ABOUT THE TE PROGRAM

What is "Technical Entrepreneurship?"

Technical entrepreneurship is a professional master’s program that provides a cutting-edge approach to tackle complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration and iterative problem-solving with engineering, science, business, and design.

How is Lehigh's TE degree different from other entrepreneurship degrees?

The program is truly experiential, not a mock practice or a case study. Students are immersed in real product development that results in launching their company.

Highlights of the TE program include:

  • spring internships with startups via Lehigh@Nasdaq
  • industry immersion by attending conferences and trade shows
  • engagement with accredited investors at the Philadelphia Angel Venture Fair
  • international collab with students from overseas universities
  • work with Lehigh inventions through Tech Transfer
  • industry-embedded faculty from engineering, law, medicine, and business
  • building prototypes in the Lehigh Design Labs
  • building a new venture team from across disciplines
  • 24/7 access to your own TE studio

 

How long will it take to get my degree?

12 months.

The TE program will have in-person classes starting on Monday, August 26, 2024. The next start date is July 1, 2025. 

Do I need to be an engineer?

No. The program is designed to teach entrepreneurship to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds.

TE PROGRAM DETAILS

How many students are in the program?

20-30 students work together as a cohort throughout the program.

When do classes start?

The TE program will have in-person classes starting on Monday, August 26, 2024. The next start date is July 1, 2025. 

Are there online options?

No. It is a full-time residential degree program.

Do my grades depend on the success of my product or venture?

No. Grades apply to the process, not the outcome.

How much does it cost?

$45,000 ($1,500 per credit x 30 credits, paid by semester) for academic year. Check Lehigh University Bursar's website for current tuition rates.

Are scholarships available?
Do I need to already have a project or idea?

No. You may join a team working on a project.

APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM

Do I have to apply through Lehigh's Engineering College?

Yes. The degree is based in Lehigh's P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.

What majors/degrees can I have to apply?

A bachelor's degree in any major - including business, engineering, liberal arts and sciences - from an accredited school.

What is the deadline to apply?

Applications may be submitted beginning September 1. Decisions on applications completed by December 1 will be communicated to the applicant by December 22. Decisions on applications completed after December 1 will be communicated to the applicant on a rolling basis. Completed applications received by March 15 will be reviewed for partial scholarship consideration; decisions on the limited number of three and six credit scholarships will be communicated to the applicant after April 1. As you have questions about the application process or admission requirements, please contact Susan Kanarek, Coordinator, M.Eng. Technical Entrepreneurship at sak319@lehigh.edu.

What undergrad GPA do I need?

Minimum 2.75 GPA; conditional admission possible, if lower.

Do I need to take the GRE or GMAT?

No. Neither are required for admission to the program.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TE PROGRAM

What is in the curriculum?

Product and business development, creativity methods, personal development, visual communication, prototyping, design thinking, business plans, entrepreneurial startups.

Who teaches the courses?

Courses are taught by Lehigh's outstanding cross-disciplinary faculty, with real-world experience in new product development leading to commercialization, creativity and design thinking, startup ventures, and more.

What projects can I do?

Any idea you have with a technology or technical component - biomedical, environmental, social, electronic, etc. - that you can develop as a product/company and launch at the program's end.

What skills will I get from the program?

Product development, visual thinking, design thinking, creativity, prototyping, intellectual property creation, technology application. Ability to understand and apply concepts in a global context. Ability to develop both broad and specific contextual approaches to your product/business. Entrepreneurial mindset. Ability to recognize a problem as an opportunity to create an innovative solution. Access resources needed to solve the problem and create value.

What other resources are there to help me?

Lehigh's entrepreneurship ecosystem has more than 50 programs and organizations, including Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation; Ben Franklin Technology Partners; Small Business Development Center; Office of Technology Transfer; Integrated Product Development program; and Innovation Loft student venture space.

BENEFITS OF THE TE PROGRAM

What is the value of the program?

Your investment in the graduate program includes mentoring by experienced mentors (faculty and entrepreneurs) to help you with your success; infrastructure such as work spaces, labs and prototyping equipment to develop your technology and launch your business; access to seed funding and assistance from economic development organizations; and diverse course work tailored to develop entrepreneurial skills and culminate in the launch of your venture.

How will this benefit me in my career?

Today's market demands and rewards an entrepreneurial mindset, contextual problem solving and hands-on experience. Whether you're launching your own company or joining an existing one, skills gained through the program differentiate you and equip you for success.

What are graduates from the program doing now?

TE graduates have launched companies, serve as pivotal members of startup teams, joined family firms, been hired at large corporations, and work as consultants and in business development.

ABOUT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

Where is Lehigh University?

Lehigh is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, with close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Why choose Lehigh University?

Lehigh emphasizes student-initiated products and startups. It has proven and successful infrastructures, resources, and networks that guide and propel students from idea to reality.