Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship involves disruptive thinking and action. Entrepreneurial thinking and methods are relevant not only to the creation of new ventures, but also to helping grow or fundamentally change existing companies. Corporate innovators or intra-preneurs work with the same skillset as traditional entrepreneurs who start new ventures.
Am I the right fit for this option?
This is a very applied and experiential program, building on solid conceptual foundations. Topics of study include the economic drivers of innovation and new ventures, financial models, creative thinking, and problem solving. In New Venture Design, the capstone course, students from the UBC Sauder School of Business, Applied Science and other faculties work in interdisciplinary teams to design a venture, build a prototype and develop the business model required to raise funding and possibly launch the venture.
To be successful in this option, you need to:
- have a curiosity about human nature, competition, and how things could be improved via disruptive approaches
- combine methodical ways of working with an ability to deal with ambiguity and messy, incomplete data
- be a team player with a strong work ethic and internal drive to excel
- learn from failure and experiments
COMM 280: Explore your future as an entrepreneur
COMM 280 is our introductory entrepreneurship course that you can take for elective credit in Year 2 or 3. It's a strongly recommended course for all Year 3 and Year 4 Entrepreneurship courses and offers an immersive experience of what it is like to be an entrepreneur or intrapreneur (aka corporate entrepreneur). You'll have an opportunity to explore your entrepreneurial potential by applying key concepts to new startup ventures.
Entrepreneurship option course requirements
| Year 3 | |
| COMM 382 | Economics of Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
| COMM 387 | Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity |
| Year 4 | |
| Nine credits from the following courses: | |
| APSC 383 | Prototyping |
| COMM 4661 | New Venture Design (highly recommended for Entrepreneurship option) |
| COMM 3832 | Innovation Leadership (not offered in 2024W) |
| COMM 386I7 | Innovation and Sustainability |
| COMM 386L7 | Impact Investing: Social Finance in the 21st Century |
| COMM 386M | Green Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Startups |
| COMM 3887 | Design Methods for Business Innovation |
| COMM 3893,7 | Creativity in Business |
| COMM 4704 | Venture Capital |
| COMM 4825,7 | New Product Development |
| COMM 4857 | Social Entrepreneurship |
| COMM 486J | Disruption |
| COMM 486O | Innovation Consulting (Biomedical) |
| COMM 4896 | Applied Methods in Technology Start-ups at CDL |
1 COMM 466 is a six-credit, by-application course. All six credits can be used toward Entrepreneurship option requirements or the credits can be split between Entrepreneurship and other degree requirements. Visit the COMM 466 course page for application instructions and a full list of the different combinations in which the six course credits can be used toward your degree requirements. Note that you can receive credit for only one of COMM 466 and COMM 497.2 COMM 383 may only be used to fulfill requirements toward either the Entrepreneurship or Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources option, but not both. If you've completed the course as COMM 386D, you are not permitted to take it again as COMM 383 (you cannot receive credit for the same course twice).3 COMM 389 may be used to fulfill requirements toward either the Entrepreneurship or Marketing option, but not both.4 COMM 470 may be used to fulfill requirements toward either the Entrepreneurship or Finance option, but not both. If you've completed the course as COMM 386G, you are not permitted to take it again as COMM 470 (you cannot receive credit for the same course twice).5 COMM 482 may be used to fulfill requirements toward either the Entrepreneurship or Marketing option, but not both.6 Starting in 2024W, COMM 486J is a required prerequisite to COMM 489.7 If you are completing a Minor in Entrepreneurship (BASC students), please register using the COMR course code. | |
If you are planning to take COMM 466 and take part in a study abroad program, it's recommended that you go on exchange in Year 3. COMM 466 is a two-term course that may not be taken until you have completed all requirements necessary to be promoted to Year 4.
Careers in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship involves disruptive thinking and action - crucial not only to those wanting to create new ventures, but also to growing or changing existing companies. If you’re inquisitive, resilient and comfortable with ambiguity, this might be the option for you.