FB Pixel Skip to Main Content
Innovation Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Type

Minor, Emphasis

Department

School of Business

All businesses, nonprofits and government entities require leaders with the dynamic skills to orchestrate strategic negotiations, enforce business ethics and support growth and innovation. If you aspire to start your own business or rise in the ranks of a corporation, you’ll need a comprehensive understanding of both hard and soft business skills.

Program Overview

ICElab

Become the business leader you’ve always aspired to be.

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) emphasis and minor will prepare you with the dynamic skills you need to be a leader who challenges the status quo. In the comprehensive curriculum, you’ll learn about cutting-edge innovation and problem-solving techniques necessary to solve commercial, social and environmental challenges. The program will teach you how to recognize opportunity, frame problems, think creatively and manage risk.

Before graduating, you’ll have the opportunity to start your own company as an ICE Project. By talking to customers, partners and competitors, you’ll get first-hand experience managing the chaos, uncertainty and rewards of launching a startup. If you have an idea of a product you want to make, you can take advantage of the ICEstation, a student-run space for prototyping materials including 3D printing and app development. No matter what career path you choose, the I&E emphasis will add a useful and complementary set of skills to your business education.

ICElab

As an entrepreneurial hub, the ICElab supports new and growing businesses with coworking space, professional development and a diverse network of mentors, programs, and opportunities.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

Admission to the program: All students who wish to major in the I+E emphasis in Business Administration must be formally admitted to the program. For admission, a student must complete and submit an application for admission.

A minimum of 63 credits is required, including the 21-credit Base Curriculum, the 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus,

Course List
Code Title Credits
Base Curriculum
ACC 201Introduction to Financial Accounting3
ACC 202Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ECON 201Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)3
ECON 202Microeconomics3
Select one of the following mathematics courses:3-4
MATH 140
College Algebra (GT-MA1)
MATH 141
Precalculus (GT-MA1)
MATH 151
Calculus I (GT-MA1)
One of the following:3
BUAD 220
Spreadsheets and Analysis
CS 120
Professional Computer Skills
One of the following:3
MATH 213
Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
ECON 216
Statistics for Business and Economics
Total Credits21-22

The 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus forms the core for each of the emphasis areas and also comprises the bulk of the Standard Program. It is important that the student achieve a high level of understanding of the basic fundamental concepts represented by these courses to be successful in the completion of the required upper- level course work and in their business career. If BUAD 350 Human Resource Management Human Resource Management is used to satisfy the requirements of the Business Administration Nucleus, then it cannot be used to satisfy the elective requirement within the major.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Business Administration Nucleus
BUAD 185Business Communication3
BUAD 210Legal Environment of Business3
BUAD 270Principles of Marketing3
BUAD 360Managerial Finance3
One of the following:3
BUAD 333
Organizational Behavior
BUAD 350
Human Resource Management
Total Credits15

And the following:

Course List
Code Title Credits
ACC 255Business Structure and Taxes3
BUAD 275Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Mindset3
BUAD 375Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Toolkit3
BUAD 382Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Make3
BUAD 406Innovation + Entrepreneurship: FIELD3
BUAD 494Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Launch3
Select nine credits of the following electives:9
BUAD 240
Strategic Negotiations
BUAD 311
Business Analytics
BUAD 315
Business Law
BUAD 327
Social Media Marketing
BUAD 333
Organizational Behavior
BUAD 335
Marketing Communications
BUAD 340
Global Business
BUAD 343
Sales I
BUAD 345
Consumer Behavior
Total Credits27

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Business Administration Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BUAD 494 INNOV.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BUAD 101 Business of Life 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits14
Spring
ACC 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting 3
ECON 201 Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
ACC 202 Introduction to Managerial Accounting 3
ECON 216 Statistics for Business and Economics 3
Elective Elective 3
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 220 Spreadsheets and Analysis 3
BUAD 270 Principles of Marketing 3
ECON 202 Microeconomics 3
Gen Ed Area I 3
Gen Ed Area III 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
BUAD 185 Business Communication 3
BUAD 210 Legal Environment of Business 3
BUAD 275 Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Mindset 3
Elective Elective 6
 Credits15
Spring
ACC 255 Business Structure and Taxes 3
BUAD 333
or BUAD 350
Organizational Behavior
or Human Resource Management
3
BUAD 375 Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Toolkit 3
Elective Elective 3
Elective ICE Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
BUAD 360 Managerial Finance 3
BUAD 382 Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Make 3
Elective Elective 6
Elective ICE Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 406 Innovation + Entrepreneurship: FIELD 3
BUAD 494 Innovation + Entrepreneurship: Launch 3
Elective Elective 6
Elective ICE Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

Spotlight

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)

Tyler Brandt

Student

“Every professor I’ve ever had here has been amazing. The class sizes are incredible. And I’m dyslexic, so the class sizes and working with professors one-on-one is really cool. I know all of my professors really well, and you get to interact in class.”

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

Apply Request Info

Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E)

Expand your community and your network.

There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.

  • Fellowship: Travel to Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) as a University Innovation Fellow.
  • ICE Project Design Days: A student-led program that introduces innovation and entrepreneurship to local middle school students through co-development of their projects.
  • ICE Project: A group of students and community members that works together to move their visions to ventures.
  • ICELab: A modular, high-tech workspace for students and community startups.
  • ICEstation: A student-run space for prototyping materials including microelectronics, sewing and textiles, 3D printing and app development.

Empowering entrepreneurs

The Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship program equips students with the mindset to plan, start, finance and manage their own profitable ventures.

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
colleges for business degrees

Colleges for Business Degrees: Benefits of a BA from Western

Read More about Colleges for Business Degrees: Benefits of a BA from Western
best college business major

Best Colleges for Business Majors: Opportunities for Business Majors

Read More about Best Colleges for Business Majors: Opportunities for Business Majors
Pair of Western graduates profiled in Careers in Professional Selling magazine

Pair of Western graduates profiled in Careers in Professional Selling magazine

Read More about Pair of Western graduates profiled in Careers in Professional Selling magazine
Western celebrates 10th annual Rail Jam

Western celebrates 10th annual Rail Jam

Read More about Western celebrates 10th annual Rail Jam
Business Students Seek to Elevate Leadership Community at Western

Business Students Seek to Elevate Leadership Community at Western

Read More about Business Students Seek to Elevate Leadership Community at Western

Department Information

School of Business

Associate Dean

Paula Mann, CPA

Associate Dean of the School of Business, Assistant Professor of Accounting

Contact Information

970.943.2231

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

Take the Next Step

Apply to
Western
Students pose for a photo on top of Mount Crested Butte in the summer

Apply to
Western

We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.

Visit
Western
Colorado Hall with the Palisades in the background on a bluebird day.

Visit
Western

The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
A group of four alumni look at an old photo that one of them picked up from a selection of photos that were printed and laid out for the Ski Team Social event.

Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

Request
Information
A few students pose for a photo behind the Multicultural Center table at the Admitted Student Day Club Fair.

Request
Information

Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.