UCCS Bachelor of Innovation™ Family of degrees
Welcome to the UCCS Bachelor of Innovation™(BI) Program Home Page. Like any Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA), the BI is not a single degree but a family of related majors. The BI degree is analogous to a BA or BS. However, a BI degree has a common core in innovation and entrepreneurship which comprises a unique long-term, multi-disciplinary team experience. A BI major field of study, e.g. a BI in Computer Science, is mostly the same as a BS in Computer Science, but the BI core requires them to develop strong team skills, study innovation, engage in entrepreneurship, practice proposal writing, and learn business and intellectual law. A survey of Colorado companies indicates that BI students and graduates have a significant future advantage in the market.
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This unprecedented program is motivated by a national need for innovation , and builds on our national reputation such as U.S. News and World Report rankings US News and World Report, the UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science national ranking in its class (masters/bachelors focused universities) tied it for 6th among public institutions, and 20th overall. Additionally, UCCS has been ranked by US News as a "Best in the West", with 2009 ranking 6th among public western regional universities. UCCS has been ranked in the top 10 western regional public universities each year since 2002., that recognize UCCS as a leading university focused on undergraduate education. Being such a recognized leader in the region provides UCCS with a naturally innovative advantage. It is not necessary just to take our word that an education in innovation is important. Please view a short news clip presenting Colorado's own US Senator Michael Bennet. He recently visited UCCS specifically to discuss its unparalleled BI degree programs. (Aired on Fox21 News 3/30/2010. Posted with their permission.) Special thanks to those innovation students able to meet with our Senator: Alex, Derick, Josh, Teryn, and Steve. Senator Bennet sent a personal thank-you to the BI program, stating that he left that meeting excited and energized. His daughters also had a great time. It is never too early to start recruiting new innovation students! |
The BI program integrates four major components of innovation.Technology, Entrepreneurship, Creative Communications and Globalization; all of which comprise the BI family of degrees. And of course, UCCS desires that creative people like you participate in the BI program. One major component of the program is multi-disciplinary innovation teams. These teams work hard on real projects with companies interested in the innovative insights only BI students can bring them. New and exciting projects are actively pursued everyday by undergraduates in the BI program. Many companies in our community engage students in a variety of innovative projects. (See our Success Pages for more examples.) The ability to team with the community is a cornerstone of this program, but is nothing new for UCCS, a college recognized for its nationally leading community engagement.The American Association of State Colleges and Universities' last ranking placed UCCS first, tied with Arizona State University-West, as America's most engaged college campus.
Also, this strong multi-disciplinary team dynamic inherent to a BI program provides critical experience working across fields and across age groups. Further advantages include a positive, diverse social network as a valuable resource for students. UCCS's BI program can expect to further enhance already laudable efforts toward supporting and retaining minorities and women in engineering.The American Society for Engineering Education ranked universities that grant 50 or more engineering degrees annually by the percentage of degrees awarded to women for 2004 and 2005. At UCCS, 29 percent of the engineering degrees awarded were to women, placing the university seventh nationally among U.S. public universities and the highest in the Rocky Mountain Region.
By the middle of its third year in operation, BI student/faculty teams have already supported local companies in pursuing $2.8 Million in funding, with over $2 Million awarded so far and even more pending. These contracts provide innovation team funding as students work to deliver on these and other vital company projects. Student teams have also sold innovative, student created games to the Apple Apps store, been involved in four ongoing startups, and partnered with more than half a dozen local entrepreneurs. In 2009, as in 2008, more companies and funding for student "workshops" (paid positions working on BI teams) were available than qualified BI students willing to work. With all these pending proposals, the UCCS BI program hopes to keep up the persistent "problem" of more money than students, even during rapid expansion. Since we excel at raising partnerships and funding, we are growing quickly. Check out either partners or success pages for examples of how you may also become involved.
This bold new degree is aimed toward students who appreciate an innovative challenge, those who are destined to change their world and add value to society. If you want to participate in essential projects with real companies, and if you desire to set yourself apart from the same old Bachelor of Science, then this is the degree for you. Determine to be extraordinary and do something different.
For more information on a Bachelor of Innovation, you may watch this video and explore the website, or contact us directly.
Did you notice the trademark (TM) in the name?Bachelor of Innovation™ (BI) Here at UCCS we are not just teaching innovation: We live it and breathe it. Now, we own a piece of it. Even our recruiting is innovative. If you have not found the interactive aspects of this page, move your mouse around and find at least 5!
BI is an internationally unique family of degrees that is found only at UCCS. Join us and prepare for your personal innovation!
