Innovation Minor
Salvador Orara, M.F.A., director
The Innovation Minor provides a formal structure to introduce and develop a mindset that includes critical thinking, team skills, application of knowledge and theory, self-directed learning, and the ability to address real-world problems through collaboration, brainstorming, and hands-on prototyping.
Learning Outcomes:
- Apply the mindset, skillset, and toolsets associated with design, creativity, and innovation in the context of their academic and professional interest.
- Develop techniques for building empathy and the ability to design for human interaction including user observation and participant interview techniques.
- Gain simple sketching and prototyping skills for visualizing and communicating ideas in 2D and 3D forms.
- Learn and demonstrate creative problem-solving within cross-disciplinary, team-based environments.
- Expand their abilities and build expertise in persuasive communication through storytelling, presentation, and other communication techniques.
- Demonstrate ability to integrate, communicate, and collaborate successfully on project-based work for a local business and/or organization.
Minor Prerequisites - 3 credit hours
| INV 200 | Introduction to Creativity, Design, and Innovation | 3 |
Minor Requirements - 12 credit hours
| INV 300 | Empathy, Observational Research and Human-Centered Design | 3 |
| INV 350 | Making, Sketching, Prototyping | 3 |
| INV 400 | Collaborative Innovation Practicum | 3 |
| | Elective from inside or outside Major chosen from program listings | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Electives from inside (or outside) the student’s major are chosen in consultation with Director and/or program counselors.