;

Innovation and Design Thinking, Specialized Diploma

Overview

Narrative

This interdisciplinary Specialized Diploma is for students from all majors who want to change their thinking about innovation as a catalyst for creating social and economic change through an entrepreneurial and intrapreneural mindset. These mindsets encourage students to challenge the status quo, think outside the box, and find new and innovative solutions. These skills and abilities are valuable in any career as they allow for the development of new products, services, and processes. In addition, intrapreneurial thinking can also be beneficial for personal growth, as it encourages individuals to take control of their own lives, set and achieve goals, and develop a sense of self-reliance.

Program Features

Northampton's Innovation and Design Thinking Specialized Diploma is a stackable credential designed to empower students to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to identify and pursue opportunities. This objective is achieved by creating an integrated series of learning experiences that encourage creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, and risk-taking. Additionally, this diploma allows students to apply their knowledge through hands-on projects, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities. Equally important is this program's interdisciplinary nature, which brings together a diverse group of students with different backgrounds and experiences, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Identify real-world problems through curiosity, observation, opportunity recognition, and adaptation
  • Engage in creative problem-solving across contexts using design thinking to generate, develop and test new ideas
  • Demonstrate effective communication, presentation, and collaboration skills
  • Apply the knowledge and skills learned in tangible, real-world projects and a capstone internship

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

ENTR101Entrepreneurial Mindset

3 credits

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:7

Second Semester

Discipline-Specific Elective*

3 credits

Internship or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)**

2-6 credits

Total Credit Hours:5-9

Total Credit Hours: 12-16

*Discipline-Specific Electives (Select One)

  • BUSA 137 Principles of Selling 3 Credits
  • BUSA 226 Human Resources Management 3 Credits
  • BUSA 232 Principles of Marketing 3 Credits
  • CMTH 231 Small Group Communication 3 Credits
  • DATS 101 Principles of Data Science 3 Credits
  • GLBL 130 Introduction to Global Studies 3 Credits
  • HOSP 201 Strategic Leadership in Hospitality 3 Credits
  • HOPS 215 Hospitality Sales & Marketing 3 Credits
  • HUMA 140 Introduction to Women and Gender 3 Credits
  • HUMA 210 Creativity & the Origins of Ideas 3 Credits
  • POLS 202 International Relations 3 Credits

 

**Internship (Select One) OR Relevant Prior Learning Assessment (2 or more Credits)

  • ARCH 200 Professional Internship 3 Credits
  • CGRT551 Cognitive Retraining Internships 3 Credits

  • CMTH 275 Media Production Internship 3 Credits

  • CRFT 250 Craft Practicum 2 Credit

  • EARL 263G Internship-Early Childhood 3 Credits

  • HCOA 250 Internship 3 Credits

  • HOSP 221G Hospitality Management Practicum 3 Credits

  • INTS 204 Professional Internship 2 Credits

  • Internship 3 Credits

  • PARL 250 Internship 3 Credits

  • SPRT 250 Sports Management Practicum 3 Credits