Marketing
Prepare for marketing leadership jobs with a Marketing major from the Barney School of Business. Concentrations allow you to specialize your skills and tailor them to your career goals.
Overview
Today’s digital economy is opening up exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs. Through this program, students experience hands-on learning to gain real-world insights. You'll dive into real business situations, work with others from different fields, and gain the skills you need to thrive in today’s fast-paced world.
Take the next step
About the Major
This major exposes students to both the art and the science of entrepreneurship so that they can embrace creativity and develop differentiated skills that equip them to navigate complex business challenges and innovate in diverse environments post graduation. The interdisciplinary curriculum facilitates hands-on involvement with firm operations. Students will weave together concepts from cognition, psychology, strategy, organizational theory, supply chain logistics, law, micro-economics, and accounting to set them up for success in the real-world.
The core skills that we teach draw a line through the following concepts:
- Market Understanding: Learn how to define abstract markets.
- Strategic Thinking: Develop skills to plan and position a business for future success.
- Problem-Solving: Gain practical knowledge of operational business challenges.
- Financial Insight: Understand the financial impact of business decisions.
You can also apply entrepreneurial skills learned in the classroom through student-led organizations, such as the Innovators Group (IG), a student-club that leverages the power of collaboration and strategic alliances. The Barney Business Plan Competition is a cross-campus collaboration where students of all majors can present their impressive ideas.
About the Minor
Entrepreneurship as a minor provides an interdisciplinary skill set that pairs well with many other majors in and outside of the Barney School of Business including but not limited to: liberal arts, engineering, technology, architecture, health sciences, performing and visual arts. Students who minor in Entrepreneurial Studies are also able to apply concepts learned to economics, project management, supply chain logistics, account, and marketing amongst other courses of study.
Visit our course catalog for specific requirements for Barney students and non-Barney students.
Career Outlook
The majority of new job openings in the United States today are in small businesses, and most successful business leaders have strong entrepreneurial skills. But you won’t be limited to starting your own business. An Entrepreneurial Studies major will also prepare you for careers as managers, consultants, advisors, and many others.
Ice Cream Entrepreneurship: One Alum’s Story
Frank Finelli ’15,
As a kid, Frank Finelli ’15 was always in the kitchen making different ice cream concoctions, from a Cool Ranch Dorito-flavored ice cream to a “doughwich,” best described as ice cream sandwiched between edible cookie dough. Thankfully, the Cool Ranch experiment didn’t last, but his ice cream sandwich did. And what was once being requested for family parties is now being sold in retail locations across the country. Read more.
"Making people happy puts a smile on my face. I don’t call this a job because I don’t consider it work. This is my passion and what I love to do.”
Degree Requirements
The Entrepreneurial Studies program combines core classes across disciplines, electives, and internship opportunities to achieve a well-rounded academic experience. Entrepreneurial Studies majors will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies, making them prime candidates to tackle ongoing challenges and drive innovation within any business context.
For course descriptions and complete list of requirements, visit our course catalog.
MGT 282 - Small Business Practicum: Experiencing 1-on-1 live-client interactions as part of a firm diagnostic exercise with a real local business as facility by our partnership with Upper Albany; and to mimic the consultancy experience, the course pays you $20.00 per hour for a 5-hour work week.
ENT 314 - Principles of Entrepreneurship: Developing one’s own commercialization strategy alongside its financial rendering to then engage the alumni in an in-person presentation
ENT 414 - Seminar in Entrepreneurship: Understanding group dynamics and operational decision-making in two environments: (1) engage a live-client as a consulting team to scope a project, diagnose the firm, and offer strategic recommendations, and (2) engage business operations and strategic decisions while running a simulated business unit.
FIN 484 - Financing a Small Business: Develop acumen with financial tools to assess the value of a business and to better evaluation strategic options.
Alison Ho '24, Entrepreneurial Studies MajorCreate valuable relationships with those around you, it is a small campus and small world. Also, go outside your comfort zone! You’ll discover quicker what you enjoy or don’t enjoy, and what is most important to you when crafting your career options.
Admissions
Applications to University of Hartford and the Barney School of Business are accepted using the Common Application or the University of Hartford application. We look forward to welcoming you to Barney!
Take the Next Step
Similar Programs
Management
Prepare for a career as a business leader with a Management major from the Barney School of Business. Develop your management skills with specialized classes and hands-on experiences.
Sports Management
Are you passionate about sports? The Barney School will equip you with the skills you need to make a positive impact on the sports industry. Our sports management program prepares graduates for a career in sports marketing, athletic administration, sales, event operations, facility management, community relations, social media and more.