Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship (BS)

Program Overview

Do you aspire to turn your associate degree into an entrepreneurial venture in the expanding food and beverage industries? Then JWU is the place for you. More than 1/3 of alumni have participated in the startup of 1 or more businesses.

JWU Providence’s bachelor of science program in Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship combines courses in entrepreneurship with traditional business classes to provide you with the skills and knowledge to open your own venture, join an emerging food- or beverage-related venture, or work as a corporate entrepreneur in a variety of food- or beverage-related industries. Experiential opportunities both in and out of the classroom provide you with the practical skills to identify opportunities and solve the kinds of problems that you’d face in launching a business.

Work with expert faculty, as well as business and community leaders, at our Larry Friedman Center for Entrepreneurship, where you will find the resources to help support making your business ideas a reality.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to:

• Evaluate human, financial and other resources in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that support or inhibit new ventures.
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences, regarding different purposes and situations, through a variety of professional methods.
• Apply ethical principles in response to common entrepreneurial decisions and challenges.
• Develop a business plan for an innovative product or service in a food or beverage-related market.
• Analyze the sources of funding available for food and beverage-related ventures and use decision support tools to determine effective structures for early-stage investments.

Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. For more information, visit the Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures page of the catalog.

Choose Your Track: Culinary or Baking & Pastry Foundation

Your first year will be defined by core baking & pastry or culinary courses that make up a common foundation.

Baking & Pastry Arts: These 18 credits include courses in essential techniques, plating design, cake production, artisanal bread, chocolate/confections, and more.

Culinary Arts: These 18 credits include courses in culinary skills and techniques, leadership in the kitchen, and other essential skills.

What Does It Take To Launch a Food Empire?

How do you bring the next big idea in food to the world? Join JWU Food Entrepreneur in Residence and television personality Chef Tyler Florence '94, '04 Hon., who will be leading the JWU Future Food All-Stars Challenge, a competition hosted by the Larry Friedman Center for Entrepreneurship and College of Food Innovation & Technology (CFIT). Teams of students will identify a core business opportunity, develop a business model and product plan, and compete for the opportunity to pitch their ideas to established investors.

The application cycle to compete for a spot in this interdisciplinary program will officially launch on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 during a virtual town hall with Chef Florence and moderated by CFIT Dean Jason Evans, Ph.D.

EXPLORE THE FUTURE FOOD CHALLENGE

Sample Courses

• Pitching & Planning New Ventures
• Forming & Launching New Ventures
• Financing New Ventures
• Principles of Food Product Development
• Food & Beverage Ventures Capstone
• Internship

In addition to classes, free elective credit can be applied to a number of options such as Directed Experiential Education (DEE), internship, minor or study abroad. You are encouraged to contact an advisor before scheduling free elective credits.

Explore the full JWU Catalog course listing:

Providence