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Business Major: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Emphasis

Bachelor of Arts

With a business: innovation and entrepreneurship, degree, you’ll gain the tools to launch your own business or be a core part of growing an existing business.

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Become who you’re meant to be. While earning a B.A. in Business with an innovation and entrepreneurship emphasis, you’ll unlock your potential and gain critical skills for success in many career fields. You’ll develop entrepreneurial skills to forge the engine behind new thinking and innovation, but you’ll also have the solid business acumen that builds healthy companies and strong economies. You’ll develop your creativity, customer development, strategy, and project management that equip you to serve a variety of businesses and organizations—and use your skills to make a difference.

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Why should I study innovation and entrepreneurship at Bethel?

Here, you’ll find a Christ-centered learning community where you belong. Your learning will center in the Department of Business, where you’ll learn from professors who get to know you personally and will invest in your success.

  • Faith-fueled learning
    You’ll explore the intersection of business and faith, develop your God-given talents, and learn to use the tools of business to make a difference in your community and the world.

  • Join our vibrant and active business community
    Here, you won’t study business or start your career alone. You’ll join our strong business community, find mentorship, and build a network with classmates and professionals through BBEA, BethelBiz, and much more.

  • Pursue your passions
    Along with numerous career options with an accounting degree, you can combine this emphasis with other business emphasis disciplines like accountingbusiness analysis and analytics, finance, managing organizations and human resources, and marketing—all to fit your interests and career goals.

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Connect with a counselor

They’ll answer your questions, connect you with professors, and help you find the right time to visit campus. They’ll be there every step of the way to help make applying to Bethel as smooth as possible.

Find your counselor

Courses and skills

What skills will I develop?

As you gain the skills and knowledge for a successful and fulfilling career, you’ll also explore ways to serve others and integrate your faith into your career.

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A strong foundation in business

Acquire a base of well-rounded skills that will prepare you for diverse roles in the business world. As part of your coursework, you’ll become certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Innovative and strategic skills

Develop expertise in lean startup methodology, new product development, and organizational strategy to drive innovation and strategic growth within any organization.

Practical business skills

Gain hands-on experience by working in a team to generate ideas, create products, source suppliers, set prices, sell both physically and online, and manage financials. You’ll receive valuable start-up insights by pitching ideas to a panel of local entrepreneurs, shark-tank style, and receiving feedback.

Analytical and management skills

Enhance your capabilities in project management, data and financial analysis, and leading organizational change. Cultivate self-management, versatility, and flexibility to effectively navigate complex business environments.

Creative and visionary skills

Strengthen your ability in vision casting, imagination, and visualization, while honing critical and creative thinking. Explore social entrepreneurship to create impactful, sustainable solutions in the business world.

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Academic plans

Map out your time at Bethel—from day one to your diploma. Your course schedule is designed to help you grow, gain skills, and become who you’re meant to be.

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Learning opportunities

What experiences will I have?

Hands-on learning is at the core of all Bethel majors. That means you’ll find numerous opportunities to get involved, apply what you’ve learned, and gain experience. And Bethel’s size and vibrant community will allow you to pursue ways to get involved right away.

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Practical application

Put your skills into practice by completing an internship, working with clients on a capstone project, and preparing tax returns for individuals and families in need. You can also participate in opportunities like the Royals Investment Fund, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Challenge, the Innovation Scholars program, the Deloitte Case Competition, and the Midwest Undergraduate Data Analytics Competition (MUDAC).

Valuable connections

Pursue opportunities to grow as a business through student-led groups like BBEA. You’ll also build your network and gain mentorship through our alumni network through BethelBiz, Women in Business events, and more.

Study abroad

Learn firsthand about the global economy. Examine how businesses like advertising agencies, banks, accounting firms, manufacturing facilities, and multinational corporations operate across borders.

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Real-world impact

What can I do with this degree?

With a business: innovation and entrepreneurship, you’ll forge the skills and knowledge to launch your own venture or contribute to the growth of existing businesses. You'll be prepared to make a difference in diverse industries and sectors.

Start and innovate businesses

You'll gain the skills to start a business or improve an existing one, applying experimentation and creativity in a business setting.

Improve small businesses, nonprofits, and family businesses

Gain the knowledge to strengthen a family business, small business, or nonprofit. You’ll use your entrepreneurial skills to drive success, growth, and sustainability.

