Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Entrepreneurship
The Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Entrepreneurship Program is a certificate program that provides the necessary entrepreneurship skillset for entrepreneurial-minded healthcare providers and biomedical scientists to become biomedical entrepreneurs. This is achieved by offering additional education and training with a real-world application. The average time to complete the program is two semesters.
Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Application Information
The application deadline for Spring 2023 matriculation is November 15, 2022.
Application Requirements
- Provide the name of the college/university from which you earned a bachelor’s degree (official transcripts will be required from all institutions you attended).
- Complete the following essay questions.
- What is your goal in attaining a certificate in entrepreneurship?
- How do you define entrepreneurship?
- Describe an experience in which you worked in a team setting to solve a problem.
- Provide any additional information you would like the admission committee to consider while reviewing your application.
- Upload a 1 to 2 minute video pitch (MP4, MOV, WMV, or AVI format) describing yourself and your interest in entrepreneurship.
- Provide a $50 application fee.
Curriculum
The certificate program curriculum will consist of 2 semesters of 6 credit hours each or one semester of 6 credit hours and 2 semesters of 3 credit hours each for a total of 12 credit hours. The sequential course design can be started in either the Fall or Spring semesters and offered online.
Fall Enrollment
Fall Semester
- BMSC 101 – Fundamentals in Entrepreneurship: 3 Credit Hours
- BMSC 201 – Venture Development: 3 Credit Hours
Spring Semester
- BMSC 301 – Biomedical Entrepreneurship: 3 Credit Hours
- BMSC 401 – Entrepreneurship Capstone Project: 3 Credit Hours
Total Fall and Spring Semester: 12 Credit Hours
Spring Enrollment
Spring Semester
- BMSC 101 – Fundamentals in Entrepreneurship: 3 Credit Hours
- BMSC 201 – Venture Development: 3 Credit Hours
Summer Semester
- BMSC 301 – Biomedical Entrepreneurship: 3 Credit Hours
Fall Semester
- BMSC 401 – Entrepreneurship Capstone Project: 3 Credit Hours
Total Spring, Summer and Fall Semester: 12 Credit Hours
Program Requirements
BMSC 101: Fundamentals in Entrepreneurship
This course is designed to introduce students to the foundational concepts of entrepreneurship, including the entrepreneurial mindset, the difference between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial management, and the impact of value creation on our economy. Students will explore their ideas and apply methods and skills that can increase their chances of success.
By the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Generate entrepreneurial ideas with an entrepreneurial mindset (entrepreneurial mindset, motivation, behavior, etc.).
- Identify opportunities by finding unmet needs based on industry/market environments, social/eco-nomic change, and competition).
- Understand tools and prototype methods to help you gather insights on customer needs for your idea.
BMSC 201: Venture Development
What is a business model? What do customers want? How do I manufacture or deliver services? To which customers should I sell? How do I choose my team or partners? In this course, students will develop a plan to fund and grow their business. Students will take their business idea concept and develop a business model, value proposition, team strategy, market strategy, and financial strategy. Students will apply business legal concepts for starting a business, including legal structure, intellectual property, then make decisions on how to structure and fund their business. Students will explore the early-stage investment landscape and evaluate how investors and lenders evaluate new ventures.
By the completion of this course, students will:
- Know how to assess an opportunity and create value with innovative business models for an idea that customers value.
- Identify the steps needed to develop a new venture and how to build the right team.
- Apply skills to communicate a new business venture with a logical business model that reflects an understanding of early-stage ventures’ funding landscape.
BMSC 301: Biomedical Entrepreneurship
Why do existing technology companies struggle to innovate? How and why should organizations develop internal ventures versus corporate VC, partnerships, or M&A? How and when should an opportunity be internally developed, and when should it be pursued externally? In this course, students will apply entrepreneurial concepts and methods for innovating in new and existing organizations. Students will examine successful practices of entrepreneurship then develop their toolset and strategy. Students will assess why organizations struggle to innovate then will be challenged to consider how new and established companies can be more innovative and entrepreneurial. Students will perform experientially by taking on various roles in this class by building a new business inside a business or working as a management consultant advising a client or leading an entire firm.
By the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify the unique entrepreneurial challenges faced by business ventures in the biomedical sector.
- Apply an entrepreneurial mindset in problem-solving, project management, and team building.
- Demonstrate an entrepreneurial approach in evaluating management structures and functions within a biomedical venture.
BMSC 401: Entrepreneurship Capstone Project
In this Practical Experience Capstone course, students will put all they have learned together and apply their skills to launch a venture idea. This experience is designed to help students understand the challenges of new venture startups through research readings and real-life commentaries from successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs.
By the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Integrate and apply entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and confidence to compile a strategy for starting a new startup or biomedical venture.
- Develop strategy and plans for venture formation, market assessment, sources of capital, and resource acquisition.
- Practice the investor pitch strategy as an opportunity to present a venture and receive feedback.
Opportunities
Upon completion of the curriculum, students will be able to:
- Develop and implement a strategy for a new startup or internal biomedical venture.
- Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills.
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