Story by Kaley LaQuea, Marketing Strategist
Photo by Paige Nesbit, Communications Director
Two new minors in sales engineering and technology entrepreneurship are paving the way for exciting interdisciplinary opportunities at West Virginia University.
Through a collaboration between the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, these offerings will prepare students to tackle complex, real-world challenges with a strategic and technical edge and enhance their competitiveness in the job market.
“These unique minors offer the best of engineering and business and will prepare our students for the multifaceted roles they will encounter in an evolving technological landscape,” said Ashish Nimbarte, IMSE chair and professor.
Sales Engineering
As technology continues to accelerate, modern sales efforts now demand not only traditional sales skills, but also the ability to articulate complex technical solutions to prospective clients. Companies across the industry are increasingly hiring sales engineers to bolster their sales teams to ensure technical accuracy and credibility. A growing number of engineering graduates are engaging in sales activities during their careers, either as sales engineers or as engineers supporting sales initiatives, like participating in new product concept development teams.
Students pursuing this minor will complete four core courses that cover a broad spectrum of topics in professional selling, marketing and engineering, equipping them to handle complex sales processes. Additionally, students can select from a wide range of elective courses that cover specialized content on leadership, team facilitation, digital media and sales management.
More information about the sales engineering minor can be found in the WVU Catalog.
Technology Entrepreneurship
The technology entrepreneurship minor is designed to unite engineering and business students in order to foster the development of more high-potential technology startups across the state.
“Currently, West Virginia ranks last in the country in terms of both startups per capita and venture capital activity,” said Ryan Angus, Chambers associate professor of entrepreneurship. “This lack of high-potential entrepreneurial activity in the state hinders economic development and stifles the creation of high-paying technical jobs. This minor will provide the necessary training and opportunities to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs, which is very much needed in our state.”
Students in these areas are traditionally educated separately, with limited interaction. This new minor aims to bridge the gap by bringing engineering and business students together in the same classroom. This collaborative approach will help cultivate students’ entrepreneurial mindsets — an essential for the tech-driven startup ecosystem.
The minor is tailored to students interested in entrepreneurial careers, aspiring to start their own businesses or aiming to take on leadership roles in established companies. Students will complete four core courses covering entrepreneurship, finance, new product and service development and technology. Electives include risk assessment, engineering management, engineering economy, project management and team facilitation.
For more information about the technology entrepreneurship minor, please visit the WVU Catalog.
