Entrepreneurship and Innovative Ventures Master of Science Degree
Earning your masters in entrepreneurship and innovative ventures means learning to lead the way in introducing unique solutions to global problems.
Overview for Entrepreneurship and Innovative Ventures MS
This program is no longer accepting new student applications.
Students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation are encouraged to consider the new technology innovation management and entrepreneurship MS program.
RIT’s well renowned resources in business, science, technology, engineering, and the arts make it the center of innovation. You are encouraged to take advantage of these resources, including the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as you learn to bring new ideas to the marketplace. You will graduate with the business and technical expertise needed to thrive in both large incumbent firms as well as new start-up ventures.
The MS degree in entrepreneurship and innovative ventures focuses on the entrepreneurial and innovation process, by which inventions or creative new ideas are brought to market. Graduates achieve a unique combination of technical and business expertise that is especially relevant to start-up ventures or professionals supporting small business start-ups.
Plan of Study
The program requires students to complete 30 credit hours consisting of six required core courses designed to increase a student’s knowledge of accounting, organizational behavior and leadership, technology management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and product commercialization; two innovation courses that increase student's knowledge of managing the innovation process; and two elective courses that provide students with additional background in areas of interest.
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Entrepreneurship and Innovative Ventures MS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Entrepreneurship and Innovative Ventures, MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| FINC-605 | Financing New Ventures A focus on financial issues affecting an entrepreneur. The course emphasizes, identifies, and follows the wealth creation cycle. The wealth creation cycle begins with an idea for a good, product or service, progresses to an initial company startup, passes through successive stages of growth, considers alternative approaches to resource financing, and ends with harvesting the wealth created through an initial public offering, merger or sale. Identification and valuation of business opportunities, how and from whom entrepreneurs raise funds, how financial contracts are structured to both manage risk and align incentives, and alternative approaches by which entrepreneurs identify exit strategies are reviewed. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MGMT-720 | Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation This course studies the process of creating new ventures with an emphasis on understanding the role of the entrepreneur in identifying opportunities, seeking capital and other resources, and managing the formation and growth of a new venture. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| MGMT-730 | Technology Entrepreneurship This course addresses the unique challenges for the entrepreneur in management of value capture through innovation, and the importance of technology-based innovation for the establishment and growth of the new venture in global products and services industries. The course integrates four major themes: (1) Appropriability and Entrepreneurial Innovation (2) the relationships between innovation, value creation, and value capture amongst customers, stakeholders, and the marketplace, (3) the role of technology in creating global competitive advance in both product-based and services-based industries, and (4) developing and monitoring the operational framework for the delivery of new value in products and services. (Prerequisites: MGMT-720 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| MGMT-755 | Negotiations This course is designed to teach the art and science of negotiation so that one can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings, within one's day-to-day experiences and, especially, within the broad spectrum of negotiation problems faced by managers and other professionals. Individual class sessions will explore the many ways that people think about and practice negotiation skills and strategies in a variety of contexts. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MGMT-765 | Applied Venture Creation This graduate course enables students to learn the entrepreneurial (value creation) process by advancing a business idea. The course provides weekly seminars focusing on customer discovery and business model development and weekly coaching mentoring sessions with an established entrepreneur/early stage marketer. The project is team based. Students may enter the course with a business concept or be integrated into an existing team in the course. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
Open Graduate Electives |
9 | |
Program Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Program electives
| Course | |
|---|---|
| DECS-744 | Project Management A study in the principles of project management and the application of various tools and techniques for project planning and control. This course focuses on the leadership role of the project manager, and the roles and responsibilities of the team members. Considerable emphasis is placed on statements of work and work breakdown structures. The course uses a combination of lecture/discussion, group exercises, and case studies. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
| MGMT-610 | Global Entrepreneurship Global entrepreneurs need to utilize both domestic and overseas resources, explore transnational opportunities, and leverage worldwide networks at early stages of the development. This course is designed to address the unique challenges of this global challenge, as well as the richer opportunities faced by the “born globals.” Students will learn how to discover, evaluate, and enact opportunities across national borders in order to create goods and services that serve various company goals. Students will also be informed of the competitive strategies normally adopted by international entrepreneurs in other major economies such as EU, China, and India. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
| MGMT-735 | Management of Innovation in Products and Services This course addresses the management of innovation, sustainable technology, and the importance of technology-based innovation for the growth of the global products and services industries. The course integrates three major themes: (1) leading-edge concepts in innovation, (2) the role of technology in creating global competitive advance in both product-based and services-based industries, and (3) the responsibility of businesses related to sustainability. The importance of digital technology as an enabler of innovative services is covered throughout the course. (completion of four graduate business courses) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
| MKTG-772 | Internet Marketing: Strategy & Tactics This course examines the impact that the internet has on traditional and contemporary business-to-consumer marketing activities. It explores these implications in both strategic and tactical terms to enhance organizations' levels of competitiveness. The course identifies the use of the internet in enhancing value for consumers and considers the leverage of the latest technologies, trends, e-culture and innovation through the medium of the internet. (Prerequisites: MKTG-761 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
| MKTG-778 | Commercialization and Marketing of New Products This course emphasizes the marketing and product strategy-related activities required to create, develop, and launch successful new products. Topics covered include identifying the market opportunity for new products, defining the product strategy, understanding customer requirements, developing and updating the product business plan, marketing's role in the firm's product development process, developing the marketing plan for launching new products, and managing the product life cycle. The course emphasizes best practices in marketing-related activities required for successful new product commercialization. (Prerequisites: MKTG-761 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
