RA Session II School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Find your passion. Build something that matters.
Discover what you want to change. Develop the knowledge and relationships to act on it.
At UNC Charlotte’s RA Session II School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, entrepreneurship connects your ambitions with opportunities to make a difference. You can explore a business idea, develop a venture or apply research to challenges facing your organization and community.
Founded by alumnus and biotechnology entrepreneur RA Session II ’02, the school advances his vision of entrepreneurship as a way to discover your passion and create a positive impact on society.
Part of the Belk College of Business, the RA Session II School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation brings together undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and CO-LAB. Together, these resources connect academic expertise with entrepreneurial practice across the University and the Charlotte region.
Our founder
A vision grounded in purpose
A proud alumnus of the Belk College of Business, Session earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and is a member of the Zeta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He was also a member of Charlotte’s nationally ranked men’s soccer program.
He holds a Master of Business Administration in strategic management and finance and a Master of Science in finance from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration at the University of Houston’s C. T. Bauer College of Business.
As a biotechnology entrepreneur, he has founded numerous companies and has dedicated his career to translating scientific discoveries into opportunities to alleviate human suffering and improve lives.
Why study entrepreneurship and innovation?
Put your ideas into practice.
Learn to evaluate opportunities, question assumptions and make informed decisions. Through applied coursework and entrepreneurial experiences, you can develop the skills to move an idea toward execution.
Connect your passion with a need.
Explore how your interests and expertise can address challenges facing businesses and communities. Develop an entrepreneurial approach to creating value for others.
Learn through Charlotte’s entrepreneurship community.
Engage with founders, mentors and business leaders whose experiences bring entrepreneurial decisions into focus. Build relationships that inform your thinking and help you identify your next steps.
Explore our programs
Undergraduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Bring entrepreneurial thinking to your field of study. Open to UNC Charlotte undergraduates across all colleges, this 12-credit-hour certificate helps you recognize opportunities, communicate a vision and understand how to design and organize a venture.
M.S. in Entrepreneurship
Develop your venture while earning your master’s degree. This one-year, 30-credit-hour program combines coursework with two practicum experiences, mentor guidance and engagement with founders and investors. You will test ideas, refine a business model and prepare to advance your venture through evening classes at The Dubois Center in Uptown Charlotte.
Graduate Certificate in Corporate Venturing
Develop the entrepreneurial skills to advance innovation within an established organization. This 12-credit-hour certificate helps you identify opportunities, evaluate business models and pursue new initiatives. Courses meet in person during the evenings at The Dubois Center and can apply toward JL Price MBA concentration requirements.
Doctorate of Business Administration
Use rigorous research to address complex business challenges. Designed for experienced professionals, this three-year, cohort-based program connects advanced research and analytical skills with your professional expertise. Choose a concentration in Business Administration or Accounting and complete your doctoral study through an executive format with weekend residencies at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City.
Put entrepreneurship into action
Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Explore entrepreneurship beyond your coursework. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) connects students across disciplines with hands-on programs, mentorship and pitch opportunities. Faculty, alumni and community partners contribute experience and guidance to help you evaluate ideas and take the next step.
CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City
Connect with people building businesses and developing solutions in Uptown Charlotte. CO-LAB brings entrepreneurs and industry professionals together with UNC Charlotte students and faculty in a shared environment for collaboration. Its spaces and entrepreneurial community support the exchange of expertise and the development of new ventures.
Help the next generation build
Your experience can help an aspiring entrepreneur make a better decision, recognize an opportunity or strengthen an idea. Get involved as a mentor, guest speaker or competition judge and contribute to entrepreneurship at UNC Charlotte.