Prospective business professionals who wish to sharpen their skills before entering the workforce may want to consider enrolling in online college courses, as many schools require students to complete simulation projects that could help them in their careers.

For example, a Wellesley, Massachusetts-based school currently offers a one-year immersion class called Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship, which challenges degree candidates to invent, develop, launch, manage and liquidate a business.

This year, a total of 30 students on 16 teams are participating in the seven-credit required course, which will conclude at the end of the spring semester. The school gives each team a maximum of $3,000 in startup capital to complete the project.

While they work to build their businesses, these students will learn the practical applications of entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, organizational behavior, information systems and operations.

At the beginning of the course, each team chose a charitable organization to which they are donating 180 hours of community service. When the project concludes, the profits these students' businesses gain will be donated to their organization of choice.

Similar courses at campus-based or online colleges could give students hands-on experience that could prove useful when they launch their business career.