Strategies to Promote Entrepreneurial Learning in Engineering Capstone Courses

Capstone courses offer opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills directly by working on teams and solving real problems within external constraints and limited time frames. As such, capstone courses offer unique opportunities to acquire and apply entrepreneurial skills in the context of the design process. This article examines what is distinctive about an entrepreneurial approach to capstone design and describes strategies used by faculty to promote entrepreneurial learning within the context of the senior capstone design experience. Implications of these different approaches for engineering students' acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and experiences are addressed.