Undergraduate Admissions

Gannon University believes people can change the world, one great idea at a time.

In the upcoming fall semester, Gannon will introduce a new academic degree program designed for individuals who want to turn their vision and ideas into the next big thing. The program has two options: a 129-credit entrepreneurship major and a 15-credit entrepreneurship minor for business administration students.

Gannon University’s entrepreneurship program will be the first and only dedicated entrepreneurship program in the region. It will provide a unique opportunity for individuals who hope to start their own business, or be an important change agent within a larger or established company or organization.

“We as a university have an obligation, to both our current and future students, to ensure that our academic curriculum continues to address the needs of the marketplace,” said Kurt Hersch, instructor, Gannon management program, and director of the University’s business administration program. Hersch will serve as director of the entrepreneurship program.

“The economic downturn has created a challenging environment for many large companies,” he continued. “In that regard, it is now more important than ever for us to lead the way in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs while helping them unleash their innovative and creative spirit.”

In developing the program, Hersch noted several important trends, including a greater focus on entrepreneurship at the undergraduate level nationally, as well as recent growth in the number of business startups and entrepreneurial ventures launched. For example, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition, the SBA notes that such businesses provide up to 80 percent of net new jobs annually.

As the program grows, Gannon officials expect it to benefit from and work in partnership with the Gannon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Erie Technology Incubator, located on the Gannon campus.

“I’m confident the program will build on the University’s existing culture of entrepreneurship that includes the SBDC, and more recently, the Incubator,” Hersch said. “A dedicated program such as this is a logical next step to continue Gannon’s commitment to entrepreneurship as well as our support of the community.”

The program will incorporate areas like organizational innovation, entrepreneurial finance, new venture creation, marketing, and management. Additionally, courses also may emphasize concepts like social entrepreneurship, small business consulting, and family business management.

For more information on the program, contact Hersch at 814-871-5865, or visit www.gannon.edu/ideas.