Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation - STEM program

Launch your professional entrepreneurial career from Silicon Valley.

Just steps from some of the world’s most innovative companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, USF Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI) students build essential technical and business skills, gain professional experience with Bay Area firms, discover new insights from executive mentors, and create new ventures on the way to launching professional entrepreneurial careers in the global heart of innovation.

During this one-year master's degree, take an entrepreneurial journey to launch your new career.

Join small classes of motivated students, experience a cutting-edge curriculum, and leverage the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem.

Develop your career as an innovative leader who will help fashion a more humane and equitable world through the creation of products, services, and new ventures that serve communities around the globe.

Whether your goal is to launch your own firm, join a venture capital-backed startup, step into a business development role in a large corporate enterprise, contribute to a social enterprise or bring new innovative skills and associations to your family business, the USF MSEI delivers essential theoretical, applied, and experiential learning to help you achieve your objectives.

STEM Designated

The MSEI degree is designated as a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and math). Employers are known to value employees with STEM-designated education. Eligible international students may apply to work in the United States for additional time via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) benefit and OPT STEM extension.

Customized career guidance

MSEI Students will have access to professional networking events, career workshops, and other career services.

Students will also receive on-going mentorship and build a personal advisory board to aid in their professional development.

Professional development opportunities

• Intern with a San Francisco Bay Area firm
• Visit Silicon Valley companies
• Attend investor pitch events
• Build your own professional advisory panel
• Create a new business venture for launch

Global reputation

• The USF MBA entrepreneurship concentration and the undergraduate entrepreneurship major programs have been ranked among the Top 20 in the country by U.S. News and World Report (2018)
• USF Master in Global Entrepreneurial Management has been ranked among the top 50 management programs in the world by Financial Times (2018)

"The MSEI program instilled in me the theoretical foundations, internship experiences, and the opportunity to launch a new venture. Throughout the year, I learned how to build my professional reputation, network with industry leaders, and be mentored by some of the best innovators in the Valley. I will never forget this experience, as it got me to where I am today!"

Lawrence Ling MS Entrepreneurship and Innovation '18
BA Political Science, UCLA
Customer Experience, Gusto

The 12-month USF M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is designed to ensure new and recent college graduates gain essential skills and experiences in order to best compete for a place in today’s innovation economy and launch a professional entrepreneurial career from Silicon Valley. 

Whether your goal is to launch your own firm, join a venture-capital-backed startup, step into a business development role in a large corporate enterprise, contribute to a social enterprise or bring new innovative skills and associations to your family business, the USF MSEI delivers essential theoretical, applied, and experiential learning to help you achieve your objectives.

In the USF MSEI, students learn from leading scholarly and professional faculty and gain vital mentorship and professional enterprise and entrepreneurial experience. STEM Certified.

Goals

• Develop cadres of entrepreneurial and innovative leaders who help fashion a more humane world through the creation and development of products, services, and enterprises that serve communities around the globe.
• Accelerate the students’ intellectual and professional growth leading to the launch of new professional careers or new ventures by building business and technical capabilities and professional experiences.
• Engage students in the Silicon Valley ecosystem through a comprehensive set of curricular and co-curricular programming and activities that introduce students to new professional and entrepreneurial career opportunities.
• Promote and support the global entrepreneurship and innovation network of current students, alumni, and affiliated external partners that enhance the professional opportunities for all.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply a design and innovation toolset to analyze and create new disruptive products and services.
• Build essential technology competencies that can be effectively employed in startups, social ventures, family businesses, and corporate enterprises.
• Demonstrate strategic and financial planning capabilities in the development of a business plan.
• Develop key competencies in the area of entrepreneurial sales and marketing analytics.
• Analyze and apply concepts and issues of entrepreneurial leadership, law, and ethics.
• Enhance professional acumen through executive mentoring, structured internships, new venture launch, and related Silicon Valley co-curricular activities.

Major Requirements (36 units)

In 3 consecutive semesters over 12 months, MSEI students complete 36 units-32 units of core coursework and 4 units of electives (2 units each in semesters 2 and 3).

