Certificate in Entrepreneurship Fundamentals
Is this program right for you?
The Certificate in Entrepreneurship Fundamentals is exclusively for students enrolled in a UW-Madison Online business major. It enables you to supplement your major with coursework that cultivates entrepreneurial skills.
The certificate’s learning objectives ensure students develop skills necessary for identifying opportunities to launch and/or manage growth in ventures. These skills include strategy, planning, performance measurement and ethics. While the certificate covers the steps needed to start a new venture, the learning outcomes are equally valuable to students seeking to make contributions through development of new products or services within an existing venture.
- If you aim to be an entrepreneur or advance in a leadership position in a private business, government or nonprofit organization, adding this certificate to your BBA can be highly advantageous.
- Versatility: The curriculum is adaptable whether you are starting a business, joining a startup or innovating within a large corporation.
- Strategic edge: Use your elective credits toward a credential that demonstrates initiative and strategic thinking and differentiates you in a crowded job market.
- Flexibility: Earn a sought-after credential from a prestigious institution through a fully online, flexible format.
Education that works for you
All courses are online so you can learn from anywhere in the world. Most courses have assignment deadlines, exams, quizzes and discussions throughout the term. Peer and instructor interaction varies based on the course, and discussion and engagement in the digital learning environment is encouraged. The program is designed for part-time students with multiple start dates and 8-week course formats so you can keep career and family commitments.
Program type
Certificate
Certificate awarded
Certificate in Entrepreneurship Fundamentals
Commitment
Varies based on transferable credits
Tuition
Resident & nonresident:
$500 per credit
No segregated fees, but other fees may apply.
Format
Online
Credits
12 undergraduate credits
Admission terms
Must be enrolled in online degree program to add this certificate
Offered by
STEM opt eligible
No
Supports F-1 Visa
Application deadlines
View UW–Madison’s GuideWhat you’ll learn
Adding this certificate to your BBA degree can help you stand out in a crowded and competitive job market.
An entrepreneurial mindset is highly valued by employers; this curriculum develops the critical and innovative thinking skills needed to transform students into proactive, versatile problem-solvers.
- Identify business opportunities and creating ventures through market discovery, business model validation and strategic planning
- Apply accounting principles to support organization strategy, guide performance measurement and make informed, ethical decisions in a business environment
- Define the basic steps taken to start a new venture
Dan Barry, BBA in Business Administration: Management, 2025Badgers are very highly respected, especially business Badgers in the business world. Look at some of the statistics, like the number of CEOs that have come out of UW–Madison. It just tells you that if that’s what you want, this is the school for you. It’s kind of awesome to officially say I’m a Badger.
Innovating business education since 1900, the Wisconsin School of Business has built a legacy of leadership. Join 46,000+ high-achieving alumni as you reach your career goals.
Admission information
To declare this certificate, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the Business Online Undergraduate Program within the School of Business.
Program requirements
To be considered for UW–Madison Online you must be a transfer student.
A transfer student is anyone who has attended another college or university after graduating from high school and wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at UW–Madison.
In order to be eligible for transfer admission for UW–Madison Online, you must have completed at least 12 transferable semester hours of college-level work. AP, A-Level, IB and CLEP cannot be used toward the 12 transferable credit requirement.
Freshman applicants are not eligible for admission to UW–Madison Online. A freshman includes anyone who is currently a student in high school or who has not taken college coursework since graduating from high school.
Join a program that will launch your career
Best public undergraduate business program
– U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Wisconsin Business School alumni worldwide
Best public university
– U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Explore more programs
Learn the communication, collaboration and planning skills you’ll need to succeed in any leadership role. You’ll learn to develop performance-maximizing team structures and systems as well as diagnose and resolve problems, so you’re able to maximize your organization’s competitive edge and ensure its long-term success.
Fall 2026
Application deadline for start 1: 07/15/26 Application deadline for start 2: 09/15/26
Tuition
Resident & nonresident:
$500 per credit
No segregated fees, but other fees may apply.
Credits
120 undergraduate credits
Modality
Online
Increase your ability to collaborate with a team and create successful marketing plans that address your industry’s needs. You’ll also learn to place, distribute, price and promote products and services; analyze market segments; leverage relevant sources and apply analytical rigor to decision making.
Fall 2026
Application deadline for start 1: 07/15/26 Application deadline for start 2: 09/15/26
Tuition
Resident/nonresident:
$500 per credit
No segregated fees, but other fees may apply.
Credits
120 undergraduate credits
Modality
Online
Gain skills and understanding to attract, motivate and develop the right employees to set organizations up for success. You’ll learn to analyze compensation strategies, staffing techniques, labor and employment relations challenges, negotiation tactics and develop work systems that improve employee performance.
Fall 2026
Deadline for start 1: 07/15/26 Deadline for start 2: 09/15/26
Tuition
Resident & nonresident: $500 per credit
No segregated fees, but other fees may apply.
Credits
120 undergraduate credits
Modality
Online
