Individuals who would like to start their own company or be self-employed could obtain a degree in entrepreneurial studies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that during the last decade, about 70 percent of professionals who considered themselves entrepreneurs have completed some form of higher education.
Recently, some schools have been recognized for their offerings in this field, and others are increasing their funding so that students may have this educational option. For example, the Community Center for Entrepreneurship at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) was recently named "People's Choice" by members of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
BHCC was also awarded a grant for $7,500 from the Coleman Foundation to support and expand this programs in this field. Bogusia Wojciechowska, dean of professional studies at the school, says the entrepreneurship curriculum allows students to work with "high school entrepreneurship programs as well as virtual discussion forums with the social networking platforms."
Entrepreneurs who are interested in benefiting from the growing social networking trend may find similar programs to be useful. According to Social Networking Watch, approximately 60 percent of individuals who use the Internet visit these websites.
The University of Michigan also recently committed funding to entrepreneurial studies. The school is investing up to $200,000 in hands-on-training initiatives that will begin next spring.
The project, the Social Venture Fund (SVF), is run by students and allows them to decide how the group's funding should be invested. Participating individuals will learn management, marketing and deal-sourcing skills. Part of the new curriculum also includes an impact investing course, which will address financial or social issues.
Professors who are involved with the fund say that these new programs are important because "the business world needs intelligent leaders who can do good for society in a financially disciplined and rewarding way."
Business professionals who enroll in entrepreneurial classes will study education, health, finance and the environment as they learn to become innovative leaders.
Individuals who wish to further their career with an entrepreneurship degree may find that there are many opportunities and occupations within the business industry. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there will be nearly 50,000 new positions created for financial analysts - who may work for themselves or start their own firms - over the next eight years, and many of them are expected to pay more than $100,000 annually.