• A 4-day customized orientation is required for all MSEI students just prior to the start of classes.
• All MSEI courses are taken in a prescribed sequence in a cohort (no prerequisites).
• All MSEI courses are letter-grade based (standard)
• Students are expected to have basic skills in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Students must complete all degree coursework with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA

Core coursed

• MSEI 500 - Philosophy of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• MSEI 501 - Creativity, Innovation, and Applied Design
• MSEI 502 - Internet & Bus Applications
• MSEI 503 - Product & Service Development
• MSEI 504 - Entrepreneurial Fin & Acct
• MSEI 506 - Entrepreneurial Professional Development and Mentoring
• MSEI 508 - Organizational Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• MSEI 509 - Contemporary Technology Tools and Trends
• MSEI 511 - Analytics for Innovation
• MSEI 512 - Product Engineering
• MSEI 513 - Science Innovation & Commercialization
• MSEI 600 - Entrepreneurial Sales
• MSEI 601 - Entrepreneurial Strat & Planni
• MSEI 602 - Entrepreneurial Law

Practicum courses

The practicum is offered during the second and third trimester of the program.

• MSEI 510 - Organization Practicum ( Professional Internship)
• MSEI 606 - New Venture Launch (Practicum)

Graduate Admission

Our office processes your application and prepares it for review by your program's admission committee. In addition, we can provide you contacts to important services at the university as you prepare to begin your graduate studies at USF. Please contact us if you'd like to speak with someone on the team or to schedule an appointment.

Please be advised that classes in SOM graduate programs begin on August 18. Select SOM programs are still accepting applications. If you would like to proceed with your application for Fall 2021, the application review will be expedited as well as your registration and tuition obligations. Email management@usfca.edu with any questions.

How to Apply

The application process is entirely online. No items need to be mailed to USF. Upload all of your application items to your account.

Test Score Requirements

• If you submit test scores, you must upload a copy of your score and request that an official score report be sent to USF.
• If your program does not require a test score, you may still submit the score report if you choose to do so.

Application Requirements

• Transcript(s)
  The minimum graduate admission requirement includes a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution prior to enrollment. Copies of your transcripts from each accredited college or university attended must be uploaded to the online application. Once admitted to the program, instructions for sending official, sealed transcripts will be provided.
• Résumé
  Your current résumé or CV can list and describe your educational history, work or job history, coursework related to the graduate program to which you are applying, and any experiences relevant to your pursuit of graduate studies - including internships, published articles, or other published materials, volunteer and/or community service experience, study or work outside of your home country, and any other interests or activities related to your graduate program.
• Letters of Recommendation
  Two letters of recommendation are required. Applicants to all programs should submit at least one letter from a professional contact, if possible. Ideally, one or both of your professional recommendations will come from a current or former direct supervisor. Academic recommendations are also appreciated for current undergraduates.
• Statement of Purpose or Essay
  A 1000 word essay is required and must be uploaded in the online application Please address the following questions in a single document:
  • What are your short and long-term professional goals and how will this degree help you achieve those goals?
  • Why have you chosen this degree and who or what experience influenced you to apply?
  • Why USF?
• Interview
  Interview requirements vary by program. All interviews are by invitation only. Should you be selected to interview, an invitation will be sent to the email account associated with your online application and include all necessary details.
• Self-Evaluation (Optional)
  Use this essay to evaluate your leadership and management skills, capabilities, and talents as they stand today. What would your colleagues/classmates say about you as a leader? What areas do you feel you could further develop?
• Scholarship Statement (Optional)
  The USF School of Management offers general merit and special interest scholarships. Review available scholarships and use this essay to explain your eligibility and/or qualifications for one or more of these scholarships.
• Additional Information (Optional)
  Use this essay to share additional information you would like to be considered as part of your application (i.e. gaps in employment, academic issues, etc.)

Program Specific Requirements

Application requirements vary slightly by program. Please be sure to read through the program requirements carefully.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

• Passport
  Applicants who require an F-1 student visa must submit a copy of their valid passport with their application. Please be sure to submit a clear copy of your passport photo/information page. This can be uploaded via your application portal or by emailing management@usfca.edu.
• International Address
  All F-1 and J-1 visa applicants are instructed to use their international address on the application. If you are currently in the United States, you can use that address for mailing.
• Visa Transfer
  If you are currently on an F-1 visa or returning from OPT and are planning to transfer your SEVIS record please review the section titled SEVIS Transfer Applicants (create a new page with the information listed below). If you are currently in the United States in F-1 status or currently on OPT, you can transfer your status to USF. Students who have completed at least one academic term in the U.S in F-1 status can transfer their SEVIS record to USF, or complete a “Change of Level” from another USF degree, and continue to maintain F-1 status.
  Please submit a completed School of Management Graduate Application by June 1.

Additional requirements on the following pages:

• Academic Credentials
• Certificate of Finance
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Global Entrepreneurial Management (MGEM) visa requirements

We cannot sponsor F1 student visas for part-time programs.

If you have questions about this process, please contact us for further instructions.