Entrepreneurship Courses Enhance Students’ Career Readiness

When students come to college, they typically pick a major where they learn technical skills to be successful in their career of choice. While it is not meant to be forgotten, soft skills such as leadership, critical thinking and communication can be left out, causing a gap when students graduate and pursue a full-time career.

NC State Poole College of Management and NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship saw this gap in students’ education and worked to create MIE 209: Survey of Entrepreneurship as well as MIE 309: Entrepreneurship Skills for Non-Majors. The two courses can fulfill general education credits and are a part of the Business Entrepreneurship minor offered through the Poole College of Management.

The courses help build a growth mindset to develop skills that allow students to identify ways to create value, explore how to ideate and make things happen—all of which are beneficial to any career path.

MIE 209: Survey of Entrepreneurship introduces students to entrepreneurship, both its history and contemporary applications. MIE 309: Entrepreneurship Skills for Non-Majors takes students further into essential skills, including principles of marketing, accounting, economics, finance, market research, and opportunity identification, exploration, and implementation.

A benefit for all disciplines

Students from across campus and disciplines such as communications, engineering, education and more have completed these courses since its inception. The courses are highly recommended by students as a way to become an entrepreneurial thinker.

Reese Braswell, a sophomore currently in exploratory studies, completed both MIE 209 and 309. She said, “I took MIE 209 because I had an interest in business, but was not entirely sure what direction I wanted to take. I thought Survey of Entrepreneurship would give me a better understanding of the field. I ended up loving the class my freshman year, which inspired me to take the higher-level course during the first semester of my sophomore year.”

Students see the benefit of learning these skills early. Carlie Kern, a sophomore studying communications, said, “I took MIE 309 because I wanted to learn skills that will be useful for my future career, no matter which path I take. The class gave me a better understanding for how businesses run, how to spot opportunities and how to create strategies for success.”

The growth mindset that is taught in the courses helps students navigate challenges both in the classroom and out in the real world. Charlie Doherty, a graduating senior studying business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship, said, “[the] biggest takeaway from these courses is that your mindset is key to increasing self-efficacy. Meaning that a positive and resilient mindset will help reinforce your belief in yourself and will make it easier to overcome tough obstacles.”

The skills that are taught in these classes are also applicable to many facets of life. Kern said, “[I learned] how to think strategically and be adaptable, both in business and in life. I gained skills in spotting opportunities, making smart decisions and dealing with challenges in creative ways. The course also highlighted the importance of resilience, leadership and teamwork skills that are important no matter what I do.”

MIE 209 and MIE 309 are designed to help prepare students for any career. Braswell said, “Whether I decide to start my own business one day or work within an established organization, the skills I have learned like identifying opportunities, thinking creatively and understanding the basics of launching and managing a venture will help me bring innovative ideas to the table and think more strategically in any role.”

Jenn Woodhull-Smith, professor of MIE 209 and MIE 309, brings a vast entrepreneurial experience to the classroom from owning four small businesses to working in Fortune 500 companies. She stresses the importance of entrepreneurial skills for all careers. Woodhull-Smith said, “MIE 209 and 309 provide a foundation for students by introducing them to the core principles of entrepreneurship—how to identify opportunities, think creatively and develop essential business skills. Students who pursue the Business Entrepreneurship minor will not only have a valuable skill set from their course of study, they will also be able to speak the language of business in 400-level courses once they integrate with Poole College of Management students. Whether students decide to start their own venture or join an existing organization post-graduation, this dual skill set should serve them well in their future careers.”

Why should other students take this course?

• “I would absolutely recommend this course to other students. It’s a great way to explore the world of entrepreneurship, even if you’re not sure you want to start your own business. The class teaches you how to think creatively, solve problems, and understand the basics of how businesses are built, all skills that are valuable in any career path.” – Reese Braswell
• “I would definitely recommend this course to other students. It offers practical skills like strategic thinking, problem-solving and adaptability that apply to any field, not just business. The course encourages creative thinking and challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, which is valuable for personal and professional growth. It also teaches resilience and how to learn from failure, preparing you for any career path. Overall, it helps develop a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset that’s useful in tackling challenges and navigating uncertainty.” – Carlie Kern
• “I would definitely recommend these courses to other students because it gives great insights on how to think like an entrepreneur. I know these classes are meant to be taken by non-Poole college students, but no matter what you major in these classes will help students think with an entrepreneurial mindset.” – Charlie Doherty