STEM Entrepreneurship Certificate Programs
STEM Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology Certificate
Whether you're a STEM student turning discoveries into real-world solutions or a business student breaking into biotech, you'll gain the skills to launch ventures, bridge science and business, and stand out in this fast-growing field.
Build Your Biotech & Business Toolkit!
- Learn how to take biotech innovations from the lab to the market.
- Gain hands-on experience in biotech, entrepreneurship and rapid prototyping.
- Stand out with a unique certificate that blends STEM expertise with business skills.
Required Biology & Business Courses (14 credits):
MGMT 382: Entrepreneurship for Innovation: Starting a Company (3)
Becoming an entrepreneur aligns every aspect of business from strategy to product development, marketing, finance, accounting, and sales. Startups learn that success means beginning with identifying services or products that are desirable to customers, feasible, and financially viable. In this experiential learning course, students apply business model techniques to simulate an actual startup business. Student teams use technologies provided by federal laboratories or their own business startup ideas to define a product for a commercial market. Students interview potential customers, identify specific user problems and needs, create and test rapid prototypes, analyze and select distribution channels and define and test pricing. Students then determine key internal resources and activities, specify strategic partners and build simple financial forecasts before presenting their comprehensive business model at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: junior standing or MGMT-380.
MGMT 483: Entrepreneurship Practicum with AI Infusion: Creating and Launching Ventures (3)
Whether solo or on a team, this course helps students from any major turn their ideas into a real venture. Students explore industries about which they are passionate, uncover unique opportunities, and use real-world business tools to validate ideas, test marketing campaigns, and forecast finances. Participants gain hands-on experience in business incorporation, intellectual property (IP) protection, fundraising, and investor-level pitching while connecting with entrepreneurs and investors through valuable networking opportunities. With artificial intelligence (AI) infused throughout the course, students explore how emerging technologies can give their venture idea a competitive edge. Crosslist: MGMT-683.
ISCI 275: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping (1)
Laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, and programmable electronics used to be expensive and difficult to learn options for designing and fabricating physical objects. In the past few years, these devices and their software have drastically improved in sophistication, capability, and accessibility. Students learn how to design for and operate these machines through the completion of multiple projects in a hands-on, laboratory-based approach. They learn technical skills, practical constraints, and the methods of troubleshooting associated with these fabrication techniques. The successful completion of this course results in access to the Design and Build Lab equipment during operating hours. Prerequisite: completion of Quantitative Literacy I requirement.
BIO 110: General Biology I (4)
An in-depth introduction and exploration of the study of life from atoms, molecules, and organelles to the cellular levels of organization. Emphasis on cell structure and function, energetics and metabolism, the gene, molecular genetics, and evolution. The laboratory component introduces the scientific method and experimentation through the study of microbes, plants and animals. AU Core Habits of Mind: Natural-Scientific Inquiry. Usually Offered: fall, spring, and summer. Prerequisite/Concurrent: MATH-125, MATH-170, MATH-211, MATH-221, STAT-202 or STAT-203.
BIO 489: Biotechnology (3)
Biotechnology employs concepts from cell and molecular biology to solve modern problems in medicine, agriculture, and other disciplines. In the twenty-first century, it is the cornerstone of the world’s economy. This course introduces and builds on concepts integral to advances in genetic, cell, systems, and molecular biology. Crosslist: BIO-689. Usually Offered: spring. Prerequisite: junior standing.
STEM Entrepreneurship in Physics Certificate
Ready to bridge the gap between cutting-edge physics and real-world solutions? This course of study prepares you to utilize your analytical skills and scientific insights to create real ventures. Learn the business tools to turn discoveries into technologies that matter.
From Quantum Theory to Market Strategy!
- Learn how to turn physics concepts into business solutions.
- Gain hands-on experience in physics, entrepreneurship and rapid prototyping.
- Create new career pathways that blend STEM expertise with business skills.
Required Business & Physics Courses (13 credits):
MGMT 382: Entrepreneurship for Innovation: Starting a Company (3)
Becoming an entrepreneur aligns every aspect of business from strategy to product development, marketing, finance, accounting, and sales. Startups learn that success means beginning with identifying services or products that are desirable to customers, feasible, and financially viable. In this experiential learning course, students apply business model techniques to simulate an actual startup business. Student teams use technologies provided by federal laboratories or their own business startup ideas to define a product for a commercial market. Students interview potential customers, identify specific user problems and needs, create and test rapid prototypes, analyze and select distribution channels and define and test pricing. Students then determine key internal resources and activities, specify strategic partners and build simple financial forecasts before presenting their comprehensive business model at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: junior standing or MGMT-380.
MGMT 483: Entrepreneurship Practicum with AI Infusion: Creating and Launching Ventures (3)
Whether solo or on a team, this course helps students from any major turn their ideas into a real venture. Students explore industries about which they are passionate, uncover unique opportunities, and use real-world business tools to validate ideas, test marketing campaigns, and forecast finances. Participants gain hands-on experience in business incorporation, intellectual property (IP) protection, fundraising, and investor-level pitching while connecting with entrepreneurs and investors through valuable networking opportunities. With artificial intelligence (AI) infused throughout the course, students explore how emerging technologies can give their venture idea a competitive edge. Crosslist: MGMT-683.
ISCI-275: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping (1)
Laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, and programmable electronics used to be expensive and difficult to learn options for designing and fabricating physical objects. In the past few years, these devices and their software have drastically improved in sophistication, capability, and accessibility. Students learn how to design for and operate these machines through the completion of multiple projects in a hands-on, laboratory-based approach. They learn technical skills, practical constraints, and the methods of troubleshooting associated with these fabrication techniques. The successful completion of this course results in access to the Design and Build Lab equipment during operating hours. Prerequisite: completion of Quantitative Literacy I requirement.
*PHYS 331: Modern Physics (3)
Electrons, protons, and structure of matter: a historic view. The Rutherford-Bohr atom and elements of quantum mechanics and their applications to atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics. Usually Offered: fall. Prerequisite: PHYS-200, PHYS-205, or PHYS-210. Prerequisite/Concurrent:MATH-222.
*Either this course or PHYS 351: Waves and Optics, fulfills the requirement.
*PHYS 351: Waves and Optics (3)
The physics of waves is required to understand sound, light, and electronic information transfer. Starting with resonance phenomena, Fourier analysis, and basic wave equations, the course builds to an understanding of acoustics and optics. Laboratory activities are integrated into lectures. Usually Offered: spring. Prerequisite: PHYS-200, PHYS-205, or PHYS-210, and MATH-222.
*Either this course or PHYS 331: Modern Physics, fulfills the requirement.
Any other physics class at the 300 level or above (3)
Visit the American University Course Catalog to explore additional Physics course options.