Read the entire spread on the Entrepreneurship program(PDF)

Read more about USF’s Entrepreneurship program or USF’s College of Business.

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From 10 Connects:

Tampa, Florida — Have you ever had a million dollar idea, but let it go as a fleeting thought?

We learned about a graduate program from one of 10 Connects’ followers on Twitter that helps students turn those concepts into reality.

The University of South Florida program teaches students how to create products, apply for patents, and set up businesses.

Recent gradate Jonathan Solomon didn’t invent the snap cap, but he’s capitalizing off it.

“Whether you have an idea, or you are starting a franchise or your own business, it’s being your own boss and having a drive to succeed,” he says.

Through the program he was able to identify an opportunity and he says he is now supporting himself through its distribution.

In a down economy, making a sale or starting a business doesn’t scare these students.

“I think everyone in this program views this economy as an opportunity. There are tons of good workers who can’t find jobs and that allows even better people to work with us than they would have in an up economy. And that is one of the biggest benefits of moving this forward.”

If a student in the entrepreneurship program invents a product that goes to patent and makes money, USF and the students split the revenue 50/50.

After searching around, I stumbled upon the Entrepreneurship in Applied Technologies MS program at the University of South Florida.   Princeton Review had the program ranked 9th in 2007 and 5th in 2008 for Entrepreneurship programs and Colleges and Universities.  It was exactly what I was looking for and available 30 minutes from my doorstep!

Here are some excerpts from a recent St. Pete Times article:

USF launched its Center for Entrepreneurship in 2002 after decades of offering entrepreneurship courses within its traditional MBA program. It was recognized by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship three consecutive years beginning in 2004.

Last year, the Princeton Review ranked it No. 9 in the nation after surveying entrepreneurial offerings from more than 2,300 undergraduate and business schools. In September, the Review named it No. 5.

What makes USF’s program different, says director Michael W. Fountain, is the cross-discipline involvement of the university’s colleges of business, engineering and medicine.

…

Among the more than 30 businesses launched by recent graduates is a health and fitness center, a bath and skin care line, and an independent record label.

All are important to the regional economy, Fountain said, since roots for home-grown businesses run deeper than transplanted ones and are better able to weather adverse economic conditions.

…

But there’s more to the program than starting new businesses, USF officials say. The program also teaches students how to strengthen the performance of existing companies, a talent that makes them attractive hires.