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Entrepreneurship: Exploring What It Takes to Create Your Own Business — USC Pre-College

Smiling student working on a laptop in a classroom, representing USC Pre-College online course “Entrepreneurship: Exploring What It Takes to Create Your Own Business,” where students learn at their own pace and earn a Certificate of Completion.

Learn on your own time and earn a Certificate of Completion.

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When we think of entrepreneurs, we often imagine a handful of very famous billionaires, but that’s only a small fraction of the landscape. In reality, anyone from any background can be an entrepreneur — if they have the right mindset. This course equips students with the fundamentals of starting their own venture, from understanding the competition to securing funding. Get ready to hone your entrepreneurial mindset!

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In this course, we’ll delve into what actually makes a successful entrepreneur, both in terms of mindset and key traits. Then we’ll explore how entrepreneurs actually put this mindset into practice to launch a new venture.

As we explore these essential principles, you’ll also get a real-world look at the dynamics of small businesses and startups from expert professionals in finance, law and other fields.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a realistic picture of what it takes to be an entrepreneur — and the many business opportunities that you might pursue in your future studies.

Featured Topics

  • Fundamentals of entrepreneurship
  • Market sizing and understanding your competition
  • Finding value for your customers
  • Small business finance
  • Pitching and managing your venture

Learning Outcomes

  • Define and differentiate between a range of business models, categories of businesses and methods of growth
  • Understand the benefits of practicing the entrepreneurial mindset to create a successful venture
  • Analyze your market and identify value for your customers 
  • Learn how to raise funds as a founder and strategically pitch a business plan to potential partners and funders
  • Understand how to motivate high-performing teams and be an ethical leader

Format and Course Length

  • This course consists of recorded lectures, business case studies and industry spotlights. Each topic will provide students a solid understanding of the essential concepts of entrepreneurship and illustrate these principles through examples from the business world.
  • Combined coursework of recorded lectures, readings and assignments is approximately 20–25 hours, to be completed at the student’s own pace.
  • Students are expected to complete the course in four weeks but have 90 days of access if more time is needed.

In this course, you will learn from Glenn Fox, a faculty member at USC’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

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Headshot of Glenn Fox.

  • Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applicants who submit a completed application can expect an admission decision within three to five business days.

    • Include basic contact information from you and your parent(s) or guardian.
    • Tell us why you want to take the course and a little about yourself through a short-answer essay.
    • Share a piece of writing, video or social media content that reveals something about yourself (optional).
    • Submit the $35 application fee.
    • Students must be at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program.

    Recent high school graduates, students taking a gap year or time off from college, and students who are older than 18 can request an exemption to apply by emailing precollegeonline@usc.edu. Please include a short paragraph (no more than 200 words) stating your interest and how this program will add value to your academic or career plans.

  • In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants are expected to be proficient in English. International students who successfully complete an online course will receive a digital Certificate of Completion and, by request, a USC Pre-College Programs transcript at no additional cost.

  • Program Start DateApplication and Tuition Deadline
    Monday, September 14, 2026Wednesday, September 9, 2026
    Monday, September 28, 2026Wednesday, September 23, 2026
    Monday, October 12, 2026Wednesday, October 7, 2026
    Monday, October 26, 2026Wednesday, October 21, 2026
    Monday, November 9, 2026Wednesday, November 4, 2026
    Monday, November 23, 2026Wednesday, November 18, 2026
    Monday, December 7, 2026Wednesday, December 2, 2026
    Monday, December 21, 2026Wednesday, December 16, 2026

  • Application fee: $35

    Tuition: $1,990

    Tuition and fees cover access to the chosen online course and materials for up to three months after your chosen start date.

    Please note that application fees are nonrefundable. All course cancellations requests must be made in writing to precollegeonline@usc.edu. Any tuition paid to the university will be refunded, not including fees, if requested no more than three days past the course start date. Requests to drop the course more than three days after the start date will not be eligible for a refund.

    The university will not refund tuition for USC Pre-College online exploration courses for students who are removed from the program due to a violation of our Letter of Understanding for Online Exploration Courses.

[Doing the assignments] step-by-step after watching [the] videos helped cement the learning process.

— Pre-College Online Student, 2025
Smiling student sitting by a window with a laptop, representing motivated high school students applying to supplement their studies through USC Pre-College programs.
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