Online

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.

20 Months
33 Units
$925
January 9, 2024
December 1

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:

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: 

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:


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:

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:

Students will work closely with each other and with program faculty advisors for a collaborative, hands-on learning experience.

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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 leadershipBoard of director service
Product market fitProduct development
Venture capitalStrategic marketing
Angel investingUniversity teaching
Initial public offeringsMergers and acquisitions
ConsultationStartup entrepreneurship

Additionally, the MITE program leverages ongoing input and insight from a hand-picked Advisory Board of successful industry leaders and CEOs.

Carlton C. O’Neal
Dr. Jaime Gomez
Dr. Amitkumar Kakkad
james gilb
James Gilb, Ph.D.
Portrait of Jeff Teza
Jeff Teza
Professor, Entrepreneur-in-Residence

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:


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.

Two professionals discussing app design on monitor
Reach out to a helpful enrollment advisor for answers to all of your questions.


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


Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean when you say ‘innovation’?

Similar to how the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes it, innovation is something that has to be novel and not obvious to experts within a field. For our program, innovation also consists of:

  • New ideas that introduce something to a particular space
  • New methods, such as new models or approaches to a process
  • New products or devices

Innovation can also occur depending how you apply these ideas/methods/products in a market or a new market. Different types of innovation happen when you introduce:

  • New technologies in old markets
  • Old technologies in new markets
  • New technologies in new markets

What do you mean by ‘entrepreneurship’?

For MITE, entrepreneurship means living the mindset of an entrepreneur, which includes:

  1. A persistent curiosity about the world, including a willingness to challenge accepted belief systems
  2. The ability to connect information from a first principles point of view to gain better understanding of things and to effectively manage risk
  3. Looking for opportunities to create value for others, being willing to take the initiative to realize that value and the drive to persist through failures

What do you mean when you say ‘connectivity’?

Connectivity refers to the possible networks, systems and connections that are built on today’s electronic communication systems — both the larger infrastructure and specific technologies and software. Areas of connectivity include people-to-people connections, people-to-machine / information connections and machine-to-machine connections.

Is a GRE or GMAT required for admission?

Candidates who have a GPA above 2.75 are not required to take a GRE or GMAT; however, a standardized test such as GRE or GMAT is recommended for applicants with a GPA under 2.75.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in science or engineering?

One of the program’s admission requirements is a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, IT, Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field from an accredited institution. Candidates who possess real-world experience or research experience will be best positioned for acceptance into the program.

If I have a degree unrelated to the tech and entrepreneurial space with no relevant work experience, can I apply or should I wait until I have more experience?

While it is important to have experience going into this particular program, that does not mean that you would not be able to apply. First, we recommend speaking with an enrollment advisor to learn more about the program and what you can do to better your application. Speak with an enrollment advisor today.

I’m a former professional looking to enhance my knowledge as I start my own business; will this program be helpful for me?

If you’re looking to get into the tech industry or develop an innovation related to connectivity, then the MITE program will be a good fit. The program will provide you with an array of useful managerial skills, help acclimate you to the current tech environment and offer practice in product marketing and determining product market fit. This is not a program designed to help people start small retail businesses.

Does USD offer career development/advising support?

The University of San Diego is committed to steering you on a path toward educational and professional success. Right from the start, you’ll receive support and guidance from experienced University of San Diego advisors who are invested in helping you achieve your education goals!

Can I carry over credits from another program to MITE?

USD has an agreement with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota where if a student completes their online Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate, that student can then apply 6 units toward the MITE program. Completing the certificate will give you more knowledge of the space and will better prepare you to be an applicant to this program. Learn more about the certificate option here.

How much is my tuition?

Tuition for the MS-ITE program is $925 per unit, which equates to $30,525 for the entire 33 unit program

Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.

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