The graduate/professional certificate in entrepreneurship seeks to provide entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to students who desire to launch a new organization, work more effectively in startup situations, or explore and better understand the factors that affect company formation and performance. The certificate is available to all UW–Madison graduate degree-seeking students (excluding University Special students).    

A student who has completed this certificate will have good foundational skills in recognizing promising opportunities and building a new organization or venture to create social/economic value.

Interested students should see the Certificate in Entrepreneurship website for specific information regarding declaring or withdrawing, or upon completion of the certificate. The Management and Human Resources Department will have the certificate noted on students’ official university transcripts by the Office of the Registrar.

Before beginning any coursework, we suggest you consult with your faculty advisor (or, where appropriate, graduate program coordinator).

Note: The application for declaring your certificate must be completed prior to graduation. Your application automatically serves as a declaration of your intent to pursue the certificate. This declaration will become part of your academic record.

All Graduate School students must utilize the Graduate Student Portal in MyUW to add, change, or discontinue any certificate. To apply to this certificate please log in to MyUW, click on Graduate Student Portal, and then click on Add/Change Programs. The certificate coordinator will review your application for admittance, and reach out to you if there are any further questions.

See the program website linked within the Contact Information for details.

The 12-credit program draws upon entrepreneurship courses in the School of Business, but students may select approved, elective courses from a variety of schools and colleges across the university that address the ability to launch and lead new ventures. Approved courses develop and deepen students’ capacity to: assess opportunities, analyze the structure of markets, develop new products, perform financial analysis, understand the consequences of entity types, use intellectual property strategically in dynamic markets, form effective teams, and formulate strategies for organizational growth. Other courses help students better understand the role of entrepreneurial activity in economic growth and the achievement of societal goals.

Required Foundation Course
M H R 722 Entrepreneurial Management3
Advanced Entrepreneurship Course 3-9
Entrepreneurial Finance
Strategic Management of Innovation
Venture Creation
Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE)
Technology Entrepreneurship
Elective Coursework0-6
School of Business
Accounting Principles
Financial Accounting
Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors
Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors
Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship in Arts & Cultural Organizations
Managing Behavior in Organizations
Human Resource Management
Business Strategy
Emerging Entrepreneurship Theory and Research
Marketing Management
Marketing Management
New Product Innovation
Marketing in a Digital Age
Sustainability, Environmental and Social Risk Management
Law School
Patent Law
Copyright Law
Introduction to Intellectual Property Law
Business Organizations I
Clinical Program (Law & Entrepreneurship)
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Technology
Applied Risk Analysis
Brand Strategy for the Sciences
Risk Communication
Public Opinion of Life Science Issues
College of Engineering
Fostering and Leading Innovation
Product Design
College of Letters & Sciences
Research and Assessment for Information Professionals
Strategic Information Services
School of Human Ecology
Entrepreneurialism and Society
  1. Students will understand the different career paths in entrepreneurship.
  2. Students will understand what makes an effective founding team for a new venture.
  3. Students will understand critical legal issues in the management of an entrepreneurial firm.
  4. Students will be able to write the central components of business plans including being able to apply critical financial and management accounting issues specific to the growing venture.
  5. Students will understand key opportunities for minimizing risk and maximizing reward in new ventures.