Entrepreneurship major vs. General Business Management degree

[Anonymous]

or a focus in Marketing. We are planning on visiting St. Thomas University in Minnesota and Babson College this fall. DD is interested in Entrepreneurship which I feel is something one can pursue without a degree, a broader or more defined major say marketing or economics would make more sense. Input DCUM?

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, my ds is very interested in entrepreneurship and I am insisting he get a degree in something else and minor in entrepreneurship. He's even started multiple successful projects in high school. I just want him to learn more about the world before he dives in. He can get an MBA later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:or a focus in Marketing. We are planning on visiting St. Thomas University in Minnesota and Babson College this fall. DD is interested in Entrepreneurship which I feel is something one can pursue without a degree, a broader or more defined major say marketing or economics would make more sense. Input DCUM?

Babson is the 2nd best college in the country.

[Anonymous]

Babson is the new Harvard!

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand a degree in entrepreneurship. My DH has a PhD in engineering and has been involved in startups forever. I feel like you have to really know the product/service/technological landscape and the business follows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand a degree in entrepreneurship. My DH has a PhD in engineering and has been involved in startups forever. I feel like you have to really know the product/service/technological landscape and the business follows.

+1. Econ is a much more sound choice. same with engineering

[Anonymous]

Have any of you even looked at the curriculum of an entrepreneurship major ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, my ds is very interested in entrepreneurship and I am insisting he get a degree in something else and minor in entrepreneurship. He's even started multiple successful projects in high school. I just want him to learn more about the world before he dives in. He can get an MBA later.

Good advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you even looked at the curriculum of an entrepreneurship major ?

I'm picturing some kid with a bachelor's in Entrepreneurship going up to the Y Combinator guys for VC funding. Can you imagine? It's laughable.

If your kid can get into Babson, they can write their own check with a general business degree, OP.

You need capital to be an entrepreneur. Which means you need to be rich, know rich people, or be very good at getting rich people to pay with their money. That last strategy usually involves prestige, which a bachelor's in entrepreneurship doesn't carry.

[Anonymous]

Agree, a business economics major even better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, a business economics major even better.

+1. Econ majors from my slac have done VERY well. As a business owner that's what I'm looking for, do they know micro and macro? market movments? basics of the stock market? not some soft new-fangled descriptor that won't be there tomorrow (like the relative who got the "degree" at USC in "small business" and can't do anything but get his real estate license (a low threshold entry job)

[Anonymous]

Entrepreneurship major? Just have your dad's lawyers handle the technicalities of administering your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, a business economics major even better.

+1. Econ majors from my slac have done VERY well. As a business owner that's what I'm looking for, do they know micro and macro? market movments? basics of the stock market? not some soft new-fangled descriptor that won't be there tomorrow (like the relative who got the "degree" at USC in "small business" and can't do anything but get his real estate license (a low threshold entry job)

USC Marshall School of Business is top notch and produces great outcomes.

[Anonymous]

I'm probably the only one in this thread who actually knows what this is -- I have an MBA degree with an entrepreneurship emphasis, and started a successful business.

In general, a business degree is good for entrepreneurs. It helps round them out in areas they lack, and when you start your own company, you need to wear all hats to some extent. A business degree will have courses in financial accounting, corporate finance, and strategy -- all very useful for someone starting a business.

Then for the entrpreneurship side, there are courses (typically electives) like entrepreneurial financing, and growing a new business. The financing one will cover how to raise money, like the difference between equity and convertible debt, pre- and post-money valuations, and control clauses.. as well as how to sell your business later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm probably the only one in this thread who actually knows what this is -- I have an MBA degree with an entrepreneurship emphasis, and started a successful business.

In general, a business degree is good for entrepreneurs. It helps round them out in areas they lack, and when you start your own company, you need to wear all hats to some extent. A business degree will have courses in financial accounting, corporate finance, and strategy -- all very useful for someone starting a business.

Then for the entrpreneurship side, there are courses (typically electives) like entrepreneurial financing, and growing a new business. The financing one will cover how to raise money, like the difference between equity and convertible debt, pre- and post-money valuations, and control clauses.. as well as how to sell your business later.

+1. My DC just graduated from UCLA with a minor in entrepreneurship and had some really great classes that were all taught by actual, successful entrepreneurs. Even some of the smartest people don't know the difference between private equity vs. VC vs. Angel investments as well as the bolded above. DC also had a couple of great classes on AI and how it's changing the tech ecosystem overall, and also about ethics and AI. Obviously these types of classes can be offered from Finance/Accounting and CS programs, but these were more specifically designed as to how they pertain to the start up world. DH and I are both entrepreneurs and thought the classes were very relevant.

But I do agree with the PPs that taking it as a minor is sufficient. UCLA doesn't offer undergrad degrees in the Business school - only minors like this one.