Certificate in Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Ag Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to help them become successful innovators and entrepreneurs. This certification program is designed to develop entrepreneurial talent among students through a combination of traditional and online instruction and experiential learning opportunities.

Participants in the Certificate in Ag Innovation and Entrepreneurship program will have access to services provided by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, which will include the following:

- Workspaces -Participants will have a shared space where they have Wi-Fi, computers, copier and phone access.
- Mentoring/Coaching -Participants will have access to one-on-one mentoring and coaching by faculty and local entrepreneurs.
- Workshops and Seminars - Participants may attend various workshops and seminars to address issues related to startups.
- Business Service Providers -Participants will have access to business providers such as accountants, lawyers, graphic designers, etc., with experience working with small businesses and startups.
- Funding -Students who have reached certain milestones within the program may be awarded mini grants to seed startup businesses. The intent of the funds is to support participants in refining their concept and business model. Funds are to be used for prototyping, graphic design, logos, filing a patent, building a website, marketing materials, licenses, competition fees and general business purposes, and must be approved by the Ag Innovation Project Director. In addition, student teams will be connected to other funding opportunities.

The Ag Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate will consist of 18 credits and is designed to provide participants from various backgrounds with a basic framework to help create new ventures, products and services. Students completing the Certificate Program will acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to help them become successful innovators and entrepreneurs.

Core Courses

AGBU 310 Agribusiness Marketing and Price Analysis (3hrs)

This course involves the evaluation of the structure and performance of agricultural and input supply markets, market price analysis, including price forecasting, application of economic theory and analytical techniques for identifying and solving marketing problems.

BA 499 – Agribusiness Enterprise Development

This is a course in small business development with emphasis on Agribusiness entrepreneurship. The course is about taking innovative business ideas from inception through development and implementation to create new products or services in a new venture in the food and fiber sector. The course structure will thus offer students a method of problem solving through an action-oriented approach working in collaborative teams. Working as teams, students will get hands-on experience in learning how to recognize an entrepreneurial opportunity, developing a business plan, developing and identifying resources to convert opportunities into a viable business enterprise.

ENT 301 Innovation and Creativity (2hrs)

Innovation and Creativity focuses on techniques for improving the flexibility and originality of the thinking process and will explore approaches used by managers and organizations to create and sustain high levels of innovation. Topics include: personal thinking preferences, everyday creativity and eliminating mental blocks, creative thinking techniques, idea selection approaches, teaming techniques for creativity, conditions that promote creativity, design for interaction, disruptive technologies, and intellectual property.

ENT 312 New Venture Finance and Management (3hrs)

New Venture Finance and Management is a “hands-on” applied course that focuses on the creation, evaluation, development and launch readiness of a new business venture. For each new venture, key issues are addressed in consistent with other formal venture planning processes including business model development, customer discovery, product-market validation, in-depth industry and market analysis, product or service innovation, brand development and go-to market strategies, team selection & management, profit models, financing, and legal considerations.

ENT 314 Startup Business Plan Lab (1hr)

Startup Business Plan Lab will focus on the development of an effective business plan. The lab is designed as a “hands-on” and interactive learning process that provide guidance on each component of the business plan. (1 hr. credit)

ENT 445 New Product Development (3hrs)

New Product Development is intended for those interested in learning how new products and services are developed and the factors that influence success and failure at each stage of development. In addition to those who wish to be successful entrepreneurs, this course may be of interest to those pursuing careers in Marketing, R&D, project management, engineering, or industrial design.

MGT 418 E-Commerce (3hrs)

Electronic Commerce has changed the way businesses operate and compete in the global marketplace. This course introduces E-Commerce from both managerial and technological perspectives. It examines existing e-business models, new e-business opportunities, prevalent web technologies, and strategic issues associated with each model.