Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Bridging Disciplines Program Certificate
Department website: https://undergraduates.utexas.edu/academics/bridging-disciplines-programs/programs/innovation-creativity-entrepreneurship
This program helps students develop skills to bring creative thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset to their career goals, whether they are interested in turning their ideas into a new venture or initiative, being part of a startup team, or bringing creative new ideas into more established organizations. Some of the skills and qualities students learn as they cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset include idea generation, design and prototyping, problem-solving, pitching your ideas, teamwork and collaboration, resilience, flexibility, and a tolerance for risk. Through an exciting interdisciplinary program that combines courses from business, communication, engineering, fine arts, and liberal arts, among others, students earn a certificate that is tailored to their specific interests and career goals, while gaining hands-on research or internship experience that allows them to put their entrepreneurial skills and ideas into practice.
Total Hours Required: 19
Requirements
Requirements are listed in the table below. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum. Students should also review the University's Undergraduate Minor and Certificate Requirements and Policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: Forum Seminars | 1 | |
| Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Mindset | ||
| Longhorn Startup Seminar | ||
Approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Entrepreneurship Foundation | 3 | |
| Women in Entrepreneurship | ||
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
| Lean Startup Essentials | ||
Approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Skills Foundation | 3 | |
| Communication for Innovation | ||
| Introduction to the Human Dimensions of Organizations | ||
| Foundations of Marketing | ||
| Writing for Entrepreneurs | ||
Approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Creative Innovation and Problem-Solving | 3 | |
| Creativity and American Culture | ||
| Introduction to Design Thinking | ||
| Sociology of Creativity | ||
Approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Strand (with at least one course from outside the student’s college or school) | 6 | |
| Applied Arts and Entertainment | ||
| Psychology of Advertising | ||
Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Business and Marketing | ||
| Brand Management | ||
Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Communication and Culture | ||
| The Cutural Impact of Innovation | ||
| Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Policu and Social Change | ||
| Design and the Social Environment | ||
| Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Science, Technology, and Engineering | ||
| Science Literacy and Numeracy: Biotechnology and the Future | ||
Hours chosen from: Approved list | ||
| Approved Hours chosen from: Research or internship Connecting Experiences (see advisor) | 3 | |
| Connecting Research Experience | ||
| Connecting Research Experience | ||
| Connecting Internship Experience | ||
| Undergraduate Minor and Certificate Requirements and Policies | ||
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
- A three to four page essay in which students reflect on what they have learned and accomplished through their experience is required. The essay is reviewed and must be approved by a member of the BDP faculty panel in order to complete the certificate requirements
- To create an interdisciplinary experience, students must choose courses from a variety of disciplines. Only one of the strand courses may come from the student's major department(s) or from same as with the student's major department(s). The certificate as a whole must represent a variety of disciplines; the advisor can help ensure that the coursework will meet the certificate requirements for interdisciplinarity.
- In courses taken for a letter grade, the student must obtain a grade of at least C- .
- A cumulative certificate GPA of at least 2.0 is required.
- Only one BDP course, including connecting experience, may be taken pass/fail. Any exceptions will be considered by the faculty panel on an individual basis.
- The student may be able to count courses toward the certificate that are not listed, if enough of the course content relates to the BDP topic. Consult with the advisor to petition a course to count towards the certificate.