Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, & Venture Innovation

The Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation will offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs for students who want to be tomorrow’s business, community, and academic innovators. Faculty in the program discover and disseminate knowledge through their research, supporting Arkansas, economic development and the academic community.

Department Directory

Academic Programs

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Major
Bachelor’s Degree

Start your own for-profit or non-profit venture. Manage and grow small businesses, or enter the workforce with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills in innovation and technology commercialization.

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Minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Minor Program

A minor for Walton College students desiring more knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship to assist them in their business careers.

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Outdoor Products and Services Certificate
Micro-Certificate

Love biking, fishing, climbing, camping or hiking? Earn an Outdoor Products and Services Micro-Certificate to gain an understanding of the business side of outdoor recreation. This micro-certificate consists of nine credit hours, is open to students from all disciplines and no prerequisites are required.

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PhD Program: Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Doctoral Degree

The department offers a PhD program in Business Administration that prepares students for careers as scholars focused on problems facing businesses. The program offers areas of emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Nonmarket Strategy, and Corporate Social Responsibility, and Micro foundations of Strategy and Entrepreneurship.

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Department News

The Business of Outdoor Recreation: Earn a Micro-Certificate

Love biking, camping, fishing or hiking? Earn an Outdoor Products and Services Micro-Certificate to learn the business side of outdoor recreation.

March 22, 2023 | By Lori McLemore

Student-Run Business Spotlight: Nicholas Prentiss

"Venture creation and entrepreneurship has been a burning desire in me since I was a kid."

January 24, 2023 | By Grant Schol

Study: Stock Purchases by Senators Generate Abnormal Returns for Firms

Researchers based study on public perception of politicians as unethical, having privileged information.

October 20, 2022

A biker riding on a Northwest Arkansas trail. Photo by Michael Gjellum.

Walton College Launches Master of Science in Product Innovation Program

The degree targets recent graduates and mid-career professionals who want to develop skills to launch products in a startup or innovative environment.

September 29, 2022 | By Lori McLemore

Callander and Cummings Recognized with Schulze Publication Award

The authors explore how to bridge the gap between art and business.

July 8, 2022

Using Diversity to Improve Educational Experiences at the U of A

This session with Rogelio Garcia Contreras and Jackie Wiersma-Mosley will highlight inclusive teaching practices that support all U of A students. Join the talk from 1:30-2:30 p.m. today via Zoom.

March 30, 2022

Heartland Challenge; Credit: Cari Humphry

Student Startup Teams to Compete for $110,000 Cash Prize Pool in U of A's Heartland Challenge

Twelve graduate startup teams across North America will compete this spring in the third annual Heartland Challenge, a competition designed to simulate the process of raising venture capital for a high-growth enterprise.

March 28, 2022

Assistant Professor Rogelio Garcia Contreras receives the Service Learning Outstanding Teaching Award.

Garcia Contreras Recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Service Learning Teaching Award

Rogelio Garcia Contreras, teaching assistant professor and director of social innovation in Walton College, received the 2021-22 Outstanding Contribution to Service Learning Teaching Award.

March 17, 2022

Rogelio Garcia Contreras; Credit: Rachel Grunert

Rogelio Garcia Contreras Named 2020-21 Service Learning Committee Member of the Year

Rogelio Garcia Contreras, a teaching assistant professor who has taught two service learning classes in Walton College, directed multiple service-learning-based honors theses.

September 8, 2021

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New Program at U of A to Support Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurs

A new program is being developed at the U of A that will train and support regional entrepreneurs focused on outdoor recreation-oriented hospitality, service and experience businesses, as well as outdoor industry product design and development start-ups.

September 8, 2021