EARN YOUR BUSINESS INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEGREE AT SC!
Total Credit Hours: 124
Transfer Credits: Up to 94
The Bachelor of Science in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship program will prepare students for the most challenging aspects of the business world. Students will study how innovation and creativity affect positive change in an organization through new or reimagined products, services, and internal processes.
- Explore a dynamic curriculum with courses including project management, marketing, and business plan preparation
- Learn from subject matter experts
- Experience applied learning through real-world scenarios and exercises
- Discover more reasons to choose SC!
Recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report for its online bachelor degree programs, Southwestern College offers quality online degrees to adult learners. With courses taught by expert faculty and access to a variety of student resources, SC learners are provided with the tools and flexibility needed to succeed in their education while preparing for professional advancement.
CAREER OUTLOOK
Projected Job Growth (BLS): 17%
Average Salary (PayScale): $80.5k
Graduates of the online business innovation and entrepreneurship program at Southwestern College will be prepared for a variety of careers, including:- Business manager
- Finance manager
- Financial analyst
- Sales manager
STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
“Jump in now… You won’t regret it…You have one class at a time…It’s compact, but it gets done faster.”
Drina T., Graduate
FACULTY
Visit our faculty page to view current accounting instructors.
View Courses & Program Details
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Students enrolled in the online business innovation an entrepreneurship program at Southwestern College can expect to:- Explain innovative theories, concepts, and practices used to create positive change in an organization.
- Develop and use methods, practices, and plans that bring value to and align with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
- Evaluate existing structures or problems and provide innovative changes and solutions based on
- Apply best practices for knowledge-based business innovation decision making
- Employ sustainable, ethical, legal, and socially responsible business innovation practices in domestic and global environments.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Business Quality Management
Business Administration
Strategic Leadership
Organizational Communication Certificate
BUSINESS INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS
The program is directed towards those that are looking to transform organizations by solving problems or start new ventures to drive growth. Students will not only gain knowledge on the specific subject matter but will also demonstrate critical thinking and apply knowledge to existing and pioneering business challenges. Courses concentrate on business strategies and planning, innovation, entrepreneurship, product and service development, and overall project management.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must be graduates of an accredited high school or have completed a GED®
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
Core Major Requirements
BSBI200: Business Innovation
Business innovation introduces the examination of new processes, services, or products to affect positive change within an organization. Learners will approach the subject of innovation as a strategic process with a core value for lasting competitive advantage. Topics will include types, process, and models of innovation along with the roles played by organizational systems that impact total innovation. Developing new business models to disrupt the marketplace and updating outdated models will also be examined.
BSBI201: Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching, and running a new business venture. This class takes a look at the risks and rewards associated with starting a new business. Learners will study the basis of starting a business, small business paths and plans, operating and managing a small business.
BSBI310: Design Thinking
Design thinking examines creative and critical thinking that enables sharing information and the organization of ideas for problem-solving. It promotes better decision-making and improved knowledge management. In this course, students are challenged to question the status quo and rethink transformative solutions and business processes. Topics will include the design thinking approach, systems thinking, data analysis, and the design thinking stages.
HUM 201: Ethics
Ethics introduces learners to moral philosophy, the branch of philosophy that questions what is good and bad. The course surveys a number of important ethical theories—ethical relativism, objectivism, egoism, altruism, utilitarianism, duty-based moral theory, natural law, natural rights, and virtue ethics—as they examine reasons why certain actions are morally right or wrong. Learners will apply ethical theories in the evaluation and analysis of current controversial issues, question ethical matters from a variety of angles, and acquire new tools to assist them in making ethically sound, well-informed decisions throughout their lives. This course is writing-intensive.
BSBI315: New Product Development
This course will explore taking a product or service from concept all the way to market while examining the important stages in between. Students will study the new product process and the development of opportunities. Concept generation and concept testing will also be introduced as students do analyses on the market demand and potential profitability. Finally, students will examine the importance of solid product development and the essentials of a successful new product launch.
BSBI320: Venture Management
Venture management is a business management discipline that explores strategic planning and execution of strategy. There is a focus on innovation and support for individuals and organizations in growth areas such as new products or new and emerging markets. Key topics will include new venture opportunities, planning, and growth management.
OMGT444: Project Management
Project management is applicable to all types of service and manufacturing settings where a specialized task, job, or venture has been presented. Learners study project management as a general practice and method, as well as its application within the context of the specific task, job, or venture and the environment in which the project is realized. Learners apply project management practices and methods within the context of various projects. Emphasis is given to the role of human resources and communication in a project’s success. While not a certification preparation course, this course provides foundational knowledge that will be useful if a learner chooses to take project management certification preparation courses.
