Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Next Session: July 6
- 3 COURSES
- 100% ONLINE
- ENROLLING MONTHLY
- 225 CLOCK HOURS
Develop the mindset to lead ideas forward.
Villanova’s Certificate in Entrepreneurship helps you build the mindset and practical skills to move ideas from possibility to purposeful action. You’ll learn how to identify opportunities, test and refine concepts and build strategies that support innovation, adaptability and long-term growth. Through applied projects and mentorship, you’ll strengthen your ability to think creatively, solve problems strategically and lead with confidence.
Whether you’re launching a venture, advancing a new idea within your organization or growing something already in motion, this program provides a practical framework for turning vision into progress. You’ll build the skills to communicate value, shape sustainable models and bring ideas to life in ways that create meaningful results.
Special Enrollment Promotion!
20% Tuition Savings
New students who register between April 14 and May 11, can apply a 20% tuition savings code to select professional education courses and programs when they enroll in our upcoming May 11 session start date. Complete the form above to receive promo code by email.
Tuition savings applicable to packages with May 11 course start dates only. See course descriptions to enroll in individual courses. Review Terms and Conditions.
Register to Join us for a Zoom Info Session
99.9%
of U.S. businesses are small businesses1
45
the average age of an entrepreneurial founder2
83%
of companies rank innovation as a top-three priority3
According to U.S. Small Business Administration1, Harvard Business Review2 , and BCG3
Want to Enroll a Team or Group?
Save on tuition when you enroll 5 or more students.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP CERTIFICATE COURSES
Choose two of the three required courses plus one elective to complete the certificate.
REQUIRED
This course starts at the beginning, teaching learners to think critically, observe patterns and understand people and challenges. Throughout this course, you'll learn how innovators identify problems worth solving and use structured methods to navigate ambiguity with confidence. You'll explore how human-centered design, curiosity and systems-level perspectives fuel better ideas, smarter decisions and stronger alignment with customer needs.
This course is designed to explore how to test ideas, understand your target market and build viable business models.
This course is designed for students to discover how to grow their business sustainably with simple strategies that scale.
Prerequisite: Entrepreneurial Toolkit: Markets and Models
ELECTIVES
In this course, students will learn to put their ideas into motion by working closely with a faculty mentor to test and refine entrepreneurial concepts using tools and insights from the program.
Prerequisites: Entrepreneurial Toolkit: Markets and Models and Smart Growth Strategies for Entrepreneurs
Gain the financial acumen needed to make informed business decisions. This course equips non-financial managers with the skills to interpret financial statements, analyze business performance and confidently engage in strategic financial discussions. Through a hands-on approach, you'll learn key concepts such as budgeting, forecasting, capital budgeting and risk assessment, empowering you to contribute meaningfully to financial planning and business strategy.
In this course, students learn to plan, produce and optimize social media content that aligns brand voice with audience insights across major platforms. You’ll apply storytelling, copywriting, design and short-form video techniques to build platform-ready posts and mini campaigns, then use analytics to test, iterate and improve results. Students create a content calendar, launch a four-week publishing plan and evaluate performance with KPIs to drive engagement and conversions. The course also covers ethical guidelines, attribution basics and light automation for consistent output.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
Certificate Program 3 courses | 6 weeks per course 12.5 hours per week |
15% savings |
|
Single Course 6 weeks 12.5 hours per week |
$2,095 See courses to enroll. |
Earn a certificate and digital badge for each course you complete. Complete all three courses to earn your program certificate. Hosted through Credly, Villanova digital badges provide verifiable information about the credential and the requirements completed to earn it.
FLEXIBLE BY DESIGN
Our programs are built for busy adult learners. Each course requires a one-hour live session one evening per week. Additional coursework can be done whenever is most convenient for you. You'll follow a structured weekly rhythm, supported by a learning experience that blends faculty-led guidance, peer engagement and applied work to help you connect concepts to your professional context. In addition, career management resources are available to support goal-setting, professional materials and next-step planning.
PRINCIPLES + PRACTICE LEARNING MODEL
Principles serves as the foundation for each course, providing essential knowledge to help you expand your skill set and deepen your expertise. Through independently paced online coursework, you’ll watch videos and complete weekly assignments on your schedule. This flexible format ensures you can build your expertise at a pace that works for you.
Practice builds upon Principles through collaboration and real-world application. Weekly, live faculty-led sessions further enhance learning by fostering open dialogue and connecting you with peers across multiple industries. These interactive sessions provide opportunities to discuss workplace challenges, share insights and receive valuable feedback.
