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Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Next Session: February 9
- 3 COURSES
- 100% ONLINE
- ENROLLING MONTHLY
- 225 CLOCK HOURS
Bring bold ideas to life and build the expertise to make them thrive.
Villanova's Certificate in Entrepreneurship equips you with the mindset and tools to turn ideas into impact. You’ll learn to recognize opportunities, test and refine business concepts and build strategies for sustainable growth. Through hands-on projects and mentorship, you’ll develop the confidence to think creatively, act strategically and lead with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Whether you’re launching a new venture, innovating within your organization or growing an existing business, this program provides a practical framework for success. You’ll gain the skills needed to communicate your value, build viable business models and move your ideas forward with clarity, purpose and measurable results.
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Want to Enroll a Team or Group?
Save on tuition when you enroll 5 or more students.
99.9%
of U.S. businesses are small businesses1
45
the average age of an entrepreneurial founder2
62%
of U.S. adults say they would prefer to be their own boss3
According to U.S. Small Business Administration1, Harvard Business Review2Ìý, and Gallup3
ENTREPRENEURSHIP CERTIFICATE COURSES
Choose two of the three required courses plus one elective to complete the certificate.
REQUIRED
This course starts at the beginning, teaching learners to think critically, observe patterns and understand people and challenges.ÌýThroughout this course, you'll learn how innovators identify problems worth solving and use structured methods to navigate ambiguity with confidence. You'll explore how human-centered design, curiosity and systems-level perspectives fuel better ideas, smarter decisions and stronger alignment with customer needs.Ìý
This course is designed to explore how to test ideas, understand your target market and build viable business models.
This course is designed for students to discover how to grow their business sustainably with simple strategies that scale.
Prerequisite: Entrepreneurial Toolkit: Markets and Models
ELECTIVES
In this course, students will learn to put their ideas into motion by working closely with a faculty mentor to test and refine entrepreneurial concepts using tools and insights from the program.
Prerequisites:ÌýEntrepreneurial Toolkit: Markets and Models and Smart Growth Strategies for Entrepreneurs
This course is for current and emerging leaders who want to stay grounded and effective under pressure. You’ll connect inner wisdom to outer impact by working on a real leadership challenge, using contemplative practices, systems thinking and human-centered design. Walk away with a values-based leadership compass, practical tools to navigate complexity and an actionable plan to move forward with clarity.
Gain the financial acumen needed to make informed business decisions. This course equips non-financial managers with the skills to interpret financial statements, analyze business performance and confidently engage in strategic financial discussions. Through a hands-on approach, you'll learn key concepts such as budgeting, forecasting, capital budgeting and risk assessment, empowering you to contribute meaningfully to financial planning and business strategy.
In this course, students learn to plan, produce and optimize social media content that aligns brand voice with audience insights across major platforms. You’ll apply storytelling, copywriting, design and short-form video techniques to build platform-ready posts and mini campaigns, then use analytics to test, iterate and improve results. Students create a content calendar, launch a four-week publishing plan and evaluate performance with KPIs to drive engagement and conversions. The course also covers ethical guidelines, attribution basics and light automation for consistent output.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
Certificate Program 3 courses | 6 weeks per course 12.5 hours per week Fast Track |
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15% savings |
Single Course Each single course is made up of a Principles asynchronous micro-course and a Practice live virtual micro-course. |
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10% savings See courses to enroll. |
FLEXIBLE BY DESIGN
Our programs are built for busy adult learners. Each course requires a one-hour live session one evening per week. Additional coursework can be done whenever is most convenient for you. You'll follow a structured weekly rhythm, supported by a learning experience that blends faculty-led guidance, peer engagement and applied work to help you connect concepts to your professional context. In addition, career management resources are available to support goal-setting, professional materials and next-step planning.
PRINCIPLES + PRACTICE LEARNING MODEL
PrinciplesÌýserves as the foundation for each course, providing essential knowledge to help you expand your skill set and deepen your expertise. Through independently paced online coursework, you’ll watch videos and complete weekly assignments on your schedule. This flexible format ensures you can build your expertise at a pace that works for you.
PracticeÌýbuilds uponÌýPrinciplesÌýthrough collaboration and real-world application. Weekly, live faculty-led sessions further enhance learning by fostering open dialogue and connecting you with peers across multiple industries. These interactive sessions provide opportunities to discuss workplace challenges, share insights and receive valuable feedback.
WHO SHOULD ENROLL?
- Small business owners ready to scale their ventures and strengthen their strategic foundation.
- Career changers looking to pivot into roles that emphasize creativity, problem-solving and business growth.
- Corporate professionals interested in roles in innovation, product development or strategy.
- Startup founders, consultants and freelancers aiming to refine their business models and expand their market impact.
- Social impact and nonprofit leaders who want to apply entrepreneurial principles to drive meaningful change.
- Creative and independent professionals, such as artists, coaches and content creators, turning passion projects into sustainable ventures.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Opportunity Recognition and Validation
- Human-Centered Design Thinking
- Business Model Innovation
- Marketing and Competitive Analysis
- Strategic Growth Planning
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Persuasive Communication and Pitching
- Financial and Operational Acumen
- Innovation and Intrapreneurship Leadership
- Venture Launch and Execution
- Reflective and Adaptive Growth
LEARNING THAT ADAPTS TO YOU
No two professionals learn the same way, and your experience shouldn’t feel one-size-fits-all. At Villanova, we offer multiple paths to mastery, so you can lean into the learning methods that work best for you while still benefiting from live faculty guidance and a collaborative cohort.ÌýThe result is a learning experience that meets you where you are and helps you translate new knowledge into impact at work.
Engage in discussion boards that turn course concepts into real-world dialogue and shared perspectives.
Leverage the vast resources of the Falvey Library online to explore readings, optional resources and additional materials that let you go deeper on your own schedule.
Join weekly faculty office hours to ask questions, workshop ideas and connect course content to your work.
Apply what you're learning through practical projects, with optional or expanded project opportunities when you want to stretch further.
THE VILLANOVA DIFFERENCE
The College of Professional Studies has cultivated a distinguished reputation for delivering the hallmark Villanova experience — academically rigorous, top-quality and innovative programs within a supportive community —Ìýto students who are pursuing higher education amidst busy professional and personal lives. As an internationally recognized institution, Villanova is proud of its vibrant community of alumni, faculty, students and staff who are dedicated to driving meaningful impact and transformative change within their communities.
At Villanova, we believe where you've been is just the beginning.ÌýÌý
Pursue the Next You.â„¢
RELATED ARTICLES
FUNDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
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Please visit the Office of Veterans and Military Service Members' webpage for more information.
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CONTACT US
Our enrollment counselors are happy to answer any questions you have about our certificate programs.
Our hours areÌýM-Th. 9 am - 7 pm | Fri. 9 am - 5 pm
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