I want to get a B.A degree in Entrepreneurship, but in my state there are no programs is there an alternative?

**CoastalGirl** · 12-30-2009 08:54 AM

bachelors degree that I can get that is similar to entrepreneurship? Sorry I didn't know where to post my question.

**DerekS** · 12-30-2009 09:37 AM

Try to get a BBA or a BS in finance or economics (or even accounting, though it's more specialized.)

I may be jumping the gun here, because I haven't researched them, but the concept of an entrepreneurship major seems like a marketing gimmick to me. If you're going to pay all that money for an education, you might as well get a good snapshot of all the business disciplines- including economics, finance, marketing, accounting, etc. A good business program (be it a BBA program or a BS in whatever business concentration), can let you taste all of the areas of study and give you a general idea of how businesses are run.

The whole point of entrepreneurship being taught in a higher education institution is contrary to the entire principle of entrepreneurial drive. You either have the bug or you don't (be it from birth or acquired), and you use the tools (knowledge, etc) you get from education/experience etc to put it to use. If you want to be pumped up, get a good self-help book, but save your hard earned $$$ for classes that are actually going to teach you business disciplines.

Just my .02

**joshuaeric** · 12-30-2009 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by DerekS

Try to get a BBA or a BS in finance or economics (or even accounting, though it's more specialized.)

I may be jumping the gun here, because I haven't researched them, but the concept of an entrepreneurship major seems like a marketing gimmick to me. If you're going to pay all that money for an education, you might as well get a good snapshot of all the business disciplines- including economics, finance, marketing, accounting, etc. A good business program (be it a BBA program or a BS in whatever business concentration), can let you taste all of the areas of study and give you a general idea of how businesses are run.

The whole point of entrepreneurship being taught in a higher education institution is contrary to the entire principle of entrepreneurial drive. You either have the bug or you don't (be it from birth or acquired), and you use the tools (knowledge, etc) you get from education/experience etc to put it to use. If you want to be pumped up, get a good self-help book, but save your hard earned $$$ for classes that are actually going to teach you business disciplines.

Just my .02

I could not possibly disagree more with what was written here.

I minored in Entrepreneurship and the things I learned were directly applicable to both companies that I started and sold.

Business is not entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship is not business.

**DerekS** · 12-30-2009 03:44 PM

As I prefaced, I don't know much about what is offered in an entrepreneurship major/minor. What does the course of study include? What I learned as a business undergrad has proven useful in basically every aspect of my daily business tasks (minus the liberal arts stuff.) What I've acquired in the way of entrepreneurship has either come from within, or come from watching/helping others do. I can't see that stuff being taught in a classroom. But I'm also pretty stubborn, so I may be completely missing the point.

**GlobalWealth** · 12-30-2009 04:34 PM

I have met many entrepreneurship professors from several universities and none of them had any real entrepreneurship experience. To me that is a problem. I am sure there are exceptions, but I haven't met any. I wouldn't want a teacher who cannot teach from experience. Especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you were a history major, that is different. But entrepreneurship is not something you teach from textbook theory. Only experience.

If you can find a university that has experienced entrepreneurs as instructors, go for it. Otherwise, I would stick with economics or finance. And make sure you learn a foreign language or 2 while you are there.

**vmgbpo** · 12-31-2009 09:46 AM

Check out online degree programs. I’ve seen both entrepreneurship and ecommerce programs.

**Encrypted** · 12-31-2009 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by CoastalGirl

bachelors degree that I can get that is similar to entrepreneurship? Sorry I didn't know where to post my question.

We have an entrepreneurship program here at Temple University. You should look into it.

**Archer** · 12-31-2009 08:33 PM

My advice is to forget business or entrepreneurship, and commit to economics. It's obscure, and difficult, but if you can handle it (especially at the graduate level), then you're made. Moreover, economics has become more than just "the dry science": it is now a global humanitarian concern, and studying it will offer a more rigorous education than business school and open the door to a remarkably multi-faceted career.

**GlobalWealth** · 01-01-2010 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by Archer

My advice is to forget business or entrepreneurship, and commit to economics. It's obscure, and difficult, but if you can handle it (especially at the graduate level), then you're made. Moreover, economics has become more than just "the dry science": it is now a global humanitarian concern, and studying it will offer a more rigorous education than business school and open the door to a remarkably multi-faceted career.

I would agree that if you are going to get a BS, econ is a good option. At least economics professors are working in a field where they get experience with research unlike entrepreneurship professors that likely teach theory but don't run a business. Econ courses teach you critical thinking skills which is useful for any business career.