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Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise BSBA

Learn by Doing....and Innovating

In the University of Central Missouri's Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise (ESE) program, you will discover ways to develop innovative solutions and turn them into tangible actions.  This program is designed to with future business founders in mind – just like you! 

Inside and outside of the classroom, you will be encouraged to follow your passion and to turn it into a viable business model while balancing it with concerns for people and the planet.  When you graduate, you will have the skills and network you need to launch a new business, return home to assist in a family business, or take on business development roles at a growth-oriented company.  At its core, our entrepreneurial approach will help you learn to be an agile thinker who can generate and capture opportunities to make a difference in the world.

 

In the Classroom

In the ESE program, you will learn the process and acquire the skills to be able to launch and grow a sustainable business.  You will learn how to:

  • Research an innovative business idea.
  • Determine your business model’s feasibility.
  • Test-market your product/service to ensure success.
  • Write a business plan with solid research to support it.
  • Get access to funding and a network of support.
  • Launch your start-up sustainably.
  • Grow your business to new heights.

Outside of the classroom

 At UCM, we value an engaging learning experience that includes experiences beyond the classroom.  As an ESE major, you can get involved in a number of different ways:

  • Internships
  • Community Engagement
  • Big Idea CEO Program
  • Student Organizations

Business Internships

 Internships are great opportunities to expand your experience, resume and network. The BSBA in Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise can include an internship within your program of study without delaying your progress towards graduation. Internships provide a chance to earn college credit and money at the same time. You receive valuable work experience and can apply what you’ve learned in class. Internships allow you to explore possible career fields to learn what you might like to do after you graduate. Many interns receive permanent job offers from the firms with which they intern. The hands-on experience you get from an internship makes you highly competitive when you enter the job market because as many as 70 percent of employers now require new employees to have had an internship.

Harmon College Internship Office

 

Core ESE Major Courses

 All of the major courses for the ESE major leverage “experiential learning”, which means you’ll spend more time doing hands-on work and experimentation and less time listening to lectures.

The Integrative Business Experience (IBE)

This unique set of courses combines 3 academic courses from Management, Finance and Marketing and applies that content to an Entrepreneurship Practicum.  As part of a newly-formed company, you’ll identify a 1-semester business opportunity, research the details, write a preliminary business plan, pitch your business to a loan officer, get a real bank loan (up to $5K), and launch your business.  You’ll also design a community service project and donate the profits you make with a local non-profit.  Integrative Business Experience

Entrepreneurial Business Planning

Using the streamlined Business Model Generation process, you will explore the creation of an innovative business and conduct research to determine its operational and financial feasibility.  Using practical tools and techniques, you will develop a design, test your assumptions, develop a strategy for launch, and prepare pro forma financial projections.  The class culminates with a business pitch competition with real entrepreneurs, bankers, and potential investors.

Social Enterprise for Entrepreneurs

As part of a team of students, you will apply entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a sustainable venture that makes social impact.  You will learn to work and make change in a variety of sectors (private, not-for-profit, and government) by creating a new social enterprise or by working with an existing student company.

Small Business Operations Analysis

Many small businesses have a disconnect between the business plan and the management of day to day operations. This course is will provide you with the necessary practice of using software to: set up your accounting system; record transactions with customers, vendors and employees; understand and analyze small business financial reports; and, develop decision processes for future operations.

Commercialization

Designed to prepare you to design, prototype and commercialize an innovative product or service.  You will examine the commercialization process including: research, prototype development, commercialization paths, early stage marketing, intellectual property, and licensing.  This course helps you to successfully launch your business – and generate revenues – by the end of the semester.

Entrepreneurial or Social Venture Start-up

This optional course provides you with additional support to grow your existing business.  You’ll understand the complex dynamics of startup, best practices in organizational growth, and apply them immediately to create real-time value for you and your stakeholders.

 

Our students and graduates launch businesses

Since its inception, the ESE program has supported the launch and growth of many successful enterprises.  These UCM alumni have taken their entrepreneurial ventures to the next level!

 

UCM Big Idea Program

At UCM, we believe that entrepreneurial ventures can blossom in the most unexpected of places across our community.  With that in mind, the UCM Big Idea Program was born to connect UCM students with the people, resources and experiences necessary for success.  The program has four components which support the entrepreneurial eco-system on campus.

  • UCM Big Idea CEOs is a member of the global Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
  • UCM Big Idea Conference. This twice-a-year mentoring conference matching pairs of entrepreneurs with teams of students.
  • UCM Big Idea Speaker Series. UCM Big Idea Speaker Series brings successful entrepreneurs to campus 3 times each semester to share their stories and give advice.
  • UCM Big Idea Business Pitch Competition is our annual springtime event which provides students an opportunity to pitch their business plans to expert panels and the chance to win cash awards.

The UCM Big Idea Program plays host to a number of events where you can meet and learn from entrepreneurs and other business professionals.

 

 

Student Organizations for ESE majors

 

There are so many reasons to participate in student organizations:

  • Apply knowledge outside the classroom.
  • Solve real-world problems.
  • Compete regionally, nationally and internationally.
  • Expand your network and develop professionally.
  • Build your resume.
  • Win awards and prize money.

Big Idea CEO's

Big Idea CEO's is a member of the global Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization. 

ENACTUS

ENACTUS competes regionally and nationally with projects in economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business ethics.

Collegiate DECA

Collegiate DECA provides competitive events in management, marketing, entrepreneurship, hospitality, accounting, and finance. Our chapter has earned more than 250 awards for individual and team performance at state and international competitions in the last decade. 

National Society of Leadership and Success

National Society of Leadership and Success students may minor in Leadership Studies and, through a cooperative effort with NSLS National, earn up to three Leadership Certificates. Our chapter of NSLS also offers a Service Leader Award.

Delta Sigma Pi

Delta Sigma Pi our co-educational business fraternity develops members in professional skills, leadership, ethics, and service.

Community Resoures

The ESE program has partnered with the local community to provide additional support for you to launch your business and access the resources you need to be successful:

  • Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce
  • Main Street Warrensburg 

 

 

AACSB

ESE Program Coordinator

Dan Jensen
Associate Professor of ESE & Management
Dockery 400G

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