Corporate innovation

Learn how to work in corporations to start new departments or launch new products, bringing entrepreneurial thinking into larger organizations.

Versatile career options

Add other specializations to prepare for roles as a financial planner, human resources specialist, or marketer, benefiting from the innovation and customer development skills developed in the program.

Skills for any field

With a business major, you’ll forge a strong foundation for wherever your career takes you—whether it’s a firm, corporation, government agency, or not-for-profit organization.

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Start your journey

Explore Bethel for yourself

Visiting campus is the best way to learn about Bethel and our majors. As you try out academic and campus life at Bethel, you can attend a class, chat with students, meet professors and coaches, tour campus, and get a taste of life in our program.

Schedule a visit

Faculty mentors

Meet your professors

You’ll learn alongside faculty who are distinguished scholars and faithful Christians. They’ll know you by name and invest in your success. And in our state-of-the-art business space, you’ll find a large lounge space, huddle rooms, and interactive classrooms where you can connect with classmates and professors every day.

Department of Business


Location

Robertson Center (RC) 310

Contact

Mary Ann Harris

Bethany Opsata

Mary Ann Harris

Mary Ann Harris

Professor of Business

Bio >

Bethany Opsata

Bethany Opsata

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Shyla Allard

Shyla Allard

Assistant Professor of Business

Bio >

Mauvalyn Bowen

Mauvalyn Bowen

Professor of Business

Bio >

Michael Disher

Michael Disher

Assistant Professor of Economics

Bio >

Leo Gabriel

Leo Gabriel

Professor of Business

Bio >

Brian Holland

Brian Holland

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Jeff Jacob

Jeff Jacob

Professor of Economics

Bio >

Joyce LeMay

Joyce LeMay

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Andrew Paine

Andrew Paine

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Shawn Sauve

Shawn Sauve

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Stephen Whiting

Stephen Whiting

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

Drew Whitson

Drew Whitson

Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

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Diana Dutcher

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

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Tracy Harris

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

Julie Hedlund

Julie Hedlund

Adjunct Associate Professor of Business

Bio >

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Paul Ives

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

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Logan Kix

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

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Daniel Meyer

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

Richard Olson

Richard Olson

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

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Lisa Sellner

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

Greg Bourland

Greg Bourland

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

Judy Jones

Judy Jones

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

Gregg Lindberg

Gregg Lindberg

Adjunct Instructor of Business

Bio >

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David Danforth

Associate Professor of Business Emeritus

Bio >

Nikki Daniels

Nikki Daniels

Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership Emerita

Bio >

Chuck Hannema

Chuck Hannema

Associate Professor of Business Emeritus

Bio >

Bruce Olsen

Bruce Olsen

Associate Professor of Business Emeritus

Bio >

Top 20

business analytics degree nationwide

- Great Business Schools

7

NCAA postgraduate scholarships awarded since 2012

Student Support

Your support team

At Bethel, you’ll experience a community where you belong. And that means you’ll be able to access numerous tools for your academic success—tutoring, mentors, study help, and more.

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Career coaching and preparation

A dedicated team is here to empower you to lead a purposeful life. Career coaches will help you build a resume, pursue internships and jobs, and provide support at every step of the way.

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Academic advising

No matter your goals, you’ll find support from your advisor. They’ll help you plan your courses and will provide support as you complete your degree and start a successful career.

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Tutoring and academic support

The Academic Enrichment and Support Center (AESC) will be your first stop for academic support. You’ll find help in building study skills, academic counseling, and more.

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Faith formation

As you develop your faith, you’ll have support from our Campus Ministries team. From Chapel to Bible studies, you’ll have numerous opportunities to explore and grow in your faith.

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Accessible education

Tuition and financial aid

We want you to understand from the beginning what a Bethel education costs. That’s why we made it simple. Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, tuition for the College of Arts & Sciences will be $25,990—down from $44,050. This more accurately reflects what you can expect to pay, empowering you to make informed decisions and become who you're meant to be.

Estimate your cost today

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Become A Bethel Student

Apply now

You belong at Bethel. If you're ready to see who you could become, start your free application today.

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Find your fit

Explore related programs

Bethel’s small size, strong community, and liberal arts focus allows you to personalize your education by adding additional majors or minors. In fact, about 30% of students double major—and many pursue degrees in vastly different disciplines.

Explore the full lists:

Majors and minors Preprofessional programs Endorsements