Entrepreneurship and Innovation BA

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Minimum Required Credits: 122.0
Co-op Option: Three Co-op, Two Co-op, One Co-op, No Co-op
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 52.0701
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-1021

About the Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship and Innovation develops both the entrepreneurial mindset and the technical and business skills required to transform ideas into real-world solutions. Students learn to think and act innovatively, demonstrating creativity, initiative, adaptability, and ethical awareness while mastering the tools of venture creation, innovation management, and entrepreneurial practice. Graduates cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset grounded in curiosity, initiative, and integrity, supported by the analytical, financial, and technological skills essential for innovation. They learn to identify opportunities, design solutions, and create impact in entrepreneurial and organizational settings. Emphasis on adaptability, resilience, and self-sufficiency prepares them to navigate uncertainty and contribute responsibly in a rapidly changing world.

Entrepreneurship students engage in applied, interdisciplinary learning through collaboration, simulations, and venture development projects. Through these experiences, graduates build digital fluency, communicate with influence, and collaborate inclusively to advance ideas. The program encourages students to experiment, take risks, and apply what they learn to real challenges and opportunities. Signature experiences include participation in the Close School’s annual Startup Fest event, off-site experiential courses in venture capital, interactive social entrepreneurship and impact innovation projects, and the Entrepreneurship Co-op, where students work on their own new ventures for six months. Students also gain access to the Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship, Drexel's startup lab, where students from across the university work to translate ideas and innovations into real businesses.

Graduates are prepared to pursue entrepreneurial careers or leadership roles in new ventures or established organizations that value innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. They bring curiosity, initiative, resilience, ethical judgment, and creative problem-solving to every endeavor. The program also provides a strong foundation for graduate or professional study that builds upon these components of the entrepreneurial mindset.

The Close School’s experiential approach, rooted in Drexel’s cooperative education tradition, integrates real-world entrepreneurial practice with rigorous academic learning. Interdisciplinary coursework from across the university exposes students to the full innovation ecosystem and further supports their development as entrepreneurial thinkers and doers.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please contact the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship  

Admission Requirements

Same as Drexel admission requirements

Degree Requirements

¹

A complete list of eligible Introductory Core Competency courses can be found here.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Core Business Knowledge: Apply core business and quantitative concepts to analyze organizational challenges and make data-informed decisions.
• Business Problem Solving: Evaluate business problems and alternatives using relevant information and technology to justify actionable solutions and strategies.
• Communication and Collaboration: Communicate and collaborate effectively using digital tools across written, verbal, and visual formats.
• Professionalism and Career Readiness: Demonstrate professional behaviors and career-readiness competencies required for effective participation in workplace environments.