Innovation Minor

Salvador Orara, M.F.A., director

The innovation minor provides a formal structure to introduce and develop the innovative mindset. The innovative mindset understands and applies design as thought and action in identifying and solving problems and imagining new futures. The program is open to all majors and concentrations, creating spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities for students to push the boundaries of their areas of interest.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Apply the mindset, skills, tools, and methods associated with design and innovation in the context of their academic and professional interest.
  • Develop theory and techniques of human-centered design, design ethnography, and experiential futures.
  • Make sketches and prototypes for sharing and evaluating ideas in 2D and 3D forms.
  • Learn and demonstrate critical thinking, decision-making, and creative problem-solving within interdisciplinary teams.
  • Expand the ability and build expertise in persuasive storytelling through contextually relevant modalities.
  • Demonstrate transdisciplinary collaboration and innovation as a service-driven practice for a local community, business, or organization.

 

Minor Prerequisites - 3 credit hours

INV 200Introduction to Creativity, Design, and Innovation

3

Minor Requirements - 9 credit hours

INV 300Empathy, Observational Research and Human-Centered Design

3

INV 350Making, Sketching, Prototyping

3

INV 400Collaborative Innovation Practicum

3

Minor Elective - 3 credit hours

Electives from inside (or outside) the student’s major are chosen in consultation with the program director and/or program counselors.

Select one course from the following:

BME 466/BME 566Human Factors Engineering & Ergonomics

3

BUS 360Cross Cultural Organizational Behavior and Ethics

3

BUS 364Innovation

3

BUS 371Consumer Behavior

3

BUS 376Marketing for Sustainability

3

BUS 408/EGR 408/ENV 408Innovation for Sustainability

3

BUS 452Project Management

3

BUS 470Marketing Research

3

BUS 474Digital Marketing

3

BUS 476Product Design & Development

3

BUS 487Social Entrepreneurship

3

CE 462Sustainable Design

3

CE 468Environmental Engineering Topics

3

CS 301Object-Oriented Design

3

EGR 380Medical Instrument Repair in the Developing World

3

EGR 411/EGR 511Telescope Design

3

EGR 480Global Engineering

3

EGR 483Multi-disciplinary Capstone Project I

3

EGR 484Multi-disciplinary Capstone Project II

3

FA 320Digital Video and Moving Media

3

FA 3253-D Design

3

IHW 312Research Design and Analysis: Understanding and Utilizing Evidence

3

MUS 310Fundamentals of Music Technology

3

NRS 460Advancing the Culture of Health

3

THTR 351Beginning Stage Lighting and Sound

3

THTR 353Beginning Scenic Design

3