Social and behavioral sciences - Innovation in society or social impact

In the first program of its kind, you’ll learn how to apply the tools of historical, ethical, literary and cultural studies to technological and environmental questions. Through skill-building activities and opportunities for applied work, you’ll explore how humans interact with the places they live and the roles culture and technology play in facilitating relationships within communities. Your courses will emphasize three connected areas of knowledge, including:

• Culture
  • Delve into media, narrative, rhetoric, belonging and the imagination. You’ll explore approaches to equitable and diverse global citizenship through the study of culture and language.
• Technology
  • Explore humane technology, applied ethics and equitable innovation. You’ll learn how to apply humanities thinking to the human and ethical challenges of a world shaped by technology.
• Environment
  • Deepen your understanding of environmental justice and how the humanities enable us to develop sustainable ways to address challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. You’ll examine environmental justice in relation to race, gender, class, age, disability and more.

Who’s this degree a good fit for?

This program is ideal for those preparing for careers in advocacy and activism, communication and community, nonprofit organizations and more. As a candidate, you’ll have a passion for creating solutions that incorporate an arts and humanities perspective. You’ll also be committed to creating a positive impact on communities and acknowledging the role technology plays in shaping society.

Additionally, if you seek interdisciplinary studies to build transferable skills, this degree is a good choice for you. Upon completing this bachelor’s in culture, technology and environment, you’ll be competent in communicating, leading and planning. You’ll also have skills in analysis, flexible thinking and design thinking.

What can you do with a culture, technology and environment degree?

With a humanities background, you’ll be equipped to address cultural, ethical, technological and environmental challenges in a range of careers. This program complements career paths ranging from environmental activism and policy analysis to writing and nonprofit work. Top industries include manufacturing, educational services, public relations, nature or science writing and public administration. You’ll also be prepared to adapt to innovative technology that’s becoming ever-present in the world of work, such as generative artificial intelligence. Graduate with lifelong skills and a readiness to pursue justice in your communities.

Innovation exists in all spaces from nonprofit organizations and private businesses to academia and the government. This innovation degree provides you with the knowledge needed to analyze the complex relationships between science, technology and society.

In this program, you’ll explore the artistic and humanities aspects of innovation. You’ll also gain an understanding of how advancements in science and technology change the way people live, work and experience the world. Whether you hope to launch a social enterprise, shape public policy or drive sustainable innovation, you’ll graduate prepared to drive equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Science in global technology and development.
• Master of Science in public interest technology.

What you’ll learn in the innovation in society BA program

Blending theory and practice, your courses focus on building skills in designing, implementing and evaluating responsible innovation projects. You’ll learn how to analyze the implications of emerging technologies, assess roles of governments and markets in shaping innovation, apply foresight methodologies and communicate about science and technology.

Additionally, you’ll gain an understanding of how to engage with scientists, engineers, corporations and communities to drive innovation that enhance societal values, such as:

• Health and happiness.
• Economic prosperity.
• Justice and peace.
• Privacy and security.
• Sustainability.

What’s the difference between a BA and BS in innovation in society?

The BA in innovation in society degree is an ideal fit for students with a background in the humanities and social sciences. This program is built for those interested in bringing disciplines together to solve 21st century challenges.

This differs from the Bachelor of Science in innovation in society, which is designed for those looking to gain a technical perspective on ways their work can impact the world. The BS in innovation in society has a higher math requirement, as well as other technical courses.

From breakthroughs in artificial intelligence to improvements in renewable energy, emerging technologies can transform society. However, rapid advancement increases the need for responsible, ethical innovation focused on sustainability and social impact.

This degree program equips you to become a leader in shaping the future of innovation. You’ll gain the technical skills needed to educate the public on science and technology, as well as analyze, build and innovate equitable solutions for all.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Science in global technology and development.
• Master of Science in public interest technology.