WHO SHOULD ENROLL?
- Professionals contributing to innovation, creative problem-solving and initiative development
- Team leaders and emerging leaders who want to communicate ideas clearly and build stakeholder support
- Small business owners, startup founders, consultants and independent professionals looking to strengthen strategy
- Career changers pursuing roles that value creativity, innovation and business thinking
- Corporate professionals interested in innovation, intrapreneruship, product development or strategy
- Nonproft, education and social impact professionals seeking tools for meaningful change
- Individuals who want to grow as idea generators, collaborators and problem-solvers
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Innovation Strategy and Programming
- Entrepreneurial Mindset Development
- Opportunity Identification
- Human-Centered Design Thinking
- Storytelling for Stakeholders
- Marketing and Competitive Analysis
- Strategic Growth Planning
- Adaptive Thinking and Experimentation
- Persuasive Communication and Idea Development
- Collaborative Ideation and Facilitation
- Financial and Operational Acumen
- Innovation and Intrapreneurship Leadership
- Venture Launch and Execution
- Reflective Leadership and Creative Confidence
- Social Impact and Innovation for Good
LEARNING THAT ADAPTS TO YOU
No two professionals learn the same way, and your experience shouldn’t feel one-size-fits-all. At Villanova, we offer multiple paths to mastery, so you can lean into the learning methods that work best for you while still benefiting from live faculty guidance and a collaborative cohort. The result is a learning experience that meets you where you are and helps you translate new knowledge into impact at work.
Engage in discussion boards that turn course concepts into real-world dialogue and shared perspectives.
Leverage the vast resources of the Falvey Library online to explore readings, optional resources and additional materials that let you go deeper on your own schedule.
Join weekly faculty office hours to ask questions, workshop ideas and connect course content to your work.
Apply what you're learning through practical projects, with optional or expanded project opportunities when you want to stretch further.
THE VILLANOVA DIFFERENCE
The College of Professional Studies has cultivated a distinguished reputation for delivering the hallmark Villanova experience — academically rigorous, top-quality and innovative programs within a supportive community — to students who are pursuing higher education amidst busy professional and personal lives. As an internationally recognized institution, Villanova is proud of its vibrant community of alumni, faculty, students and staff who are dedicated to driving meaningful impact and transformative change within their communities.
At Villanova, we believe where you've been is just the beginning.
Pursue the Next You.™
RELATED ARTICLES
FUNDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
EdAssist by Bright Horizons
Villanova University has partnered with EdAssist by Bright Horizons to help you take the next step in your education journey. Employees of participating organizations receive 15% in tuition savings and waived application fees on eligible Villanova programs.
Employee Tuition Reimbursement
Many organizations offer tuition reimbursement for professional education programs. Check with your employer to learn about available opportunities. To support your request, you can also reference our library of supervisor request letters.
Please consult with your employer to determine eligibility and specific reimbursement procedures, including any required documentation.
Military service members and veterans may be eligible for tuition payment/assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® or other benefits.
Resources available to help you navigate your military and veteran benefits:
- Villanova Military Savings: active-duty, veterans and military-connected spouses and dependents are eligible to receive 15% savings per professional education certificate course.
- Military Tuition Assistance
- VA Education Benefits (including GI Bill®)
Please visit the Office of Veterans and Military Service Members' webpage for more information.
Villanova supports the continued education and professional development of Boeing's employees. Learn more about education benefits and tuition savings information for Boeing employees.
CPS students enrolled in a non-credit program and/or any individual non-credit course may participate in a payment plan.
Payment plans are offered through Nelnet Campus Commerce and students are encouraged to reach out to Nelnet directly through the NCC website.
Please note:
- Payment plans are available for fall, spring and summer.
- Payments must be made over the course of 2-5 months, depending on when you enroll in the plan.
- There is an additional $45 payment plan fee for each semester.
Personal Loans
Students may use any loan provider they prefer. One option is Salle Mae's Career Training Loan, a credit-based loan that offers flexible repayment plans.
Deferred payment for professional education is available. Please contact a member of the enrollment team to learn more about deferment and to coordinate a plan.
Learn more about Villanova University's professional education enrollment terms and conditions.
CONTACT US
Our enrollment counselors are happy to answer any questions you have about our certificate programs.
Our hours are M-Th. 9 am - 7 pm | Fri. 9 am - 5 pm
profedenrollment@villanova.edu
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