You have the inspiration. Our entrepreneurship certificate provides the preparation.
Portland is one of the nation’s best cities for entrepreneurs—and Portland State University ranks among the best places to earn an undergraduate entrepreneurship certificate.
Offered by our nationally ranked School of Business, PSU’s entrepreneurship certificate equips you with the practical know-how to turn bright ideas into profitable enterprises. You’ll acquire a step-by-step education on how entrepreneurs bring businesses to life, from planning to launching to scaling. You’ll also develop leadership and organizational skills that will serve you throughout your career.
You can earn the entrepreneurship certificate as a complement to an undergraduate business degree at PSU. This four-course program equips you with more than business expertise. You’ll also get encouragement, build self-confidence, and make connections in one of America’s most entrepreneurial communities.
- Expert input. We have strong relationships with some of Portland’s most successful entrepreneurs, including many who graduated from PSU. You’ll get to interact with and learn from peers who were in your shoes not long ago—and made the leap into entrepreneurship.
- Risk-taking spirit. PSU has made U.S. News & World Report’s “Most Innovative Universities” list every year since 2015. We support creative ideas and embrace new theories at every level, and we even have a dedicated Center for Entrepreneurship that supports initiatives generated by students, faculty, and community members. If there’s such a thing as an “entrepreneur gene,” we’ve got it.
- Nuts-and-bolts knowledge. Contrary to the popular myth, it takes more than guts and vision to succeed as an entrepreneur. It also requires tangible skill and attention to detail. The entrepreneurship certificate provides instruction on how to write business plans, attract investment, acquire permits, allocate resources, craft sales messages, and countless other behind-the-scenes tasks.
- Inclusivity and responsibility. At PSU, entrepreneurship is for everyone—regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. As an urban campus with the most diverse student body in Oregon, we welcome all of our business students into our entrepreneurship program. And we show you how to do business in a manner that respects all cultures, sustains the environment, and supports your community.
Entrepreneurship Certificate Highlights
- Four straight years on U.S. News & World Report’s “Most Innovative Universities” list
- One of fewer than 50 campuses worldwide to earn Changemaker designation from Ashoka U
- Campus-wide Entrepreneurship Alliance lets aspiring student entrepreneurs network, pool resources, share ideas, and explore entrepreneurial ecosystems on campus and in Portland
- Support from on-campus Center for Entrepreneurship with mentoring, non-credit programming, and events
- Deep connections in the Portland business community
You don’t have to launch a business to benefit from the entrepreneurship certificate. The program nurtures leadership ability and organizational skills that have value in all kinds of settings. You can use the entrepreneurship certificate as a portal to career pathways such as:
- Business management
- Business development
- Finance in private equity or venture funds
- International development
- Independent consulting
- Social entrepreneurship
- Nonprofit leadership
- Government administration
The entrepreneurship certificate consists of three required courses and an elective. Depending on your major, the entrepreneurship courses may also count toward the fulfillment of your degree. The required courses cover entrepreneurship fundamentals, selling, and finance/accounting. Undergraduate certificate programs are an additional sequence of coursework designed to further customize your business degree based on your interests or career goals. Our certificate programs are led by faculty who specialize in the certificate industry area, offering you additional access to resources and connections to industry. To learn more about adding a certificate to your degree, contact your academic advisor or the certificate program director.
CURRICULUM
Download the Entrepreneurship Certificate Sequence Sheet (PDF).
ACCREDITATION& RANKINGS
Portland State University is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
One of less than 200 business schools worldwide — top 1% — to be accredited in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is the elite business school accreditation known internationally.
Ashoka Changemaker Campus Designation