeb system, and then navigate to “Online Application for the College of Engineering Graduate Professional Programs.” When asked to “Select a Program,” choose the “Entrepreneurship Certificate” from “Non-Degree Programs” at the bottom of the screen.

Applicants will be asked to supply the following information:

1. Personal Information (i.e. social security number, citizenship information, Michigan residency status, etc.)
2. Education Information (i.e. previous academic institutions attended)
3. Test Scores and Language Information (i.e. GRE, TOEFL, Foreign Language Proficiency)
4. Awards, Publications, and Activities (i.e. scholarships and fellowships, extracurricular activities, publications, etc.)
5. Employment History
6. Letters of Recommendation (you will be asked to supply the names of three potential recommenders)
7. Additional Information: Statement of Purpose and Resume (you will be asked to upload documents)
8. Admissions Conduct Code
9. Agreement and Confirmation

Note: There is an application fee of $65. Non-COE students may experience a tuition increase during the semesters when they enroll in CASE in Entrepreneurship courses. This is calculated on a case-by-case basis.