What you'll learn in the innovation in society BS program

Through a combination of coursework, hands-on projects and opportunities for research and internships, you’ll explore the complex relationships between science, technology and society. You’ll also learn how to evaluate the impacts of new innovations on the environment, economy, global community and politics. As a graduate, you’ll have a set of technical skills transferable to nearly every industry, including:

• Analyzing the social, ethical and political implications of emerging technologies.
• Applying foresight methodologies to anticipate the future impacts of science, technology and policy.
• Assessing the role of governments, markets and other actors in shaping innovation.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Communicating effectively about science and technology.
• Designing and implementing responsible innovation projects.

What is the difference between a BS and BA in innovation in society?

The Bachelor of Science in innovation in society is tailored for students with a background or interest in the engineering, science and quantitative social science aspects of innovation. With a focus on math, the BS includes required courses related to science, engineering and statistics.

The Bachelor of Arts in innovation in society is a less technical degree better suited for those interested in the arts and humanities. The BA program has lower math requirements and doesn’t require statistics or additional technical electives.

Traditionally, when picking a program, students are forced to choose between creative and technical fields. However, this program was created to break the mold and fill the growing demand for employees with multiple skill sets.

This program focuses on fostering a new kind of digital fluency — not only proficiency with design, tools and code, but also the ability to adapt to the rapid change associated with 21st century culture. As a media arts major, you’ll learn about the latest digital tools and systems while immersing yourself in the issues of lived experience in our new connected world.

What you’ll learn in this media arts and sciences program

You’ll master cutting-edge tools, engage in critical reflection of these tools and discuss their impact on our lived experience. Throughout your courses, you’ll also:

• Create images, animations and interactive programs.
• Examine the effects of digital technology on the way we live, communicate, learn and create.
• Experiment with techniques for physical, digital, literary and artistic prototyping.
• Explore techniques in programming in the context of images, sounds, interaction, networking and data visualization.
• Trace our evolution, look at current examples of hybrid cultural processes and discuss possible future trends.
• Learn how to use images, movies, sound files, microphones and cameras.

This program concludes with a hands-on capstone, in which you’ll integrate, extend and apply information, principles, theories and methods learned in previous courses while supervised by your instructor.

Please note: During the semesters spent completing your capstone, you’ll have access to all on-campus computing and fabrication resources, including a digital fabrication lab with 3D printers, a wood shop, laser cutters and an electronics lab.

Careers for media arts majors

As our world continues to evolve, there’s a surging demand for professionals who are both creative and technical. This program supports and fosters digital creativity, helping you stay ahead of the curve in our ever-changing digital culture.

Throughout your courses, you’ll gain computer, media, aesthetics and cultural literacy skills. With these skills and the hands-on experience gained in your capstone, you’ll have the knowledge and experience needed for a variety of jobs, including app designer, web developer, sound artist, UX designer and video game designer.

Biology plays an integral part in our social context. And as a biology and society major, you’ll study science from a humanities perspective. Biological research may impact society in diverse ways, such as adapting water systems, curing human diseases and protecting our planet.

The biology and society concentration curriculum covers bioethics, conservation, ecology, genomics and more. You'll engage in scientific inquiry and investigate ethical, historical, philosophical and social issues. It also explores the impact of biology on humanity and our environment. Additionally, you'll learn about past and present controversies of applications of biology, including gene editing, human cloning and stem cell research.

This program’s innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills. Narrative storytelling tools such as Dreamscape Learn allow you to explore virtual worlds as a scientific investigator. In this interactive 2D environment, you’ll gather and analyze data to solve realistic problems in biology. Actively participating in the story will deepen your understanding and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Additional practical learning opportunities may include at-home lab kits, in-person lab sessions, internships and research.

The career paths and master’s programs this degree prepares you for

Studying biology ethics gives you a diverse skill set applicable to a variety of careers. Upon graduating, you’ll have quantitative reasoning and scientific abilities, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. You’ll relate biological concepts to social and historical problems and know how to communicate science ethically. These competencies have proven to be instrumental in both biological and humanities careers. Potential career fields for graduates include environmental law, public policy and public health.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field.

Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences