Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Advanced Certificate)
Virtual Info Session
Thursday, January 16, 2025, 3-4 p.m.
Join the LaPenta School of Business Graduate Admissions Team for a virtual information session and learn about our programs, career development opportunities, and how to finance your education with available scholarships.
Why Entrepreneurship & Innovation?
Earning an Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation gives you the practical knowledge and competitive edge needed to envision a new future or take a project from idea to launch.
As an entrepreneur and innovator, your ability to create and spark change is valuable in every career field, business or organization. Honing these skills and developing your leadership style will set you apart as a frontrunner in whatever field you choose.
Why Study Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Iona?
Iona’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Advanced Certificate provides you the opportunity to discover your creative potential and develop the necessary skills to make your entrepreneurial aspirations a reality.
The certificate program is offered in collaboration with the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, a centralized hub that promotes an interdisciplinary education as well as the development of students’ leadership skills and innovation. Our program prepares you to approach entrepreneurship holistically, ensuring each step of the process is executed with creativity and exactitude.
Iona offers a variety of program formats to accommodate your needs. You can earn your certificate over one academic year.
What You’ll Learn
Designed for ambitious students, Iona’s Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship provides a thorough overview of the innovation process and its place in modern society, as well as how to build an entrepreneurial venture from conception to financing to implementation.
Throughout the entrepreneurship certificate program, you’ll gain real-world experience as you work through the entire process of launching a business. Our accomplished faculty will guide your training and provide you with the necessary support to achieve your professional goals.
Your courses will cover important topics such as ideation, design thinking, business modeling and financing, which will lead up to a capstone “studio course” in which you will launch your ventures and innovations.
Applying the Certificate to a Graduate Degree Program
If you are interested in pursuing a graduate business degree, courses from the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Certificate can be applied toward our Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered through our LaPenta School of Business. The graduate business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) — a highly acclaimed distinction awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide.
Take a Virtual Tour
Dream. Create. Lead.
With a free-flow workspace and 3D printer, the Hynes Institute offers space for students to learn and grow as they develop their entrepreneurial spirit.
Quick Facts
Tuition and Financial Aid
- $1,390 per credit (12 credits)
- $275 program fee for Fall, Winter and Spring trimesters (2 trimesters)
- Estimated Cost: $17,230
- Applying for Aid
- Graduate Tuition
What to Expect
- Complete in one year
- Access to the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Capstone “studio course”
- Apply credits toward your MBA
Careers and Outcomes
As the world changes and grows, companies look for innovative leaders to inspire their employees and reimagine the possibilities for their businesses. Earning a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship equips you with the hard skills and imagination needed to advance in your current field, transform your own business or pioneer a new career path entirely.
Job Titles
- Founder/CEO
- Small business owner
- Growth hacker
- Change Manager
- Analyst
- Inventor
Pursuing the certificate has allowed me to unlock new possibilities for my career.
Ivan Reynolds '21MBA with an Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Certificate Program Highlights
Space to Create
The Hynes Institute offers students a cutting-edge free-flow workspace located on the top floor of Spellman Hall. Here, students have a 3,800-square-foot space to work individually or collaborate with their peers as they explore and create.
All students also have access to GaelVentures, Iona’s own incubator coworking space, where they can team up with fellow students, mentors and faculty to tackle projects, brainstorm innovative business strategies and learn from one another.
Events
Beyond coursework, the Hynes Institute creates a collaborative environment in which students can connect and network with their peers, mentors and industry professionals. Students are invited to attend workshops, participate in innovation competitions, learn from invited speakers and partake in many other extracurricular activities.
Faculty Experts
To become an entrepreneur and innovator, you have to learn from entrepreneurs and innovators. Iona’s faculty brings years of experience, knowledge and passion to inspire students and provide the required industry knowledge and expertise.
Industry Access
Speaker Series
Iona students learn from and network with industry leaders from companies such as Visa, Heineken, USA and Steve Madden, to name few.
These candid talks offer students invaluable lessons gained from careers spanning a variety of industries. Students also have the opportunity to ask the questions most important to them and even meet the speakers.
LaPenta School of Business
The LaPenta School of Business state-of-the-art building features:
- Smart classrooms
- Case study and breakout rooms
- Business career center
- New expanded trading floor
![LaPenta School of Business [Building]](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape/public/2021-04/primary-images/lapenta-school-of-business-900.jpg?itok=A6pb8s1P)
Application Requirements
Requirements
- Official transcripts from every institution previously attended, including transfer and graduate coursework, if applicable.
- Current resume.
- One professional letter of recommendation.
(Optional for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.) - International Applicants: Additional Requirements
- NACES evaluated transcripts.
- TOEFL/IELTS scores.
Benefits For Current Iona Students
- Exempt from submitting Iona transcripts.
- Automatic application fee waiver.
- Automatically eligible for the Iona Alumni scholarship.
- Eligible for the Edmund Rice scholarship if GPA is 3.5 or above.
Learn More About Iona’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Certificate
Iona’s graduate-level Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation offers students the opportunity to unlock their innovative spirit and strengthen their critical thinking, problem-solving and management skills. With this transformative training, you will be well-prepared to begin your own innovative business venture and grow as an entrepreneur.
To learn more, request information about Iona’s graduate entrepreneurship certificate program.
Find Out what an Iona Education Can Do For You
Visit Campus
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Let us show you around, answer your questions and give you a feel of our tight-knit community.
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