MS-EI academics
Earn your Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MS-EI) at America’s most innovative university. Students engage in studio-based classes and join a small founding team to gain practical experience in launching successful ventures and creating high-impact business models.
The MS-EI program develops the technical, critical thinking, and communication skills needed to manage teams and produce innovative business solutions. With mentorship from leading faculty across disciplines and a failure-friendly environment, you'll be well-prepared for entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial career paths
Curriculum
The MS-EI degree is a full-time in-person program that requires 30 total credit hours, with the option to extend your program with an optional third-semester track. Strategically designed core courses introduce students to all aspects of entrepreneurship, reinforcing concepts you can apply within an organization or to your own venture. The program culminates with an applied project.
Paired with electives of your choosing, this program is a great fit for visionary students who know where they want to go next. Students also have the opportunity to add an optional, third-semester track in a complementary business discipline.
It instructs you to always start by interviewing the customers, and make sure you’re addressing the proper pain points in their lives. Then it helps lead you through designing a product/service that is actually solving the problem at hand, and ultimately how to manage through uncertainty. From conception, to prototyping, to launching something completely novel - the skills learned here have real-world applications.
Santino Sciullo, MS-EI graduate
Sample MS-EI courses
Develop deep skills across courses that cover business model innovation, entrepreneurial finance and supply chain, effective digital marketing strategies, and more. The master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation culminates with an applied project, enabling you to build on concepts as you move through the program. Take a closer look at individual courses through ASU class search.
This is a foundational course in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at Arizona State University. This studio-based course immerses students in the Design Thinking process, helping them develop skills in user observation, empathy, insight generation, and ideation. Students will explore how to create brands with purpose, craft compelling narratives, and apply innovative problem-solving strategies to real-world challenges.
Through hands-on projects and collaboration, students will learn to develop human-centered solutions that integrate desirability, feasibility, and viability, ensuring their innovations resonate with both users and the marketplace. Throughout the course, students will engage in a structured progression of discovery, brand strategy, and storytelling, culminating in the development of a comprehensive product or service concept.
Working in transdisciplinary teams, they will conduct design research, identify market opportunities, build strategic brand identities, and refine their communication and presentation skills. By the end of the semester, students will have gained creative confidence, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a deep understanding of how to bring innovative ideas to life in a competitive business environment.
In this iterative, creative 'make-to-learn' phase of venture development, students explore prototyping and testing with audiences or end-users to develop feedback loops for real-time evaluation of their ideas, then synthesize learning from both successes and failures to progress toward a solution. Key components include mastery of ideation and creative development, framing strategic questions and success indicators for prototyping of services or products, evaluation of feedback and iteration of progressively more promising ideas, and evaluation of their innovations measured against the success indicators they developed. Students learn and practice prototyping service interactions as well as product innovations.
How to learn ideation process, defining problem statement, solution idea, viability of the idea, design thinking, opportunity/market sizing and identification, customer segments, strategic innovation, experience design, vision, mission, communications skills, storytelling, presentation skills, pitching skills to investors, customers, employees, supervisor, and partnership formation.
Electives
MS-EI students are required to complete three electives as part of their degree program. We offer a range of electives to support your success as an intrapreneur within an organization, or as an entrepreneur at the helm of your own business. Create the learning experience that aligns best with your background and career aspirations. From the role of AI in business to in-demand digital marketing skills, the right combination of electives will add immediate value to your desired career after graduation.
- AI in Business
- Corporate Entrepreneurship
- Decision-making with Data Analytics
- Financing Early Stage Ventures
- Lean Launch
- Negotiations
- New Venture Challenge
- Promoting the B2B Enterprise
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Supply Chain Project Management
- Venture Capital Experience
MS-EI degree tracks
Expand your perspective and maximize the value of your master’s in entrepreneurship degree with an optional third-semester track in a complementary business discipline. Building upon the core curriculum, these additional courses pair with applied experience in the field to prepare you for a variety of dynamic career opportunities.
In these courses, you'll develop in-demand skills and leverage technology and data to capitalize on opportunities and improve strategic agility. Discover how you can integrate AI and business analytics with entrepreneurship to translate data into insights, increase operational efficiency, and drive innovation.
The fintech industry is transforming the business landscape by democratizing access to advanced financial tools and insights for businesses of all sizes. Through specialized courses, learn how cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and blockchain drive growth and innovation, create new customer experiences, and make funding opportunities more accessible.
Marketing plays a pivotal role in entrepreneurial ventures as consumer behavior and technology continue to evolve. In courses that balance theoretical knowledge with practical application, you'll learn how to develop effective marketing strategies and utilize technology to craft compelling brand stories and engage customers. Gain the marketing expertise needed to drive business growth and adapt to market changes.
An innovative and entrepreneurial approach to supply chain management is crucial for businesses to stay competitive, sustain growth, and keep operations efficient. Build upon the MS-EI program and learn how robust supply chain management forms the backbone of global commerce.
Professional preparation
The MS-EI program at ASU equips graduates with these skills and the knowledge to navigate an ever-changing world and make meaningful contributions to the business community. By blending entrepreneurial thinking with innovative business solutions, our graduates are well-prepared to identify market opportunities, develop scalable business models, and drive sustainable growth.
The most impactful project was treating my emerging business idea — supporting working parents and ultimately finding my sweet spot in fee-only, holistic financial advice — as a full venture throughout the program, including interviewing about 100 people in the industry and iterating the model based on those conversations.
Prudence Zhu, MS-EI graduate
STEM designation
Our record of excellence and impact attracts motivated, diverse scholars from all over the world: over 120 countries are represented in the W. P. Carey student body alone. As a STEM-designated program, eligible graduates on student visas have access to an Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension for up to 36 months. This longer work authorization term may help international students gain additional skills and experience in the U.S.
Faculty
The MS-EI program is delivered by leading faculty from two world-renowned ASU colleges: the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the W. P. Carey School of Business. Empowering students with cutting-edge knowledge, mentorship, and experience in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, we support outstanding growth in and out of the classroom.
Industry coaches
In addition to academic rigor, the MS-EI program offers experiential learning opportunities guided by experienced industry coaches. These proven innovators and industry experts are always available to offer advice and share their knowledge and experience with you. Graduates will be prepared to lead in a world of growing uncertainty and ambiguity.
Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset
Discover a wealth of entrepreneurship resources and opportunities at Arizona State University. Featuring interviews with MS-EI Faculty Director Hitendra Chaturvedi, our Entrepreneurial Mindset podcast provides an inside look at your next frontier. Join us!