Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship
At a Glance
The MITE degree is a 33-unit project-based program with 15 units covering the technical aspects of technology innovation in the connectivity vertical and 15 units with focused coaching on business, entrepreneurship and leadership.
TAKE ONE COURSE AT A TIME
Students are admitted throughout the year for admission into one of three terms (Spring, Summer and Fall). Two courses are offered each term, with students focusing on one course at a time – a total of seven weeks for each course.
HELPING YOU ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER, SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
For Those with Connectivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Interest … a Universe of Possibilities
Perhaps you’ve got ideas that you believe can change the world.
Perhaps you are a tech innovator whose success has propelled you into a leadership role, now seeking new knowledge and skills to help you turn your vision of the future into reality.
Perhaps you see the potential for advances in technology and connectivity to create market opportunities for a startup or an existing business.
Welcome to the future.
Welcome to the University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship degree program — a one-of-kind learning and professional growth experience built to help you gain the skills, perspectives and insights you need to achieve what lies ahead.
If these ideas excite you — or if they speak to the inner, entrepreneurial restlessness that drives you to excel as you imagine great things on the horizon — please read on to learn more about whether our MITE program might be right for you!
Inside the Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (MITE) Program
We call our online Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship master’s degree program MITE for short; and we pronounce it “Mighty” because it is thoughtfully crafted from the ground up to be an incredibly powerful experience for degree candidates who are motivated to scale innovative ideas and fuel the growth of their organizations and enterprises.
Master’s | Innovation | Technology | Entrepreneurship = MITE
MITE is sharply focused on the concept, the current reality and the seemingly limitless future possibilities of “connectivity.” Essentially, it’s how today’s electronic communications enable immediate connection to information, whether on a level that’s:
- Person-to-person
- Person-to-machine
- Machine-to-machine
- Person-to-information
- Machine-to-information
or some other connection possibility. This fast-moving connectivity landscape is fertile ground for innovation, made possible by advancing technologies like 5G-fueled IoT, creating unprecedented opportunities for business enterprises and for society as a whole.
“The need for connectivity in every facet of society has never been more pressing than it is right now,” says wireless technology leader Qualcomm. “More than just imagining new possibilities, people all over the world are now working beyond the office, learning beyond the classroom, and experiencing healthcare beyond the traditional doctor’s office or clinic.”
Such descriptions of the connectivity ecosystem sound like a clarion call to many technology innovators and entrepreneurs. How about you?
The MITE program is geared to be an incredibly valuable experience for:
- Team members of startup companies
- Entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs
- Product marketing managers
- Tech achievers advancing into leadership roles
- Business professionals learning to navigate the technology innovation landscape
- Newly minted and seasoned C-Suite executives in a broad range of industries (including CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, etc.)
- Innovators interested in changing how the world works
Admission to the MITE program will require a bachelor’s degree with strong academic credentials, preferably in a STEM or business discipline.
Preference will be given to candidates with industry experience or other relevant real-life experiences.
Key attributes of the USD MITE program include:
- A specialized U.S. master’s degree program oriented toward a single technology vertical: connectivity
- Expert industry instructors from both the School of Engineering and the Knauss School of Business
- Distinguished professors of practice with a depth and breadth of relevant hands-on experience and insights
- Personalized learning (faculty advisors work with/guide students so that learning in core and elective courses is contextualized for individualized development)
- Flexible and self-paced online learning to accommodate working professionals
Bleeding Edge Curriculum Tailored to the Needs of Rising Tech Execs
The Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship program is a 33-unit project-based program with 15 units covering the technical aspects of technology innovation in the computer and communications connectivity space and 15 units with focused coaching on business, entrepreneurship and leadership.
The MITE degree is designed to provide graduates with:
- Cross-functional leadership training to manage the many different skill sets required of leadership roles (for example: sales, marketing, product management, human resources, team-building, etc.)
- The skills and confidence to solve both day-to-day and larger strategic challenges with an entrepreneurial and innovation-minded approach
- Grounding in fundamental and advanced business models, concepts and practices
- A deep dive into navigating the world of technology innovation, financing and product/market fit
- Flexibility in how to position and reposition a company, when to recognize opportunities and how to adjust management responsibilities
- A capstone experience of creating new business models within the connectivity landscape
The capstone experience is of critical importance, as students are placed on project teams for in-depth work on developing a specific idea or product. Capstone work rolls out over multiple semesters, with each segment of the capstone connected to one of the phases of starting and running a business or business unit. For example:
- Developing the idea and working to assess and understand the market
- Designing the product/service and undergoing processes for market validation
- Building a business model
Students will work closely with each other and with program faculty advisors for a collaborative, hands-on learning experience.
Featured Courses
High-Caliber Faculty: Real-World Experts, Hands-On Instruction
The MITE program connects you with world-class faculty possessing a depth and breadth of experience as startup entrepreneurs, high-achieving tech CEOs, patent-holding Ph.D. engineers, sought-after industry advisors and award-winning academics.
