United States

Columbia College Chicago

Entrepreneurship for Creatives (MA)

University degrees: Postgraduate

Course length: one year (30 credits)

Columbia College Chicago’s one-year graduate program in entrepreneurship will prepare you to develop your business idea into a creative venture. You’ll gain practical entrepreneurial skills to lead and innovate in the creative industries.

The program is a good fit for students who have entrepreneurial ideas or interests in fields such as art, design, fashion, film, games, music, performing arts, and media. Whether you dream of opening your own theatre company or art gallery, launching a nonprofit for community artists, or developing an app for game designers, you’ll find the tools and guidance you need to get your idea off the ground.

You’ll develop your idea with the help of faculty members who have current professional experience in the creative industries. You’ll learn the economic, financial, legal, and marketing skills needed to thrive in the entrepreneurial sector with a focus on your specific target market. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a business plan and pitch deck to use for securing venture funding.

You do not need a background or degree in business to succeed in this program. And, because many classes are offered in the evenings and you can take some courses online, you’ll have the flexibility to continue your day job and other passions.

In the Classroom

  • As a hybrid program, you’ll take several courses online while also meeting in-person with your cohort and faculty.
  • Rather than applying your new skills and knowledge to a hypothetical business, your assignments will revolve primarily around your real business idea. This hands-on approach will give you dedicated time to research market opportunities, conduct competitor research, analyze your target customer, and assess risk.
  • Your faculty mentors will help you develop a strategy for identifying investors and the information they need in a pitch. You’ll get feedback from faculty, industry partners, and your peers as you hone in on your proposal.
  • You’ll take courses on topics that will give you an understanding of entrepreneurship and its impact. Courses will take a critical look at the global economic marketplace. And, you’ll study the theory and practice of social influence and community engagement.
  • You’ll also take courses designed for the creative industry on core business concepts like marketing, intellectual property and contracts, accounting, and finance. You’ll apply these skills directly to your creative venture.

Programs, Courses, Workshops