Innovation Studies

The Innovation Studies program focuses on nurturing and developing original thought, transformative ideas, and breakthrough products in a team-driven context. The minor combines PLU’s distinctive offerings in the liberal arts and the professional schools, as well as programming offered by the Benson Chair in Business and Economic History. The Innovation Studies minor is especially supportive of, and connected to, PLU initiatives that encourage diversity, justice, and sustainability.

Foundation courses in the minor build essential skills to understand the process of innovation in historical and ethical contexts and to learn fundamental concepts in economic theory, art & design, communication, and business management. A concluding seminar requires that students work in teams to envision their own innovative solutions to ethical concerns, pressing problems, and business opportunities.

The minor’s flexible curriculum enables students to integrate their major into a rich interdisciplinary framework and to leverage their current proficiencies while discovering new ones. When students enter the workplace, they will have the preparation to think creatively, form teams, engage the marketplace, and collaborate across fields and departments.

Minor

20 semester hours

Students are expected to work closely with Innovation Studies faculty advisors to ensure the most personalized programs and instruction possible. In addition, outside-the-classroom activities form an important part of this interdisciplinary minor, which emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and collaborative problem solving. These activities include regular “innovator’s roundtable” meetings, lectures, field trips, and contact with the Seattle/Tacoma business community.

Innovation Studies minors must complete a minimum of 20 credit hours in the following areas:

• Introduction to Innovation Studies (4)
• Innovation Principles (8)
• Elective (4)
• INOV 350: Innovation Seminar (4)

Students may complete curriculum requirements in any order and pathways into the program overlap with many majors and minors on campus. The only requirement is that the Innovation Seminar may not be taken until the Introduction to Innovation Studies and Innovation Principles coursework is complete.

Up to eight (8) approved credits from supporting majors or minors can be applied to the Innovation Studies minor.

At least Junior status is required before students take the concluding Innovation Seminar.

Students may transfer in a maximum of 8 semester hours towards the Innovation Studies minor, unless they have permission from the program chair.

All courses counted towards the minor must be completed with grades of C- or higher and with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in those courses.

Program Requirements

Introduction to Innovation Studies
4 semester hours

Students select one of the following courses to receive an introduction to the discipline of Innovation Studies and key themes in the program. Course must be completed before taking the Innovation Seminar.

• HIST 248: Innovation, Ethics, and Society (4)
• PHIL 248: Innovation, Ethics, and Society (4)
• HIST 346: History of Innovation and Technology (4)

Innovation Principles
8 semester hours

Students select one course from two of the three Innovation Principles subject areas below to anchor their understanding of innovation in an interdisciplinary framework. Courses must be completed before taking the Innovation Seminar.

Economic Principles:

• ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics (4)
• ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global & Environmental (4)

Business Principles:

• BUSA 201: Introduction to Business in the Global Environment (4)

Design and Communication Principles:

• ARTD 110: Graphic Design 1 (4)
• COMA 215: Writing in Communication Careers (4)

Elective
4 semester hours

Select at least one course from the following list of electives for deeper study in the process of innovation, creativity, problem solving, and related proficiencies:

• ARTD 202: 3D Design (4)
• ARTD 310: Graphic Design 3 (4)
• BUSA 340: Non-Profit Management (4)
• BUSA 358: Entrepreneurship (4)
• COMA 361: Public Relations: Principles and Practices (4)
• DATA 133: Introduction to Computational and Data Science (4)
• CSCI 144: Introduction to Computer Science (4)
• ECON 325: Industrial Organization and Public Policy (4)
• ECON 386: Evolution of Economic Thought (4)
• ENGL 323: Writing for Public and Professional Settings (4)
• HIST 247: U.S. Capitalism: From Railroads to Netflix (4)
• PHIL 225: Business Ethics (4)
• POLS 345: Government and Public Policy (4)
• PSYC 148: Minds, Brains, and Computer: Introduction to Cognitive Science (4)
• PSYC 448: Cognitive Psychology (4)

Innovation Seminar
4 semester hours

• INOV 350: Innovation Seminar (4)