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M.S. in Entrepreneurship Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overarching learning goal of this program?

The goal of the M.S. in Entrepreneurship program is to build critical entrepreneurial skills. A key feature is the experiential and customized learning approach. Students either work on their own projects throughout the program or team with other students or companies in the Spartan Incubator or Accelerator programs. When students enter the program, a customized approach to their learning is developed in consultation with advising faculty. This program was designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.

What is the difference between the B.S. in Entrepreneurship and the M.S. in Entrepreneurship?

The undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship explores both theory and practice in an introductory to application level. The M.S. in Entrepreneurship is a highly applied curriculum. The graduate program was designed using a cluster and competencies approach. Based upon research conducted with more than 500 entrepreneurs, we identified the key topics that need to be addressed in an advanced degree program in entrepreneurship. We then clustered those topics into eight core courses. Each graduate student has a personal learning path, with milestones for development across the Entrepreneurial Competency Model. Graduate students are evaluated through case studies, traditional testing procedures, writing capability and a final capstone project. They must maintain a 3.0 GPA while in the program.

How do students interact with the entrepreneurs-in-residence and experts in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center?

Each graduate student has a highly customized curriculum built around the core courses. This personalized curriculum includes working with entrepreneurs-in-residence and experts as well as being assigned an informal board of advisers to consult with on business ideas. Additionally, students have the opportunity to attend talks and mentoring sessions that span technology, health care, information sciences, product-based companies and service-based companies.

Which industries are represented by the entrepreneurs-in-residence and experts?

Fields of expertise include banking and finance, cybersecurity, solar energy, technology, marketing and branding, social media, business logistics, restaurants, real estate, design, government, international business, mergers and acquisitions, law, venture capital, health care and biotechnology.

What is the difference between the Accelerator and Incubator programs?

Spartan Incubator businesses are non-student-run businesses operating out of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. Students in both the undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship programs have the opportunity to work with these companies. Spartan Accelerator businesses are student-run businesses. Both the Accelerator and Incubator include a learning program and an advisory and mentoring program. All participants are expected to earn their space in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.

What are the admission criteria for the M.S. in Entrepreneurship?

View the M.S. in Entrepreneurship admission requirements.

If I am required to take the GMAT, what minimum score must I earn?

GMAT is not required if you have an overall GPA (or last 60 hours, whichever is highest) of 3.00 or higher. If you fall under the 3.00 GPA then you will be required to take the GMAT. If you send in your unofficial transcript and submit an online application, we can give you an exact goal for your GMAT score. Visit www.gmac.com for a list of test centers and testing dates.

Do you have any study tips for the GMAT or GRE?

Study. Some students sign up for the exam and try to take it the next week. While the concepts aren’t overly difficult, some of it will be material you haven’t seen since your first year of college.
Use a study method that works best for you. If you are better at learning in a classroom setting, consider signing up for a GMAT prep class. If self-study is best for you, buy the book and set up your own schedule. Some students also study better in groups.
Give yourself time for a retake if needed. Many students have to take the exam more than once to get the score they desire. You can take the test once every 30 days, so give yourself a few months from the admission deadline in case you need to retake the exam.
If you have to, retake the same exam. UT uses super scoring and will take the highest section scores from multiple attempts to give you the highest possible overall score. If you have to repeat the exam because you don’t hit your goal score, try to retake the same one. In addition, students sometimes do better on their second attempt because they are familiar with the testing procedure.
Do the exam that is best for you. UT will accept either the GMAT or GRE for admission to this program. Try practice exams of each to see which one you do better on.

What is conditional acceptance?

You will receive a waitlist letter in the mail. This puts you in a group of students who we consider as candidates for conditional acceptance. These are students who show promise, despite having GPAs or test scores that fall below our typical range. If chosen, this type of admission requires that you maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in your first 8 credit hours to remain in the program.

Can I transfer classes from another school?

Approximately 8 credit hours of graduate coursework (no more than 25 percent of your required credit hours) can be transferred toward core and elective requirements at UT. This does not include foundation requirements, which can be waived based on undergraduate coursework. The transferred coursework must meet all criteria specified in the UT catalog: the courses must be taken within the past seven years at an AACSB-accredited school for the same degree, each course must have been completed with a “B” grade or higher and departmental approval is required to transfer the credits.

How do I know which classes to take?

This curriculum is designed to be completed in 12 months. However, you do not have to complete the program within that timeframe. The classes are designed to build upon one another, so taking them in order is an excellent idea. Upon admission to the program, you will be sent a personalized plan of study and flowchart, both of which show the classes necessary to fulfill your degree requirements.

How do I find the schedule of classes offered?

You can view the schedule by clicking “Course Search” under the Academics tab in SpartanNet. To view all offered classes, select the term of interest and program type from the drop boxes and then click “Search.”

How much time should I expect to spend studying for each class?

On average, you should expect to study at least three hours per week outside of the classroom for each credit hour. For instance if you registered for 12 credit hours, then you should expect to study for at least 36 hours each week. This curriculum is highly applied, so you will be working on your business idea throughout your courses.

How do I get information about important dates?

View UT’s academic calendar.

How do I get financial aid?

Graduate assistantship positions are offered to well-qualified, incoming full-time students by the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. For more information, call (813) 258-7409 or email grad@ut.edu. Learn more about graduate financial aid.

How do I find an internship or job?

The Office of Career Services is a great resource.