USC Iovine and Young Academy offers graduate certificates for qualified individuals who wish to pursue a new specialized field of study without having to commit to a full degree program. Students will gain new knowledge, perspectives, and skills to help advance one’s career, expand professional networks, and transition into a new career path. 

Certificate in the Business of Product Innovation

The Certificate in the Business of Product Innovation will provide students with a strong foundation in areas of entrepreneurship specific to developing and launching consumer products and product-based companies. Students will gain knowledge in critical areas including: historical milestones of product design and product innovation and how these products opened up new business opportunities to disrupt the status quo; developing and launching products, from product roadmapping, to value chain, to brand and marketing strategy; identifying and activating groundbreaking opportunities in new product development; and launching product-based ventures and enterprises. More information can be found on the USC General Catalogue.

Certificate in the Foundations of Product Innovation

The Certificate in the Foundation of Product Innovation provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of consumer product design and development. Students will gain knowledge in critical areas including: the mindsets, personalities and social, cultural and political factors that led to the world’s greatest breakthroughs; the process of bringing a product from concept to market, including theory and applied techniques for both physical and virtual products; advanced visualization concepts, techniques and tools used to communicate ideas, solve problems and enhance collaboration for product design and development; and explorations of digital design tools, including industry standard software.  

Students will then apply what they have learned through product design studios and labs utilizing the Academy’s state of the art maker facilities. In addition to the methods and practices of traditional product design, the course sequence explores new paradigms for physical, virtual, and hybrid products, ranging from objects and built environments, to digital, immersive and interactive experiences. More information can be found on the USC General Catalogue.

Graduate Certificates

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