Plenty of career paths require a specific degree, but just as many jobs have duties that can’t be fully taught in just one area of study. For some people, that means picking up knowledge through work experience. But for others, depending on their passions, it makes sense to pursue a graduate program that combines various areas of study.
That’s exactly what students in the Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology program get. This unique program doesn’t just focus on one field, but rather the intersection of three distinct areas. Students in the program are equipped with design, business and tech knowledge, ensuring that they’re ready to tackle a variety of jobs upon graduation.
What is a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology?
The Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology online graduate program is a unique and interactive experience. Its main focus is teaching “students to think critically at the intersection of arts and design, technology, and business and venture management,” according to its website. Simply put, students will work in cross-disciplinary teams to learn the different principles involved in each field, as well as the skills needed to become leaders and innovators.
“School has been wired to teach us specific subjects and domains that add up to a set of disciplinary skills that qualify you for a job,” said Matthew Manos, Associate Dean of Challenge-Based Reflective Learning and Associate Professor of Practice in Design Strategy at USC Iovine & Young Academy. “However, industry and society at-large don’t think in this way and instead are mission or challenge-driven. This model teaches students how to understand a challenge and learn what it takes to respond.”
The program was initially developed because USC Iovine and Young Academy wanted a curriculum that was responsive to industries and what they really look for in graduates, said Davina Wolter, Associate Dean of Inclusive Learning and Associate Professor of Practice in Design at USC Iovine and Young Academy. The result was a degree that integrated hands-on work, creative problem solving and an entrepreneurial spirit.
“When you get out into the world as a product developer, you’re not just using skills around product design, but you’re also using project management skills,” Wolter said. “You’re using relational skills. … So, this program was really being responsive to people who were already in industry and perhaps being siloed into a specific area of development and professional growth, and were seeking to find their way out of that and incorporate our understanding around the nuance of developing creative solutions with an entrepreneurial lens.”
Can You Get a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology Online?
One of the program’s major strengths is its customizability. While the program can be completed in-person, students can also pursue their degree entirely online or through a hybrid mode. USC Iovine and Young Academy even offers an immersive residential experience, which allows students to come to campus and work directly with staff, fellow students and industry experts on a project — which Wolter jokingly compares to a “sleepaway camp.”
“This five-day sprint involves real-world challenges in partnership with organizations across diverse industries,” Manos said. “In addition to serving as a rapid and effective deep-dive into the process of innovation, this residency is an incredible team and community-building experience.”
Classes in the program encompass many different topics, including:
- Purpose-Driven Innovation Incubator
- Collaborative Prototyping in Health Innovation
- Entrepreneur Lab
- Overview of Intellectual Property Laws for Creatives and Entrepreneurs
- Inclusive Design and Design Allyship
- Extended Reality for Fashion
- Marketing Strategy for Startups
- Augmented Intelligence
- Narrative and Storytelling
Manos and Wolter said the program is the perfect fit for adventurous and creative people who want to make a real impact on the world around them.
“[It’s for] anyone that sees a challenge, and refuses to see one answer,” Manos said. “IYA is a fit for inventors, entrepreneurs and movement makers. We’re a great place for students that otherwise find themselves in hats too tight for the big vision they can bring to the table.”
What Careers Can You Land with a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology?
Because so many different skills are taught in the program, graduates will be prepared to tackle a variety of careers — especially hybrid jobs looking for people who can handle different disciplines. Available careers span different industries and include:
- Digital marketing
- Media and entertainment
- Public relations
- Data and business analytics
- Project management
- UX or UI design
- Advertising
- Creative art direction
- Game design
- Brand design
- Industrial or product design
- Software engineering
- User interface development
- Systems engineering
- Product management
- Full stack development
- Business strategy and operations
- Product marketing
These are just some of the many job titles graduates have landed after this program. As Wolter put it, the degree hasn’t just helped people make a career pivot or advance up the ladder — it’s also helped some students discover an entirely new passion.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to encourage creative growth within each of our students, for them to take something that’s out of their wheelhouse and realize that they might actually be really good at it, and that they might actually be really, really interested in doing this type of work,” Wolter said.
Learn more about the Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology (MSIDBT) online program today.