July 5, 2014 - King’s College graduates from a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM) will have an opportunity to participate in a unique 11-month master’s program in entrepreneurship at the University of Notre Dame.  King’s is the first college or university in the country to reach such an agreement with its fellow Holy Cross Congregation-led university.

Beginning with the Class of 2015, King’s students will be eligible to enroll in the University of Notre Dame's Engineering, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master’s (ESTEEM) Program.  The program blends six business courses taught from an entrepreneurial perspective at the renowned Mendoza College of Business with six hours of technical electives in either science or engineering. 

The final required component of the program is a capstone thesis that requires students to develop a full business plan for the commercialization of technology developed primarily by faculty members of the University of Notre Dame.  Product concepts are also submitted by other research universities from across the country or from businesses.  To complete the project, students are matched with students from other STEM fields and faculty advisors to create cross-functional teams.

Each year, two King’s students graduating with degrees in the STEM fields and achieving a required score on graduate school entrance exams will be guaranteed admission to the program.  Additional King’s students with the required bachelor’s degree and qualifying entrance exam scores are also eligible to apply for admission to the program. 

The University of Notre Dame ESTEEM program accepted 34 students for its current term, including students from the University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, Purdue University, Stanford University, Texas A&M, and St. Louis University.  Approximately one of every four students in the program are international students.  The current class includes students from both Ireland and Hungary.

King’s students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, computers and information systems, computer science, environmental science, general science, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics will be eligible for the program.

“Through its sustained relationship with the University of Notre Dame, King’s College continues to provide its students with very unique educational opportunities on both a bachelor’s and master’s degree level,” said Father John Ryan, C.S.C., president of King’s.  “Ranging from a cooperative bachelor’s degree in engineering to master’s degree programs in accountancy, management, and now entrepreneurship, King’s College is able to offer its students direct access to one of the highest regarded universities in the United States and to degrees in great demand in today’s business and economic climate.”

King’s and the University of Notre Dame introduced a dual bachelor’s degree program in engineering which began with first-year students who entered King’s in August 2013.  The program attracted more than double its goal for student participants and continues to draw stronger than expected interest from prospective students who wish to earn degrees from both King’s College and the University of Notre Dame.  Students will enter the University of Notre Dame for two years of study after spending three years at King’s.  The first students from the program will enter the University of Notre Dame following the 2015-16 academic year.

King’s students beginning with the graduating class May 2015 are also eligible to apply annually to one-year Master’s of Science degree programs in Accountancy and Management.

King’s College is a Catholic College Sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Pictured seated, from left, is Cathy Pieronek, associate dean of academic affairs, University of Notre Dame; Father John Ryan, C.S.C., president of King’s College; and Paul Lamore, associate professor of management at King’s and ESTEEM program coordinator. Pictured standing, from left, is Dr. Joseph Evan, vice president for academic affairs at King’s, and James Anderson, executive director of admissions at King’s.

Pictured seated, from left, is Cathy Pieronek, associate dean of academic affairs, University of Notre Dame; Father John Ryan, C.S.C., president of King’s College; and Paul Lamore, associate professor of management at King’s and ESTEEM program coordinator.

Pictured standing, from left, is Dr. Joseph Evan, vice president for academic affairs at King’s, and James Anderson, executive director of admissions at King’s.