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Entrepreneurship

EIU's Entrepreneurship Minor, open to all majors, teaches students to spot opportunities, protect their ideas, and build a venture plan. Through hands-on courses and experiences: guest entrepreneurs, field trips, a student-led national org chapter, and an annual Shark Tank-style pitch competition, students gain real skills to launch a business or grow a family enterprise.

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Entrepreneurship

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Degree Level
Minor
Delivery
In Person
Careers
Executives, Officers, General, Managers

Why Study Entrepreneurship at EIU?

  • Whether you're studying biology, art, or accounting, the minor is built for anyone who wants entrepreneurial skills — you don't need a business background to start.
  • The core curriculum is explicitly built around hands-on instruction from experienced faculty, not passive lecture-based coursework.
  • Whether you want to take over a family business, launch your own venture, or start a professional or skill-based practice, the minor is designed to meet you there.
  • The program is led by Dr. Marko Grünhagen, ranked among the top researchers worldwide on franchising and quoted by outlets like The Wall Street Journal and NPR.
  • Students get direct exposure to real business owners and financial professionals, not just case studies from a textbook.
"My experience at EIU could not have been better. While in the classroom, I got to learn from amazing, engaging faculty who helped build my skills and confidence, and outside of the classroom, I got to be part of an amazing community and make lifelong memories."
Joshua Northam
Entrepreneurship | Class of 2026
Joshua Northam, Entrepreneurship at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • During Entrepreneurship Week, students pitch real venture plans and get judged by actual bank presidents and business owners — with cash awards for top finishes.
  • Students get out of the classroom and into real businesses to see entrepreneurship happening firsthand.
  • The ENT Club is run by Entrepreneurship students themselves, with the recognition and support of a national student organization.
  • Students can pursue individual research in entrepreneurship, working directly with faculty mentors rather than just completing assigned coursework.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship as one of their two required minor electives, turning real workplace experience into academic credit.
Hands-On Experience, Entrepreneurship students at EIU

What You'll Learn

The Entrepreneurship minor is open to students from every major, with no business background required, and teaches you to spot opportunities, protect your ideas and build a venture plan. It is a fit if you want to launch a new venture, grow a family business or start a professional practice.

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Career Outcomes

  • Chief Executives
  • Chief Sustainability Officers
  • General & Operations Managers
  • Regulatory Affairs Managers
  • Compliance Managers
  • Loss Prevention Managers
  • Wind Energy Operations Managers
  • Wind Energy Development Managers
  • Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists & Site Managers

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Openings · Grow Rapidly
Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)
Personality Fit Enterprising

Connect With Us

Marko Grunhagen
Professor of Marketing & Lumpkin Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship
mgrunhagen@eiu.edu
4002 Lumpkin Hall
217-581-6906
Marko Grunhagen Message Marko

Message Marko

or email mgrunhagen@eiu.edu directly
Evan Kubicek
Senior Instructor
emkubicek@eiu.edu
3603 Lumpkin Hall
708-986-1802
Evan Kubicek Message Evan

Message Evan

or email emkubicek@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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