STL 425: Strategic Risk and Leading Change
This course is designed to introduce learners to the tools, concepts, and applications that assist in forecasting, predicting, and leading change as applied through a strategic risk perspective. Utilizing new research and findings, the framework of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) will provide the student with a working knowledge of business strategy based on emerging risks, predictive analytics, forecasting, and macro business trends.
BSAD394: Marketing
Marketing strategies, methods, and practices are experiencing rapid transformation due to the emergence of disruptive technologies and changes in consumer demand. Marketing theories, strategies, ethics, and legal requirements are examined. Learners will also study current and emerging trends in pricing, promotion, distribution, planning, and the product delivery cycle. The impact of these factors on the marketing of different products and services is assessed.
BSBI400: Business Plan Preparation
In order to launch a new business, operate a current organization or expand operations, a solid business plan is needed. Students will study and create and fully integrated business plan. Areas covered will include product or service overview, establishing and defining goals, market and situational analysis, strategy and implementation, financial plan and forecasting, and organization and management team.
CAPS495: Senior Capstone
Learners engage in two projects that assess their achievements and preparation for pursuit of professional aspirations in their major field. Through application and assessment, learners examine the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program, achievement of the program outcomes, and their preparation as followers and leaders in their chosen professional field.
Prerequisites: The capstone should take place within the last 9 hours of a learner’s program.
General Education Requirements*
Basic Skills
CORE110: Information Literacy
This course is designed to provide learners with the skills that are fundamental to becoming an information‐literate professional who can locate, evaluate, organize and communicate information. The abundance and rapid flow of data requires skill development in the understanding of information resources, accessing information sources, determining the credibility of Internet information, logically organizing sources and finally presenting the information professionally.
ENGL101: Composition 1
This course helps learners develop writing skills that are transferable to any academic or workplace writing task. The course guides learners through the process of planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading academic and workplace writing. Learners will develop skills necessary to craft coherent sentences and paragraphs, to edit editing their writing for proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They will learn about narrative structure and techniques as well as the elements of successful argumentation and persuasive discourse. This course also guides learners through every stage of the research process. Learners will develop a research plan, conduct research, organize and draft a research paper, and then revise, edit, and proofread that research paper.
ENGL102: Composition 2
This course builds on the thinking and writing skills introduced in Composition 1. Learners will write critical, argumentative essays based on their interpretations of nonfictional texts, including literary, film, and cultural texts, and in doing so, will recognize the role of rhetoric in the writing situation as they craft persuasive discourse. In doing so, they will learn methods of questioning, analyzing, and evaluating their own beliefs as well as the perceptions and perspectives of others. These methods of critical thinking are intended to improve the quality and organization of learners’ writing for any purpose, including academic and workplace purposes. In addition to writing essays, learners will develop more advanced research strategies, as well greater proficiency in APA style.
Prerequisite: ENGL101
COM125: Speech
This course helps learners majoring in any discipline strengthen communication skills essential for success in academics and the workplace. Learners will focus on listening, evaluating, and delivering spoken discourse based on audience and purpose. Learners will evaluate why some people are more effective than others as public speakers, analyze speeches and audiences, study ethical considerations for speakers, research and organize findings on a topic, and present findings before an audience, and learn techniques for identifying and reducing speech anxiety.
MASC110 Statistics & Probability or MASC115 College Algebra
MASC110 Statistics & Probability, or MASC115 College Algebra, or more advanced college credit bearing mathematics course requiring college algebra or higher as a prerequisite.
Ethical Reasoning (Requirement filled in program of study)
HUM201: Ethics
Ethics introduces learners to moral philosophy, the branch of philosophy that questions what is good and bad. The course surveys a number of important ethical theories—ethical relativism, objectivism, egoism, altruism, utilitarianism, duty‐based moral theory, natural law, natural rights, and virtue ethics—as they examine reasons why certain actions are morally right or wrong. Learners will apply ethical theories in the evaluation and analysis of current controversial issues, question ethical matters from a variety of angles, and acquire new tools to assist them in making ethically sound, well‐informed decisions throughout their lives.
Disciplinary Perspectives
Natural Science (3 or more credit hours)
Social Science (3 or more credit hours)
Humanities (3 or more credit hours)
The Arts (3 or more credit hours)
Other Cultures (3 or more credit hours)
Capstone
CAPS495 Senior Capstone
Senior capstone or major capstone course.
*Most general education requirements are waived for students with an AA, AS, or AAS degree. Speak to your admissions counselor for details.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete all foundation and major courses with an overall GPA of 2.0
- Complete a minimum of 124 credit hours, with at least 60 hours at a bachelor’s degree-granting institution
- Complete at least 30 credit hours with a C average or above from Southwestern College
All degree requirements are subject to change. Please see Southwestern College Professional Studies Catalog for the most current degree requirements.