Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor

Minor Director: Lauri Olivier, Ph.D., MBA
Office Location: Aldwyn One - Second Floor
Telephone: (610) 519-7373
Email: lauri.olivier@villanova.edu

About:

Villanova University’s unique Engineering Entrepreneurship minor was started with funds from the Kern Family Foundation, with an objective to equip university students with an entrepreneurial mindset to enable business success. The minor teaches the fundamentals of venture creation beginning with how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, IOT, Blockchain, and AR/VR can disrupt industries, building opportunity for company launch.

Open to students in all colleges and majors, the minor consists of 16 credits.

Topics in the minor include:

  • Creativity frameworks and ideation 
  • Design Thinking in Disruptive Innovation  
  • Market research and target market identification
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery 
  • Journey map, value proposition and persona development 
  • Intellectual property management 
  • Agile Prototyping 
  • Product development using Gantt charts and product development timelines 
  • Entrepreneurial accounting and finance
  • Venture pitch and venture funding
  • Targeted new product marketing and demand generation
  • Startup risk management 
  • Venture team development 

Entrepreneurial Activities:

Students work in intercollegiate teams under the guidance of faculty members and experienced entrepreneurs to develop marketable products and services. Many extracurricular opportunities exist for Engineering Entrepreneurship students.

Current and past Engineering Entrepreneurship students are eligible to apply to The Launchpad, a pre-seed venture fund that provides targeted funding and resources for company formation and launch into the Philadelphia entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Students also benefit from the Engineering Entrepreneurship Mentor Network, a student-run organization comprised of program alumni that provide mentor support for current student teams, conduct networking events, manage The Launchpad and serve as a touchpoint for graduates.

Additionally, our new internship networking program, Engineering Entrepreneurship Net|Works brings interested employers face to face with students studying Engineering Entrepreneurship. 

Lastly, Engineering Entrepreneurship students can apply for the opportunity to serve in The Ambassador Program, an initiative aiming to raise awareness of Engineering Entrepreneurship throughout the Villanova community.

Requirements:

The minor requires the successful completion of six courses (16 credits), four of which are required and two of which are elective courses. 

Elective Courses:

Electives are subject to change. Electives may be added to this list at the discretion of the College of Engineering. Please contact the Minor Director with any questions.

Choose two elective courses from the list below, or permission from Minor Director.  Students may also earn 3 elective credits for participation in the European Innovation Academy.

Select two courses from the list below: 

Course
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
47

Additional courses not on this list require prior approval from the Minor Director.

Total Credits:
57

 

Disclaimer:
The above program requirements are applicable to students entering Fall 2023 and beyond. Please consult the appropriate archived handbook available on the homepage for years prior to these requirements. In order that programs offered by Villanova University reflect current advances and additions to knowledge and upgraded professional requirements, Villanova University reserves the right to change programs and requirements without prior notice. Students generally are bound to the requirements in effect and published online for the year in which their class begins its first year of study. Special requirements may be in effect for students who have left the University and are being readmitted. Students are advised to check with the web catalog or with their college offices regarding changes that may affect them. Additional academic information may be obtained from the various college offices and the web sites listed for the particular policies, programs and services found in this catalog. 

Overview

Program

Type

Minor

Curriculum Guide

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