Main Content
Syllabus
ENTR 320
Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation (3) Explores the process for starting and growing a new venture including the development of a business plan. Students will have the opportunity to learn from business leaders about the struggles and rewards of being an entrepreneur.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accomodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
An overiew of the fundamental principles and processes of entrepreneurship. This course focuses on conceptualizing, creating, assessing, and planning for the new venture. It includes important procedural questions on how to conduct a start-up opportunity analysis, how to prepare for a meeting with a prospective investor, and how to measure the potential value of an opportunity. Students are challenged to consider the feasibility of an entrepreneurial career. Specific topics include understanding entrepreneurs' behavior and thought patterns, self-appraisal of entrepreneurship and leadership potential, creativity, innovation and persistence, transforming ideas and opportunities into new ventures, launching a new venture, financing and raising capital, and building and leading an effective organization.
Course Objectives
Students will be able to:
- assess their own entrepreneurship potential using various instruments designed to measure entrepreneurship,
- discover a worthwhile idea and assess the opportunities and risks,
- conduct a start-up analysis,
- prepare for a meeting with prospective investors and evaluate the results, and
- write complete and detailed business plan.
Required Course Materials
For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.
Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. It is very important that you purchase the correct materials. If your course requires one or more textbooks, you must have exactly the correct text required (edition and year).
- For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
| Numerical value | Letter grade |
|---|---|
| 93 and above | A |
| 90–92.99 | A- |
| 87–89.99 | B+ |
| 83–86.99 | B |
| 80–82.99 | B- |
| 77–79.99 | C+ |
| 70–76.99 | C |
| 60–69.99 | D |
| below 60 | F |
Please see rubrics for individual assignments for specifics on assignment preparation and expectations.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
All lesson assignments must be submitted by 11:55 PM (ET) on the last day of the timeframe indicated below for the lesson unless otherwise stated.
- Sample course schedule provided below
Lesson 1: Introduction & Beginning the Entrepreneur Venture
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Timeframe: | Week 1 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 2: Finding the Right Idea
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Timeframe: | Week 2 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 3: Is it the Right Business for You?
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Timeframe: | Week 3 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 4: Getting Started
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Timeframe: | Week 4 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 5: Business Plans: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
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Timeframe: | Week 5 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 6: Finding Financing
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Timeframe: | Week 6 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 7: Know Your Environment
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Timeframe: | Week 7 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 8: Analyzing Your Financial Position
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Timeframe: | Week 8 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 9: Pulling Things Together
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Timeframe: | Week 9 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
Additional Readings |
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Assignments: |
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NOTE: Lessons 10 and 11 are to completed in one week
Lesson 10: Know Your People Costs
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Timeframe: | Weeks 10 and 11 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 11: Hidden Costs of Human Resources
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Timeframe: | Week 12 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 12: Putting Your Numbers Down in Black and White
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Timeframe: | Week 13 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 13: Final Presentations
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Timeframe: | Week 14 |
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Readings: |
Textbook
Lesson Commentary
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Assignments: |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.