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    Exploring Entrepreneurship
    In-person Program

    Exploring Entrepreneurship

    by USC Pre-College

    USC's entrepreneurship course combines market research, business development and founder talks, helping students test ideas and build a persuasive venture pitch.

    Last verified: 5 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens

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    Exploring Entrepreneurship at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    High school; completed ninth grade

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 15-18

    Location / Region

    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Cost

    $8,130; $11,570; $12,208

    Duration

    4 weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Next session

    21 June-15 July 2027

    Save program
    EntrepreneurshipBusiness & EconomicsFinanceEthics
    Accommodation: Shared university residence-hall rooms
    Meals: Residential: three daily dining-hall meals
    Campus experience: Libraries, computer labs, supervised activities
    Credit / Outcome: Three units of elective credit
    Tutors / Faculty: USC faculty and experienced professionals
    Class day: 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; 5–6 instructional hours

    Exploring Entrepreneurship summary

    Exploring Entrepreneurship is a practical USC course about finding business opportunities and turning ideas into a venture. It combines business theory with research and experimentation.

    Students investigate markets, work in teams, hear from founders and venture-capital guests, and finish with a pitch. It suits students who enjoy independent work and explaining ideas to others.

    What is Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    Exploring Entrepreneurship is USC Pre-College's hands-on introduction to building a business. Students learn how to identify opportunities by studying an industry and testing ideas in the marketplace. The academic focus includes accounting and finance, marketing, innovation, business plans and ethics.

    The course moves from ideation and product-market fit to financing, go-to-market strategy and pitching. Assignments, teamwork, field trips and guest speakers connect classroom concepts with business practice. Students develop public speaking skills through a final venture pitch.

    Why Succeed highlights Exploring Entrepreneurship

    • The sequence connects idea generation with customer discovery, financing and pitching, making the venture-development process easier to understand.

    • Marketplace research and data collection give students a practical way to test assumptions about their business ideas.

    • Founder and venture-capital guest speakers connect the academic topics with real business decisions.

    • Three units of elective credit provide a defined academic outcome upon successful completion.

    Who is Exploring Entrepreneurship for?

    Best for

    Self-motivated students who want to investigate customers, develop a business idea and practice presenting it convincingly.

    Not ideal if

    You want a light summer experience or prefer listening to lectures without substantial independent research and teamwork.

    Is Exploring Entrepreneurship worth it?

    Exploring Entrepreneurship offers a useful test of whether you enjoy the research, uncertainty and communication involved in building a business. Its value comes from applying concepts to a venture, hearing from practitioners and completing a demanding academic course.

    The substantial cost and workload make it a significant family commitment, especially for residential or international participants. Credit transfer depends on the receiving college, and participation does not guarantee USC admission. Compare the practical learning you want with the cost of other business programs.

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    20 minutes · No obligation to enrol

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $8,130; $11,570; $12,208; includes Tuition and three units of elective credit upon successful completion., Textbooks, course materials and academic field trips., On-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips., Mandatory student health-center access., Residential option: shared residence-hall room and meal plan., Residential option: academic field-trip meals and specified Saturday meals..

    Accommodation

    Shared university residence-hall rooms

    Meals

    Residential: three daily dining-hall meals

    Supervision or safety information

    Residential advisors live in the halls and are available at all times, while campus public safety provides 24/7 patrols. Residence and dining halls require USCard access.

    Provider details

    Review the USC Pre-College provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    4 weeks; Los Angeles, California, United States.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Exploring Entrepreneurship need?

    Effort level

    High.

    Best started

    Begin essay and document planning when 2027 application information arrives in November; allow several weeks for school requests and longer for international travel preparations.

    Main challenge

    Turning marketplace research into a credible business proposition and persuasive pitch.

    Typical preparation

    • Choose an industry or customer problem you would enjoy investigating.

    • Ask your recommender and school administrator early about the recommendation and transcript requests.

    • Prepare your laptop, professional pitch attire and closed-toe field-trip shoes.

    • Plan how you will manage independent assignments alongside a full class day.

    Useful if

    You want to test your interest in entrepreneurship through practical work.

    What do students do on Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    You develop a venture idea through research, experimentation and teamwork while learning the business concepts behind it. The course progresses toward a final pitch that asks you to explain your idea clearly to an audience.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Explore creativity, design and value propositions during ideation.

    2. 2

      Investigate customer needs and product-market fit through customer discovery.

    3. 3

      Study financial analysis, customer acquisition and go-to-market strategy.

    4. 4

      Learn from founder and venture-capital guest speakers and field trips.

    5. 5

      Develop your public speaking and present your venture in the final pitch competition.

    Exploring Entrepreneurship dates and deadlines

    Exploring Entrepreneurship — 2026

    22 June-17 July 2026

    USC Summer Programs calendar.

    Past

    Exploring Entrepreneurship — 2027

    21 June-15 July 2027

    USC-wide summer schedule; course-specific timing remains to be confirmed.

    Upcoming

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Domestic or international high school students.

    • Complete at least ninth grade before the program.

    • Pursue a rigorous high school curriculum.

    • Attend every class meeting; late arrival is not accommodated.

    • International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency or obtain a waiver.

    • International participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.

    • Commuters live with parents or guardians in Los Angeles or Orange County.

