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What courses should I consider adding to my engineering curriculum if I want to start my own business after graduating from college?

I like the idea of creating my own business so I can maintain more control of my career and life. #engineering #engineer #mechanical-engineering #entrepreneurship #business-management #mechanical-engineer #building #project-manager

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Glenn’s Answer

I agree with John. You need to have a good knowledge of business. Take all the business courses that you can. Finance, Accounting, Business management, Business Law, Marketing, etc. There is a lot to running a business.


Since you did not state what type of business, it may also be good to have course specific to the type of business that you plan to run.
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Ioulia’s Answer

A solid basis in business disciplines is a huge step up, agree with listed subjects above. But also get in touch with someone who already runs a business and ask them where they feel they lack expertise. Use their experience and advice from making your own mistakes. Also, you start thinking about it when in college, very smart!
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Hemachandra’s Answer

The recent trend is that entrepreneurship teaching is not confined to business schools but expanding to engineering schools. Learning to be an entrepreneur requires a set of skills and abilities which are unique for each business. My recommendation is to add core business courses like accounting and finance to your curriculum followed by more advanced courses like strategy will help you understand the fundamental business concepts. Please choose your courses with faculty who are experienced in teaching entrepreneurship to students like you with engineering background. Get appointments with faculty to understand their perspectives on entrepreneurial skills and their methodology to advancing engineering undergrad entrepreneurial learning objectives.
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Eva’s Answer

Generally speaking, I would look at what offerings they have in business and management. John and Glenn had some good suggestions. Adding on to their suggestions: look at project management, business management and development, operations management, some schools have classes relating to entrepreneurship and venture capital.
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John’s Answer

If your are going to start you own business then you need some business training. Courses such as accounting and bookkeeping, project planning and strategic management, maybe some employment law and contracts -- all would keep you from making some basic business mistakes. You also will need to be able to write well enough to prepare proposals and write agreements or contracts. Even letters of introduction that are not well written, have bad grammar or misspelled words can turn a potential client or customer away.


As a final check I suggest you go to someone who had been in a similar business for a few years and ask him or her what areas they had to learn on the job once they got started.


Good luck. Expect to work very hard and to experience great satisfaction.

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DAVID’s Answer


  1. take the EIT asap in senior year

  2. work under professional engineer 3-4 years as necessary to take your state PE test and get your license


very important
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