The rapid changes in our world today are generating many more opportunities for both entrepreneurs and family businesses to find or create their own space to grow their businesses. Whether your business is just getting started, going to the next level, or you’re preparing for succession to the next generation, this Graduate Certificate and Concentration within the MBA, MSL, and PP-OTD programs provide students with the opportunity to meet like-minded peers and learn from instructors with the practical experience and expertise. Students in this program certificate/concentration will learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, turn one’s dreams into reality, take the business to the next level, and build a sustainable enterprise. Students will also learn the many facets of running a business including the importance of governance and establishing boundaries, balancing the needs of partners/family and the business, and managing wealth and dynamics that can make or break the business. Emphasis will be placed on students making personal applications using key concepts from the four courses by developing a personal business plan they could use in their entrepreneurial or family businesses.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to
- evaluate the steps to start, innovate, and grow a business.
- analyze the strategies involved in running a successful business.
- articulate leadership skills and practices to optimize business performance.
- critique governance structures and succession planning as a vital component of a business model.
- develop a business plan on a new entrepreneurial business idea or possible innovation.
Admission Criteria:
To be eligible to apply to graduate certificate programs, you must:
- have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (waivers can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
How to apply:
- Complete the application via the online portal
- Submit a $25 nonrefundable application fee. (Waived for Elizabethtown College graduates).
- Upload your current resume.
- Request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
- Upload a 1-2 page essay addressing your:
- motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate
- statement of professional goals
- goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life
Those students who successfully complete a graduate certificate and wish to pursue a full master’s degree program will benefit from an abbreviated admission process (see below). Degree-seeking students must meet all of the established criteria for admission into their desired master’s degree program.
Advance to Stacked Graduate Certificate/Degree
After successfully completing their primary graduate certificate, students may complete the Advance in Graduate Certificate or Degree form in the JayWeb student portal to apply to a future graduate certificate or graduate degree. Additional materials may be required, depending on the program of interest.