    How much does Exploring Entrepreneurship cost?

    Application fee

    $85 — Nonrefundable.

    Funding or discounts

    • Domestic commuter: $8,130 — 2026 estimated program total.
    • Domestic residential: $11,570 — 2026 estimate including room and board.
    • International residential: $12,208 — 2026 estimated USC total; government fees additional.
    • Deposit: $1,000 — Nonrefundable; applied to the program total.
    • Financial aid: Not offered

    What's included

    Tuition and three units of elective credit upon successful completion., Textbooks, course materials and academic field trips., On-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips., Mandatory student health-center access., Residential option: shared residence-hall room and meal plan., Residential option: academic field-trip meals and specified Saturday meals.

    How to apply to Exploring Entrepreneurship

    1. 1

      Create an account or log in through the official USC Summer Programs application portal.

    2. 2

      Choose Exploring Entrepreneurship and use an email address you check frequently.

    3. 3

      Write your own 300-500 word application essay.

    4. 4

      Request the online recommendation from a teacher, counselor or mentor.

    5. 5

      Ask a school administrator to upload your PDF high school transcript.

    6. 6

      Provide English-proficiency documentation or a waiver if required.

    7. 7

      Pay the $85 application fee, review every task and click Submit.

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    What does Exploring Entrepreneurship cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Ideation and Innovation

    Explore value propositions, design, creativity and invention in the first week.

    Finding Product-Market Fit

    Study lean startup methodology, effectuation and customer discovery, with founder guests and a field trip.

    Financing and Go-to-Market Strategy

    Examine financial analysis, customer acquisition, customer lifetime value and marketing, with venture-capital guests.

    Pitching and Growing Your Venture

    Develop public speaking and a leadership philosophy before presenting in the final pitch competition.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    A typical day during the program.

    Academic day

    Five to six instructional hours, with breaks for lunch or field trips.

    Independent work

    Significant assignments, marketplace research and data collection are expected.

    Residential activities

    Residential advisors and staff supervise social activities and recreational trips.

    Who teaches on Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    Participants in the 2026 course worked with Professor Glenn Fox and heard from active founders and venture-capital guests. USC Summer Programs draws on USC faculty and experienced professionals from the university's academic community.

    Where do students stay on Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    Residential plan

    • Shared residence-hall rooms: Students live in USC halls with gender-specific roommate and floormate assignments.
    • Dining-hall meal plan: Room and board includes daily dining-hall meals and specified field-trip meals.
    • Residential supervision: Advisors live in the halls, with 24/7 public-safety patrols and USCard-controlled access.
    • Evening and weekend activities: Supervised social events and recreational excursions complement the academic course.

    Non-residential plan

    • Local commuter option: Eligible students live with parents or guardians in Los Angeles or Orange County.
    • Commuter activities and meals: Commuters may join activities with required permissions and purchase meals separately.
    • Campus facilities: All participants can use library reading rooms, computer labs and campus health services.

    Roommate requests cannot be accommodated; international participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.

    What happens after Exploring Entrepreneurship?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Earn three units of elective credit upon successful completion.

    Complete a venture pitch supported by business research.

    Request an official graded transcript from USC's registrar.

    Build subject knowledge for further business or entrepreneurship study.

    Gain potential faculty or staff recommendation letters.

    Credit transfer depends on the receiving institution, and participation does not guarantee USC admission.

    Where does Exploring Entrepreneurship take place?

    The program takes place at USC's University Park Campus in Los Angeles, with access to campus libraries, computer labs and health services. Academic field trips connect classroom study with the surrounding business environment.

    International participants arrange their own travel; early-arrival and late-departure accommodation is not offered.

    Exploring Entrepreneurship FAQs

    Topics include accounting and finance, marketing, human resources, creativity and innovation, business plans, ethics, personal branding and building your network. The weekly sequence progresses from ideation to product-market fit, financing and pitching.

    USC expects significant work outside the classroom, including marketplace research and data collection. The summer course model includes five to six hours of instruction per day.

    Successful completion earns three units of university elective credit. Other colleges decide whether to accept those credits.

    Eligible domestic participants may commute while living with a parent or legal guardian in Los Angeles or Orange County. International participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.

    Residential advisors live in the halls and are available at all times, while campus public safety provides 24/7 patrols. Residence and dining halls require USCard access.

    Participants must bring their own laptops, wear professional attire for the final pitch competition and wear closed-toe shoes on field trips.

    No. Participation does not guarantee admission to USC or its schools, and undergraduate applicants must follow the separate university admissions process.

    USC Summer Programs does not offer financial aid or assistance.

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    Sean Stevens

    Content reviewed by

    Sean Stevens

    Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)

    Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Summer Programs Application Management
    • USC Summer Programs Transcripts | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs Tuition and Fees | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs Policies | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs FAQs | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs International Application | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Residential and Commuter Experience | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs Overview | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs Application and Admission | USC Pre-College
    • USC Summer Programs | USC Pre-College
    • Entrepreneurship Summer Program | USC Pre-College

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 5 Oct 2026)

    • Official course page checked

    • Admissions requirements reviewed

    • Session dates compared

    • Fee options reviewed

    • Housing and meals checked

    • Credit conditions reviewed

    • Safety policies reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.