Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor

Program
Degree Type
Minor

Minor Director: Lauri Olivier, Ph.D., MBA
Office Location: 250H Drosdick Hall
Telephone: (610) 519-7373
Email: lauri.olivier@villanova.edu

About:

Villanova University offers a unique interdisciplinary 16-credit Engineering Entrepreneurship minor that aims to provide students across all majors and colleges with an entrepreneurial mindset and the skills needed for business venture success. The experiential minor is structured so that students work in teams to develop innovative products or services while learning educational content. 

Open to students from all colleges, the mission of our undergraduate program in Engineering Entrepreneurship is to cultivate a diverse community of forward-thinking individuals ready to drive transformative change. We are committed to: 

  1. Inspiring Creativity: Encouraging imaginative thinking and exploration in all learning experiences. 
  1. Encouraging Collaboration: Promoting interdisciplinary teamwork to solve complex challenges. 
  1. Innovating through Design: Applying design principles to develop effective solutions that address societal needs. 
  1. Fostering Leadership: Empowering students to become ethical leaders who inspire others and drive positive change. 
  1. Engaging with Industry: Building partnerships with industry leaders for real-world experiences and mentorship. 

Requirements: 

The academic year minor requires the successful completion of six courses (16 credits), five of which are required from within the Engineering Entrepreneurship program and one of which is an elective course. Three of the Engineering Entrepreneurship courses in the curriculum teach Innovation Fundamentals, while the two remaining required courses are specific to the chosen track, either Technology Ventures or Social Impact Entrepreneurship. 

Students may alternatively opt not to complete the entire minor but rather only complete courses or sections relevant to their future career interests. 

Innovation Fundamentals Required Courses:

Course
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
7

Technology Ventures Track Courses:

Course
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
6

Social Impact Track Courses:

EGEN 2500 is a required course for the Social Impact Entrepreneurship track. Students then have a choice with regards to the second required course, either: EGR 2002 or SUSE 2111. 

Course
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
9

Elective Course Options:

COE Students choose one elective from the course list below. (ME students are required to complete both ME 5005 and ME 5006). 

 

In addition to the Elective Course Options listed below, ECE 4975 - Design Capstone II, is an option for Electrical and Computer Engineering students.

Course
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
46

Graduate Level Courses:

CourseTitleCredits
ME 7150Sustainable Energy

Additional courses not on this list may be acceptable but require prior approval from the Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship program. Electives are subject to change and may be added to or removed from this list at the discretion of the College of Engineering. 

Electives for VSB and CLAS participants are approved through conversation with the Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship program. Students may also earn 3 elective credits for participation in the European Innovation Academy. 

Academic Framework and Program Timeline: 

Generally, a student declares the Engineering minor the spring of their first-year or fall of their second year. A student may choose to limit their involvement in the program and only complete individual courses. 

Track 1: Focus on a career in Technology Ventures. The recommended path of study to complete the track is as follows: 

 

Sophomore Year 

Junior Year 

Senior Year 

Fall: EGEN 2100 Engineering a Creative Mindset 

Fall: EGEN 3100 Venture 1: Customer Discovery for Product Development 

Fall: EGEN 2400 Legal Essentials of Technology Ventures 

Spring: EGEN 2200 Emerging Technologies in Product Innovation 

Spring: EGEN 4100 Venture 2: Business Model Development 

Fall or Spring: Program Elective 

 

 

Track 2: Focus on a career in Social Impact. The recommended path of study to complete the track is as follows: 

 

Sophomore Year 

Junior Year 

Senior Year 

Fall: EGEN 2100 Engineering a Creative Mindset 

Fall: EGEN 3100 Venture 1: 

Customer Discovery for Product Development 

Fall EGEN 2500 Social Impact Entrepreneurship

Spring:  Humanitarian Engineering EGR 2002 or Sustainable Engineering SUSE 2111

Spring: EGEN 4100 Venture 2: Business Model Development 

Fall or Spring: Program Elective