McKenzie Fleeman
mdf001@marietta.edu
Starting in fall 2016, Marietta College will offer an entrepreneurship minor. The entrepreneurship minor answers the question “How can I turn my passion into a product that consumers will want to purchase?”
“We want to give students a tool to turn passion for the area of study into something that the market appreciates,” Dr. Jacqueline Khorassani, professor of economics and chair of business and economics, said.
The need for the entrepreneurship minor stemmed partly from the concern that students who choose humanities and arts majors may not be able to find jobs as easily as those in professional fields.
While anyone can pursue the minor, it is designed for non-business majors, and gives students practical skills that they can use regardless of their major. The minor consists of 21 credit hours and will begin with Entrepreneurial Mindset (ENTR 101) being offered in fall 2016.
“The goal is to enable students to look around and identify problems that can be turned into solutions that are marketable,” Khorassani said.
While pursuing the minor, students will learn that the first step is agreeing that there is a problem. Students will then think about how to solve the problem and run their solutions by the community and public. They will also learn how to find experts and the proper way to approach them to ask questions.
“Whenever people are willing to pay for solutions, that means you have something that is marketable,” Khorassani said.
In addition to learning how to put their ideas into action, students will learn how to create a business plan. By the end of the minor, students will have a developed idea that they use to create a business plan.
“While PioPitch is open to everyone, we will encourage the entrepreneurship students to enter their ideas into the competition for up to $10,000 to start their own business,” Khorassani said.
After completion of the minor, students will be prepared to start their own business in any setting, whether it be a business or an organization in the nonprofit sector.
“The idea is that regardless of whether you work for yourself or somebody else, having an entrepreneurial mindset will allow you to succeed,” Khorassani said.
Khorassani recommends that everyone take ENTR 101 even if they do not want to pursue the minor.
“In my opinion, ENTR 101 is even more valuable to students who have not figured out what they want to do after graduation because it encourages them to find their area of interest by trying to identify and solve problems,” Khorassani said.
Paige Berschet, a sophomore at Marietta College, will be beginning the entrepreneurship minor next fall.
“I wanted to have experience with the business aspect of college and I really want to possibly own my own business in the future,” she said.
Berschet feels that the minor will provide her with a good base of knowledge that she will be able to use after graduation. She thinks that the classes seem interesting and is excited to start something new.
Michaila Riley, a freshman at Marietta College, is also beginning the minor next fall.
“My parents own their own business, so I hope to step into that role and take their business to the next level,” she said.
Riley feels that the minor will prepare her not only to help her parents, but possibly to start her own business one day.
