This minor is not just for those who want to “launch a startup”, but for students who want to learn how to be more entrepreneurial in all aspects of their lives.
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor prepares students for careers in many domains by fostering collaboration, prototyping, leadership, and creative thinking skills.
In order to fulfill the requirements for the I&E minor, you must take one required course: QST SI 250: Ideas2Impact → and four elective courses. Explore all the electives below.
Why should I pursue an Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor?
This minor will allow you to work on an idea or venture related to your major while developing skills necessary to succeed in the business world. Through experiential learning, you will take creative risks and lead ideation processes while learning how to transition an idea into a communicable concept that can gain support from others and create either social or economic impact.
Who is eligible to participate in this minor?
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor is available to all undergraduate students at BU and supported by Innovate@BU.
Is this a Questrom minor?
No, this is a minor available to all undergraduate students at BU.
What are the required courses for the minor?
The only required class is QST SI 250 (which will be cross-listed as SO 251 2020-2021).
This class is also approved for Hub units in Social Inquiry 1, The Individual in Community and Creativity/Innovation.
What are the available courses I can choose from to fulfill my electives for the minor?
Electives can be chosen from three different categories: Entrepreneurship, Creating Impact, and Innovator's Tool-Kit.
You can take 0, 1, 2 or 3 courses from each category (but one Entrepreneurship course is required).
Entrepreneurship courses cover topics such as developing and scaling new ventures.
Creating Impact courses cover topics such as social impact, sustainability, global development, and social justice.
Innovator's Tool-Kit courses cover topics such as field research, networks/organization, leadership, communication, digital tools, law, PR/advertising. There is a limit (0 or 1) to the number of COM classes that can be applied toward the Innovator's Tool-Kit category.
Do I have to take the elective courses outside of my home school?
The electives chosen do not have to be outside of the student's home school although it is our hope that the minor helps open up relevant classes in other schools to students across campus.
Can I count classes for the minor toward my major?
Students can "double count" up to two classes or 8 credits for both the minor and their major. At schools and colleges that have a concentration (such as ENG or Questrom) there are no restrictions against double-counting classes for a concentration and a minor.
Are Questrom students required to take a Questrom Entrepreneurship elective?
No, Questrom students do not have to take their Entrepreneurship elective from Questrom but may do so if they choose. Entrepreneurship classes are also offered by ENG, SHA and CAS.
Will petitions for course substitutions be allowed? Ex: Could a course offered through BU Study Abroad count toward the minor?
Yes, we will review petitions for course substitutions on a case by case basis and consider relevant courses from Study Abroad that might fit the criteria for the required Entrepreneurship class and the electives. It is unlikely that a Study Abroad class could replace the required class: QST SI 250: Ideas2Impact. Petitions for course substitutions should be submitted through the petition process at your home school or college and reviewed by the faculty curriculum director of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor.
I completed or intend to complete the Innovate@BU Co-curricular and/or Summer Accelerator program. Will these experiences fulfill the QST SI 250 core class requirement?
QST SI 250 is the required core for the minor and there are no substitutes.
If the course is in session, students should proceed to add the class using a drop/add form in advance of the add deadline.
Prior to the start of the semester: students should follow the guidelines of their respective school or college's advising office with respect to registering for a course.
If the class is completely full, please seek out a different elective to take that semester.There is an elective class I would like to take for the minor offered by another school but I cannot figure out how to register for it. What should I do?
The elective course I want to take lists a prerequisite course. Do I need to take those as well?
The classes listed for the minor have agreed to permit students declaring the I&E minor to enroll without the listed prerequisites. However, please keep in mind that any prerequisites listed are designed to provide adequate preparation for the class. It is the responsibility of the student to identify electives that both meet the I&E minor requirements and fit with their abilities.
Where do I go if I still have questions?
Please check in with your home school advising office.