Management Certificate with Entrepreneurship Concentration for Engineering Ph.D. Students

In partnership with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business’ Graduate Field of Management, Cornell Engineering offers Ph.D. students the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Management with a focus on Entrepreneurship.
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The Entrepreneurship concentration of the Certificate in Management is designed primarily for Cornell Engineering Ph.D. students. It provides an opportunity for students to develop business skills that complement their advanced engineering research, enabling them to identify, optimize, and commercialize technological innovations.

While existing concentrations in the field of Management focus on specific functional areas, engineering students are seeking business knowledge that will help them translate research ideas into actionable business plans — whether as entrepreneurs launching startups or as leaders within established organizations.

Eligibility and Application Process

Ph.D. students in Engineering are eligible to pursue the certificate with the approval of their advisors and the Graduate Field of Management.

Students may apply after completing their first year in the Ph.D. program. Courses taken prior to admission to the certificate program may be counted toward its completion. Students are encouraged to plan their coursework early to ensure they can complete all requirements before graduation or leaving campus for employment.

Please note: NBA coursework cannot be substituted for the NCC core course requirements.

  • Application Submissions

    All applications should be emailed to Bonna Davidson: bnd26@cornell.edu.

  • Questions

    Please direct any questions to Kamana Misra, Associate Director of Entrepreneurship: kpm72@cornell.edu.

Curricular Information

To earn the Management Certificate with an Entrepreneurship concentration, engineering Ph.D. students must complete a total of 12 credits: three 3-credit core courses and 3 credits of electives. The core courses provide essential business knowledge and leadership skills, covering key areas of general management.

For the elective requirement, students may choose from approved NBA (not MBA) courses, taken for a letter grade. A grade of B or higher is required for any course to count toward the certificate.

Core Classes

All are 3-credit courses.

Choose 3 courses:

Electives

Students may take NBA courses (Johnson School elective courses) for a letter grade to fulfill the certificate’s elective requirement.

A minimum of 3 credits must be completed from the following list: