W. P. Carey launches new undergraduate program for entrepreneurial-minded students

The new Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurial leadership at W. P. Carey aims to develop business leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset for creating new ventures and overseeing small- and medium-sized businesses through unique coursework, internship opportunities, and a world-class faculty.

If you're looking for a degree program to prepare you to become a business owner, the new Bachelor of Arts (BA) in entrepreneurial leadership at the W. P. Carey School of Business may be the opportunity for you.

This program aims to develop business leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset for creating new ventures and overseeing small- and medium-sized businesses through unique coursework, internship opportunities, and a world-class faculty.

Essential courses

While in the entrepreneurial leadership program, students will become business leaders by developing their skills in areas like communication, problem solving, and team building. The coursework is designed to prepare graduates to launch and run their own business.

Students will take classes like Principles of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Leadership, which prepare them for the unique challenges of creating and managing a new organization. Entrepreneurship and Value Creation helps students identify market needs and how their venture can fill a niche. Other relevant courses include Management and Strategy, Creativity and Innovation, and a business capstone course in the final semester.

This degree program has a foundation in business data analytics instead of calculus. "We recognize that there are several practical business careers that don't require higher-level math courses," says Michele Pfund, senior associate dean of undergraduate programs. "Offering more accessible paths to earn a business degree is key to meeting employer and community needs."

West campus experience

The entrepreneurial leadership degree program is located at ASU's West campus, a close-knit, liberal arts-style campus in the northwest Valley. The West campus is home to several W. P. Carey programs and has strong ties to the thriving local logistics industry.

The entrepreneurial leadership degree is part of the W. P. Carey School of Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (TIE), a new academic unit located on ASU's West campus. TIE will house several research centers dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship within the technological sphere featuring top faculty from a variety of disciplines.

The introduction of TIE and other new programs on West campus, including the entrepreneurial leadership degree, are part of the West Valley Forward initiative, aimed at strengthening the connection ASU has with the blossoming West Valley area. The initiative also includes two other new schools and new buildings at West.

Entrepreneurial career opportunities

Over the course of the degree program, students will gain the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to become business leaders and entrepreneurs. This leads to career opportunities with existing organizations seeking entrepreneurial-minded thinkers in managerial and leadership roles.

With the heavy emphasis in entrepreneurship, graduates will be more than capable of starting their own businesses in any industry, as well as joining new ventures and start-ups and leading them to success.