Each faculty member is engaged in working closely with students to make the MITE learning experience one that you can use to transform your career and achieve your most important goals.
Our professors of practice bring extensive experience in companies engaged in the development and sale of products and services in the connectivity market, and all of them understand how to build and defend intellectual property (IP) portfolios.
TO RECAP, OUR HIGH-CALIBER FACULTY TEAM POSSESSES ADVANCED DEGREES AND DEEP EXPERIENCE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
| C-Suite leadership | Board of director service |
| Product market fit | Product development |
| Venture capital | Strategic marketing |
| Angel investing | University teaching |
| Initial public offerings | Mergers and acquisitions |
| Consultation | Startup entrepreneurship |
Additionally, the MITE program leverages ongoing input and insight from a hand-picked Advisory Board of successful industry leaders and CEOs.
Program Goals: Help You Accelerate Your Career, ‘Redefine the Possible’
It is not an exaggeration to say that the connectivity vertical “connects” to practically every other industry, as well as government, nonprofits and organizations working to solve shared challenges critical to the betterment of all.
As multinational technology and professional services consultant Deloitte observes in an article titled “Connectivity of Tomorrow,” every day we are seeing “more companies embrace the connectivity of tomorrow trend by exploring how a host of advanced networking capabilities can be used to enhance products, services and enterprise architectures.”
This means that, whatever domain you are currently immersed in, our program will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed at the highest levels. Here’s how we approach the concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship and connectivity, as articulated by our Academic Director Jeff Teza.
The University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship program drives graduates of our program to “redefine the possible” through the following learning outcomes:
- Successfully launch entrepreneurial ventures in the connectivity vertical.
- Develop structures that promote innovation and intrapreneurship in mature companies engaged in connectivity business.
- Develop organizational vision, mission and goals consistent with those of technology-based corporations and be able to articulate them from strategic and financial perspectives.
- Develop a personal style of leadership and management based upon an understanding of the model of influence most aligned with their natural abilities.
- Build high-performing teams, manage people’s productivity and handle personnel issues with an understanding of the impact “social system concepts” have within organizations.
Admissions
Earn Your Degree in 20 Months!
Candidates who possess real-world experience will be best positioned for acceptance into the program. Those who are currently working in or aspiring to startup entrepreneurship roles, rising connectivity leaders and innovation-minded business executives will be particularly well-served by the MITE program.
Each program applicant will be asked to share a statement explaining his or her interest in the connectivity market, and their path to leadership positions.
Students are admitted throughout the year for enrollment into one of three semesters (Spring, Summer and Fall). Each semester two courses are offered, with students focusing intensively on one course at a time — a total of seven weeks for each course.
Admission applications are accepted on a rolling basis. A decision will be recommended by the Review Committee within one week of your application being submitted.
How to apply
For details on specific requirements needed for admission, please visit our Admissions page.
A Few Words About the Program
What is the master’s degree program that past generations of technology entrepreneurs and CEOs wish they had under their belt? That’s what we’re building here at the University of San Diego.
Tuition
University of San Diego tuition rates are competitive with other leading institutions. The cost for each program varies by credit hour; the Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship program requires a minimum of 33 total credit hours.
Financial Aid
One of the University of San Diego’s highest priorities is to ensure that sufficient tuition and financial aid support is available to all eligible students. The first step in applying for aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).In addition to financial aid, the University of San Diego provides assistance in securing additional financial support for students to further their education, including scholarships and grants.
accreditation
Accreditation is an important quality indicator for college and university degree programs, generally regarded as a stamp of approval that ensures you will be able to apply for financial aid and transfer your credits if you decide to switch schools. Most state universities and private non-profit universities will have a regional accreditation. The University of San Diego has earned both regional and national accreditations.
Accreditations include:
The WASC Senior College and University Commission – WASC is a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as certifying institutional eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid. Learn more about the importance of selecting a regionally accredited program.
Enrollment and Academic Advisors
Applying to a graduate program can be complicated — that’s why our team of advisors is here to help answer all of your questions.
When you first inquire about our Master of Science in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship program, you will be assigned a personal Enrollment Advisor who will be available to answer your questions, help you assess your eligibility for admission and guide you through the application process.
In addition, each of our graduate degree programs has an Academic Advisor, who is responsible for evaluating applications and admitting new students, monitoring your academic progress and providing guidance as needed. Program Advisors also serve as instructors for their respective programs.
Right from the start, you’ll receive support and guidance from experienced advisors who are invested in helping you achieve your education goals!
Designed for busy working professionals who want to earn their master’s degree while balancing the demands of work and family life, the University of San Diego offers convenient, yet rigorous online learning programs that enable you to achieve your educational goals on your own schedule.
As an online graduate student, you will have access to your classroom at any time and can view your assignments, syllabus and course resources from any computer with internet capability.
The degree you’ll earn as an online graduate student is the same as that earned by campus-based students. The online courses embody the same learning outcomes, educational rigor and high level of academic excellence.
Learn More About Earning Your Master’s Degree Online at University Of San Diego