Entrepreneurship Track
In just 12 months, earn a Duke master's degree while gaining business skills and entrepreneurial confidence—and potentially launch your own venture along the way
Led by successful tech entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneurship Track in Duke’s Master of Engineering Management Program will teach you to:
- Identify problems
- Develop conceptual solutions
- Build prototypes
- Develop a startup strategy
In this program, you become part of the growing innovation and entrepreneurship community at Duke. And selected Entrepreneurship Track graduates may also receive support and funding to start their companies—$5,000 seed capital.
Get Ready
Rigorous and engaging coursework
Become grounded in business fundamentals—including marketing, management, finance, and intellectual property/business law. In addition, undertake special coursework in tech innovation, prototyping, and startup strategy. The program's technical electives will strengthen your ability to innovate—whether within an established company or in your own venture.
Course Offerings
- EGRMGMT 532: Advanced Finance
- EGRMGMT 542: Competitive Strategies
- EGRMGMT 560: Project Management
- EGRMGMT 572: Innovation Management
- EGRMGMT 576: Design Thinking and Innovation
- EGRMGMT 590.XX: Intellectual Asset Management
- BME 790: Clinical Skills Immersion
- BME 790: Advanced Biomedical Design 1
- BME 790: Advanced Biomedical Design 2
- I&E 590 Special Topics: Mission Driven Startup
- I&E 748 New Ventures: Discovery
- I&E 750 New Ventures: Development
- ENVIRON 767: Entrepreneurial Experience
Sample Curriculum
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall 2 (Optional) |
---|---|---|---|
EGRMGMT 510:Marketing |
EGRMGMT 520: Intellectual Property, Business Law, and Entrepreneurship |
EGRMGMT 550: Engineering Management Internship: Technology Assessment |
Founder’s Fellowship |
EGRMGMT 530: Finance in High-Tech Industries |
EGRMGMT 540: Management of High-Tech Industries |
EGRMGMT 551: Engineering Management Internship Assessment: Pitch Development |
|
BME 790: Clinical Skills Immersion |
EGRMGMT 576: Design Thinking and Innovation |
||
I&E 748: New Ventures: Discovery |
I&E 750: New Ventures: Development |
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EGRMGMT 501: Seminar and Workshop |
EGRMGMT 501: Seminar and Workshop |
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More about Entrepreneurship at Duke
Engineering Entrepreneurship (EngEn)
Students have access to Duke EngEn, a Duke Engineering-led initiative that integrates needs-driven design experiences, entrepreneurial education, startup resources, and a team of advisors—each of whom is a successful entrepreneur. More at engen.duke.edu »
Graduate Certificate
Students may also pursue Duke's Graduate & Professional Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship while fulfilling the Entrepreneurship Elective Track for their Master of Engineering Management. More at entrepreneurship.duke.edu »
“A growing need within small and large corporations is to cultivate an intrapreneurial environment. Duke’s Entrepreneurship Track provides engineers with the agility required to innovate across the enterprise.”
Lee Clark-Sellers | Innovation Officer, Ply Gem Industries Inc.
GET MENTORED
Each faculty member is an innovator and company founder

Ken Gall
Associate Dean for Entrepreneurship
Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, in Biomedical Engineering, and in Orthopaedic Surgery
Founder, Vertera Spine (acquired by NuVasive), Deep Blue Medical Advances, and Restor3D

Bill Walker
Mattson Family Director, Entrepreneurship @ Duke Engineering
Founder, PocketSonics (acquired by Analogic) and Hemosonics (acquired by Diagnostica Stago)

Steven McClelland
Executive in Residence, Duke Engineering
Former Chief Architect & Product Strategist, Citizen Sports Network (acquired by Yahoo!); VP Product Management, Yahoo!, Director of Product Management, Twitter; Founder, Interdimensions Web Consulting

Eric Richardson
Associate Professor of the Practice, Biomedical Engineering
Founding Director, Global Medical Innovation Master's Program, Rice University

Joe Knight
Adjunct Professor, Duke Engineering
Faculty, Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
President & CEO, InnAVasc Medical Inc.

Paul Fearis
Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke Biomedical Engineering
Founder & CEO, Clinvue LLC
Get Set
Gain entrepreneurial confidence
- Learn from seasoned entrepreneurs in Duke Engineering and Duke’s Office of Licensing & Ventures
- Receive personalized career guidance
- Intern in your own venture—build a technical prototype and develop your venture’s strategy
Get Funded
The Founder's Fellowship
- Compete for a semester-long, tuition-free Founder’s Fellowship so you can dedicate extra time to your venture—and receive $5,000 seed capital
- Compelling ventures will be introduced to Duke investors through the Duke Angel Network and our 170,000-strong alumni network
“Duke has brought together an all-star team. This expertise, along with a proven process, will give you the tools to bring your ideas to life.”
Robert J. Coyle | Sr. VP Pharma & Health care Strategy, Kuehne+Nagel Inc.
Get Started
Connect with Duke
Start your application
Contact Admissions

Susan Brown
Assistant Director of Admissions
pratt_masters@duke.edu