Entrepreneurship Major with Honors Distinction
Open to Eller undergraduate Honors students
Eller Honors students with professional admissions status can major in entrepreneurship. This is a double major, accompanying the student’s primary major (finance, marketing, accounting, MIS, management, economics). The McGuire Entrepreneurship Program accepts applications during the students’ junior year, for participation during the senior year. Acceptance to the undergraduate major in entrepreneurship is HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. It is recommended that interested applicants review all application information prior to completing and submitting required information. Attendance at an Information Session (see Information Week) is required to be considered for the program.
The McGuire Entrepreneurship Program offers honors students enrolled in the entrepreneurship program a distinctive, structured sequence of courses and assignments that when successfully completed satisfy the Honors College thesis requirement. The entrepreneurship honors experience is anchored in two sequential courses: ECON 487H (New Venture Development and Industrial Analysis) and ENTR 484H (Development of New Venture Plans). Honors students participate in a graduate level section of ECON 487 during the Fall semester with the expectation that they will gain a deeper knowledge of the covered material that will in turn be integrated into their entrepreneurship team project. This integration is dependent on the honors students’ capacities to process the information and meaningfully communicate it back to their fellow team members. This leadership experience comes under the close supervision of the students’ Entrepreneurship Mentor-in-Residence.
During the Spring semester, honors students in the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program will rejoin the general undergraduate students. However, honors students will be enrolled in a distinct ENTR 484H section and will be required to complete under the supervision of McGuire faculty and the McGuire Center Director a rigorous research project that analyzes and deconstructs the entrepreneurial dimensions of an existing organization. This research project, in conjunction with the standard team-based venture plan, will serve as the honors thesis. The rigor and quality of these assignments will be subject to the approval of both a McGuire faculty member and the director of the McGuire Center.
To apply to for to the Honors Section of the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program, complete the following requirements. In addition to the following descriptions, a checklist is provided below for your convenience.
- Information Week Sessions
All undergraduate applicants are required to attend an Entrepreneurship Information Session. All information sessions will be in McClelland Hall Room 202. Session dates and times are:
Monday, October 17th
2:00pm general session
3:00pm open house
Tuesday, October 18th
10:00am general session
11:00am open house
Wednesday, October 19th
2:00pm general session
3:00pm open house
Thursday, October 20th
10:00am general session
11:00am open house
Friday, October 21st
2:00pm general session
3:00pm open house
Exceptions to information session attendance will be made in only extraordinary circumstances
- Intent to Apply
To initiate your application, you need only fill in, print, sign, and submit the Intent to Apply form. However all application requirements must be met for the applicant to be considered for acceptance. Intent to apply forms can be obtained at an Entrepreneurship Week information session
- Application materials
The following items are required for a complete McGuire Entrepreneurship Program application. Submission instructions will be available at an Information Week session.
Academic record worksheet. In addition to your fall 2011 transcript (unofficial), please submit an academic record worksheet. This worksheet should contain the following:
- Name
- SID number
- Current GPA
- Current trend (Up, Down, Unchanging)
- Current courseload (credits, courses, course numbers and titles)
- Cumulative GPA
- Cumulative trend
- Past trend (prior to current semester; Up; Down; Unchanging)
- Description of past courseload (50 words or less)
- Brief description of any conditions relating to downward or unstable GPA / courseload trends
Resume and statement of work. Not just a resume—in addition, please take a few moments and translate your work experience to qualities and capabilities. Just a paragraph or so will be fine.
Statement of entrepreneurship This can be anything. What is in your mind about entrepreneurship? Is it the role in the economy? In history? Determinants? Being one’s own boss? Outcomes? Wealth creation? No wrong answers.
Employer/equivalent recommendation. Please arrange for a past employer or equivalent to provide responses to a few brief questions regarding your employment experience.
- Wildcard. Applicants are invited to submit any (limit one) item that you believe speaks significantly to your application. You decide the wildcard. You decide the format? You call it. Surprise us!
Selection process
McGuire Entrepreneurship Program participants are selected based on their individual applicant profile, and as compared to the overall applicant pool. There is not any one element that speaks more to an applicant’s viability—it is the combined information set.
The McGuire Program will offer early selection program invitations to up to 20 highly qualified candidates whose application is complete for consideration prior to November 20. These invitations will be announced on December 9. The remainder of undergraduate seats will be awarded on or before March 1. Between January 15 and March 1, applicants are accepted on a rolling basis. Invitations will continue until priority students have been invited and accepted and program full.
Following March 1 acceptance, a very limited number of students may be accepted on a wait list basis, but must agree to remain current with all orientation and summer work, so that if a spot comes available at anytime, they will be ready to start work immediately.
Wait list students that have not remained current with work will not be offered a seat in the program.
Applicants offered a seat in the program must accept the invitation prior to the date noted in the acceptance letter. If acceptance is not received, the seat will be opened to another student
Application materials and applications will begin being accepted October 20. See http://entrepreneurship.arizona.edu/apply/ .
Application Calendar Key Dates
- October 17-21: Entrepreneurship Information Week. Sessions scheduled daily
- October 20, 2011 Applications open
- November 20, last date for applicants to be considered for early acceptance
- December 9, 2011 Early Acceptance announced
- February 15, Application closing date. No applications accepted after this date
- March 1, Class finalized. All announcements
For specific plans of study, see www.entrepreneurship.arizona.edu (or visit the McGuire Center).
Advising: Advising is available in the McGuire Center by appointment. Drop a note to entre.advising@eller.arizona.edu, call us at 621.2576, or visit us at the McGuire Center in McClelland Hall, Room 202.
