Seton Hill University is proud to announce a new opportunity for specialization in entrepreneurship within its MBA program. Long known for its experience in teaching entrepreneurial skills in its undergraduate program and for its support and advocacy of small businesses through its E-magnify women’s business center – Seton Hill has been recognized three times by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the nation’s Top 100 Entrepreneurial Universities – Seton Hill is uniquely suited to provide students with a thorough understanding of what it takes to start, run and succeed in business. For students who would prefer to focus solely on entrepreneurship, Seton Hill will also offer a new certificate program in entrepreneurship comprised of targeted courses from the MBA program.

“We’ve designed the new specialization in entrepreneurship to offer theory and history along with practical application,” says Dr. Terrance DePasquale, dean of graduate and international studies programs. “We want graduates who earn this specialization or certificate to thoroughly understand the entire process of starting a successful business, from first concept to completed business plan. ”

MBA entrepreneurship specialization classes will be taught by both business faculty members at Seton Hill and successful entrepreneurs. Special workshops, programs and networking opportunities, as well as technical support that will last beyond graduation, will be provided by E-magnify.

“We’ve been at this for a long time,” says Assistant Professor of Business Paul Mahady, who currently serves as interim director of Seton Hill’s MBA Program. “We have a good track record in teaching the importance of entrepreneurial thinking. This new specialization is a natural extension for us, and we believe it will be of great value to the traditional MBA student as well as the person who thinks ‘I want to position myself in such a way that I won’t always have to rely on someone else to provide employment – I want to go from being a job taker to a job maker.’ ”

To earn an MBA with a specialization in entrepreneurship, students in the MBA program take an additional four classes (10 credits, as part of the 36 credits required for an MBA) designed to give an overview of the process of starting a new business, from feasibility analysis to new venture development to the creation and implementation of a business plan. To earn a certificate in entrepreneurship, students take the same four classes required for the MBA specialization, as well as two additional graduate level business classes. Students interested in earning an MBA from Seton Hill with a specialization in entrepreneurship or a certificate in entrepreneurship can register beginning April 2, 2007.

“We teach our students that we live in an entrepreneurial economy,” says Jayne H. Huston, director of E-magnify. “You don’t have to be planning to start your own business to benefit from the knowledge of entrepreneurial skills.”

Seton Hill University's accredited Master of Business Administration Program (MBA) focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation. In today's competitive business environment, knowledge of practical applications, innovative approaches, and strategic thinking not only keeps students abreast of current business trends, but also allows them to lead, as agents of change. Seton Hill’s MBA program uses a real-world approach to learning that includes case studies and practical assignments to encourage students to use creative thinking, develop a dynamic leadership style, and convert ideas into opportunities for the betterment of themselves and their organizations. A Seton Hill MBA can be earned in as little as one year, and courses are scheduled on weekends and evenings to accommodate working professionals. For more information on the MBA program at Seton Hill University, or the new specialization or certificate in entrepreneurship, please contact Seton Hill’s Office of Graduate and Adult Studies, at gadmit@setonhill.edu or (724) 838-4283.

Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify offers resources, educational programs, advocacy initiatives and networking opportunities to advance entrepreneurs and professionals. Since its inception in 1991, the E-Magnify center has reached thousands through its initiatives, and has distinguished itself, according to Harvard Business School, as a good source for "practical, non-gender-specific business content." Recently distinguished as a Women’s Business Center by the U.S. Small Business Administration, E-Magnify provides training, counseling and other technical assistance services, with a special emphasis on women that are socially and economically disadvantaged. E-Magnify encourages entrepreneurial skills for all students, beginning at the undergraduate level and extending through the graduate and professional life stages. For more information, please visit www.e-magnify.com.

Seton Hill University, founded by the Sisters of Charity, is a coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Greensburg, Pa. Chartered in 1918, Seton Hill offers more than 30 undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs, including an MBA. Seton Hill brings the world to its students through its distinguished lecturers and nationally and internationally renowned centers. Recognized three times by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the nation’s Top 100 Entrepreneurial Universities, Seton Hill has also been named one of the Best in the Northeast by The Princeton Review and one of Pennsylvania’s Top 100 Businesses by Pennsylvania Business Central. In addition, Seton Hill has been named a University of Distinction by Colleges of Distinction, an organization founded by a group of concerned parents, educators and admissions professionals. For more information on Seton Hill please visit www.setonhill.edu or call 1-800-826-6234.

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Media contacts:

Paul Mahady, Assistant Professor of Business and Interim MBA Director
724-830-1012 / mahady@setonhill.edu

Becca Baker, Associate Director of Media Relations
724-830-1069 / 724-689-3599 (cell) / bbaker@setonhill.edu