Have you ever considered starting your very own “side hustle”? 

Well, look no further than the entrepreneurship minor. The AU program is led by Dr. Giovanni Calise and involves a few courses that instruct students on the process of starting a business step by step. 

Although the majority of students will be employed full-time after graduation, many may also want to begin a side business or participate in what Dr. Calise refers to as the ‘gig economy.’  

“So, what’s fantastic about the entrepreneurship minor is it provides an opportunity for AU students where they can specialize in their certain area of interest through their major, but then simultaneously, through the minor (which they can take through their general elective credits, without staying here longer), they can also learn how to create a business out of their specialty,” he says.  

The three primary facets of the entrepreneurship minor classes are profitability, legality, and protections.  

“In just a couple of classes,” Dr. Calise explains, “you’re going to get a well-rounded, full-throttled education with a step-by-step plan on how you can take your skill set and turn it into a business.” 

The entrepreneurship minor includes a few foundational courses like marketing and accounting, but then there are three core entrepreneurship courses.  

“In class one, we talk about profitability and consumer demand,” he says. “Does the consumer truly want what you’re offering? How can you package your talent or product in a way that consumers are willing to pay for?” 

By considering gaps in the marketplace or improvements to already existing products, students will learn to carve out a specific business niche suited to their skills and interests through product development and planning. 

“A lot of times when people are talking about businesses, they focus on the ‘what.’ We train our students to focus on the ‘why’ because that’s actually where innovation starts,” Dr. Calise asserts. 

Then, the second course teaches students how to scale up their business plan. “So, say you have a small business that took in $5,000 last year. That’s fantastic, it’s extra money! But how do I turn that $5,000 into $50,000?” Dr. Calise says. The second course provides methods and instruction on how to maximize the profitability of a business. 

“In the final class, we talk about the formalities of business,” Dr. Calise explains. “What filings do you need with the state department, what type of taxes you need to pay, what type of business structure should you put into place, what type of insurance you need to have, and do you need a lawyer, accountant, or HR professional?” 

The courses are not lecture-heavy, however. Instead, they are very collaborative and discussion-based, which students have enjoyed more and have challenged them to apply the concepts they learn.  

“The entrepreneurship minor at AU has completely changed how I think about business and problem-solving. The classes are hands-on, pushing me to think creatively, adapt quickly, and approach challenges with a strategic mindset,” says Ariana Giannuzzi. “I’ve learned how to develop ideas, understand market needs, and navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. What stands out the most is the collaborative environment, where we constantly exchange ideas and learn from one another. This program has given me the tools to turn ideas into something tangible and real.” 

Additionally, the minor has a real-world pitch competition of Shark Tank where local entrepreneurs come in and judge. This opportunity allows students to formulate and gain feedback on their business plan in an interactive, fun way. 

“Enrolling in the entrepreneur minor at AU has been an eye-opening journey,” Harris Rowe says. “I’ve had the chance to mix creative ideas with practical business strategies through hands-on projects and engaging class discussions. Pitching my ideas to real-world entrepreneurs has also helped me break out of my comfort zone and sharpen my problem-solving skills. I am excited to take these lessons on my entrepreneurial journey when I graduate in May!”  

Another student, Asher Moorhouse, echoed this sentiment of the practicability of the course content. “While taking the entrepreneur minor, I was able to learn two extremely valuable skills,” he says. “The first being how to effectively find a gap in the market and position yourself to where you can have a successful business that will not get beat out by its competitors. The second being how to file taxes as a small business so that you can reap the most benefit while paying the government the smallest amount. One specific example I think about is a small business that did just $100,000 in profit, and it was able to save over $40,000 in taxes, just because of write offs and deductions.” 

One thing that sets the entrepreneurship minor at AU apart is the level of experience of the professors and other speakers who are invited.  

“In many schools, you have professors who are teaching entrepreneurship but have never owned a business. Whereas here at AU, you have individuals who are not only teaching it but actively doing it,” Dr. Calise says.

Another aspect unique to AU’s program is the ability to be openly faith centered. At the end of each presentation on a specific step or concept, Dr. Calise shares a Bible verse that pertains to the topic. In this way, he aims to remind his students to keep faith and ethics in mind while planning and executing a business.  

He believes that approaching business from the ‘why’ is following Christ’s example, because His concern for His people’s wants and needs was the catalyst for his ministering. “When you focus on that, it brings an element of humanity into the workforce which almost forces you to try to raise the business in an ethical way,” Dr. Calise says.  

 If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business but are unsure how to begin, the entrepreneurship minor is perfect for you. By the end of your journey through the minor, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running. 

For more information on this exciting new minor, email Dr. Giovanni Calise at gcalise@andersonuniversity.edu. 

Click here to view more information about required courses in the course catalog.