All businesses, nonprofits and government entities require leaders with the dynamic skills to orchestrate strategic negotiations, enforce business ethics and support growth and innovation. If you aspire to start your own business or rise in the ranks of a corporation, you’ll need a comprehensive understanding of both hard and soft business skills.
Program Overview
Become the business leader you’ve always aspired to be.
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) emphasis and minor will prepare you with the dynamic skills you need to be a leader who challenges the status quo. In the comprehensive curriculum, you’ll learn about cutting-edge innovation and problem-solving techniques necessary to solve commercial, social and environmental challenges. The program will teach you how to recognize opportunity, frame problems, think creatively and manage risk.
Before graduating, you’ll have the opportunity to start your own company as an ICE Project. By talking to customers, partners and competitors, you’ll get first-hand experience managing the chaos, uncertainty and rewards of launching a startup. If you have an idea of a product you want to make, you can take advantage of the ICEstation, a student-run space for prototyping materials including 3D printing and app development. No matter what career path you choose, the I&E emphasis will add a useful and complementary set of skills to your business education.
ICElab
As an entrepreneurial hub, the ICElab supports new and growing businesses with coworking space, professional development and a diverse network of mentors, programs, and opportunities.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
The Design Thinking and Innovation Emphasis prepares students to think and act as a leader who challenges the status quo. Students experience cutting edge innovation and design-thinking techniques necessary for solving the ever changing commercial, social, and environmental challenges of tomorrow. Design Thinking and Innovation students master the ability to recognize opportunity, frame problems, think creatively, manage risk, and launch organizations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Base Curriculum | ||
| ACC 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 202 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| Select one of the following mathematics courses: | 3-4 | |
MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | |
MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
BUAD 220 | Spreadsheets and Analysis | |
CS 120 | Professional Computer Skills | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | |
ECON 216 | Statistics for Business and Economics | |
| Total Credits | 21-22 | |
The 15-credit Business Administration Nucleus forms the core for each of the emphasis areas and also comprises the bulk of the Standard Program. It is important that the student achieve a high level of understanding of the basic fundamental concepts represented by these courses to be successful in the completion of the required upper- level course work and in their business career. If BUAD 350 Human Resource Management Human Resource Management is used to satisfy the requirements of the Business Administration Nucleus, then it cannot be used to satisfy the elective requirement within the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration Nucleus | ||
| BUAD 185 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BUAD 210 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| BUAD 360 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
BUAD 333 | Organizational Behavior | |
BUAD 350 | Human Resource Management | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
And the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 255 | Business Structure and Taxes | 3 |
| BUAD 275 | Design Your Life | 3 |
| BUAD 375 | Applied Design Thinking & Innovation | 3 |
| BUAD 382 | Creative Design, Prototyping, and Testing | 3 |
| BUAD 406 | Design Thinking and Innovation Immersion | 3 |
| BUAD 494 | Business Model and Organizational Strategy Design | 3 |
| Select nine credits of the following electives: | 9 | |
BUAD 240 | Strategic Negotiations | |
BUAD 311 | Business Analytics | |
BUAD 315 | Advanced Business Law | |
BUAD 327 | Social Media Marketing | |
BUAD 333 | Organizational Behavior | |
BUAD 335 | Marketing Communications | |
BUAD 340 | Global Business | |
BUAD 343 | Sales I | |
BUAD 345 | Consumer Behavior | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Business Administration Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BUAD 494 Business Model and Organizational Strategy Design.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BUAD 101 | Business of Life | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Natural Sciences w/lab | 4 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACC 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Natural Sciences w/lab | 4 |
| Gen Ed | Area III | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACC 202 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ECON 216 | Statistics for Business and Economics | 3 |
| BUAD 275 | Design Your Life | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Area I | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Area III | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BUAD 220 | Spreadsheets and Analysis | 3 |
| BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Area I | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Area III | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| BUAD 185 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BUAD 210 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUAD 375 | Applied Design Thinking & Innovation | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACC 255 | Business Structure and Taxes | 3 |
| BUAD 333 or BUAD 350 |
Organizational Behavior or Human Resource Management |
3 |
| Elective | Elective | 6 |
| Elective | Design Thinking and Innovation Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BUAD 360 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| BUAD 382 | Creative Design, Prototyping, and Testing | 3 |
| BUAD 406 | Design Thinking and Innovation Immersion | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BUAD 494 | Business Model and Organizational Strategy Design | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 6 |
| Elective | Design Thinking and Innovation Elective | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Spotlight
Tyler Brandt
Student
“Every professor I’ve ever had here has been amazing. The class sizes are incredible. And I’m dyslexic, so the class sizes and working with professors one-on-one is really cool. I know all of my professors really well, and you get to interact in class.”
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Expand your community and your network.
There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.
- Fellowship: Travel to Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) as a University Innovation Fellow.
- ICE Project Design Days: A student-led program that introduces innovation and entrepreneurship to local middle school students through co-development of their projects.
- ICE Project: A group of students and community members that works together to move their visions to ventures.
- ICELab: A modular, high-tech workspace for students and community startups.
- ICEstation: A student-run space for prototyping materials including microelectronics, sewing and textiles, 3D printing and app development.
Empowering entrepreneurs
The Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship program equips students with the mindset to plan, start, finance and manage their own profitable ventures.
News & Research
Department Information
School of Business
Associate Dean
Paula Mann, CPAAssociate Dean of the School of Business, Assistant Professor of Accounting
Contact Information
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Borick Business Building 223
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
