Spring 2024 Course Offering – ENGR 493 Dean’s Seminar in Entrepreneurship

October 29, 2023

Dear Viterbi Students,

Considering courses for Spring 2024 registration? Please review NEW information for this 100% online 2 credit course ENGR 493 Dean’s Seminar in Entrepreneurship: Disruptive Technologies with an Entrepreneurial Mindset. All levels are welcome, no pre-reqs.

Spring 2024

Fridays 10:00 – 11:50 Pacific Time Zone

This class will be entirely online for USC course credit (2.0 units)

Instructors: Chrysostomos L. Nikias, Cauligi Raghavendra & Alice Liu

Description
This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of disruptive technologies or simply disruptions that can change human behavior, create new markets, and eventually displace previously established market leaders.  A major focus of this program is to expose students to a variety of technology innovations, the importance of big data analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as the supply chain and role of semiconductor chips, and the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset to create disruptive business models. The class sessions will involve lectures, guest speakers, discussions, and case studies.

Learning Objectives
In this course, students will develop a good understanding of how a combination of technology innovation, big data, consumer behavior and entrepreneurship may lead to disruptive business models that can create new industries and grow our economy.

Upon completion of the program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the emerging engineering ecosystems that combine technology innovation, consumer behavior, and Big Data.

• Identify emerging technologies and the potential of disruption that may surround them.

• Gain knowledge of the skills required to manage an entrepreneurial journey based on engineering technology innovation.

• Explore the Engineering Habits of the Mind that help frame the study, research, and practice of engineering.

In addition, this course provides an opportunity for students to develop their personal capabili­ties. Specifically, they will develop their analytical skills and critical thinking: learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas and viewpoints; and learn to form conclusions and recommendations and to support them with logic and evidence.

Guest Lecturers
Throughout the semester and every week, we will host in class noteworthy individuals as guest lecturers who by their leadership roles have made important contributions in the world of disruptive business sectors. We will have the opportunity to interact with them in a Q&A session and discussion.

Requirements and Evaluation
This course is being given as credit/no credit for 2 credit hours. Course requirements include regular class attendance and participation in discussions, debates and case studies, and timely completion of any assignments (14 sessions in all). No other course pre-requisite is required.

Course Sessions and Topics
This course will be centered around concepts of technology innovation, big data analytics, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), semiconductor chips and consumer behavior for each one of the disruptive technology topics to provide students with contemporary and emerging contexts as well as the impact of an entrepreneurial mindset. The following topics will be covered in class with invited speakers, lectures, and discussion sessions:

  • Ingredients to Create Disruption and Disruptive Technologies
  • Disruptive Business Models
  • Innovator’s DNA and Entrepreneurial Mindset
  • Disruption in Media and Entertainment Industries
  • Cloud Computing for Cheaper and Faster Innovation
  • The AI Technology Revolution and IoT
  • The Disruptive Technology of 3-D Printing and Manufacturing Process
  • Autonomous Driving
  • Renewable Energy and Cleantech
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
  • Semiconductor Chips: The Brains Behind Everything
  • Cybersecuring Democratic Societies
  • The 5G and 6G Telecommunications Infrastructure
  • Virtual Reality and Metaverse Platforms
  • Quantum Computing
  • Biotech and Gene Editing

The Weekly Class Schedule with the names of the invited speakers will be available on Blackboard at the beginning of the semester as a separate document.

Published on October 29th, 2023Last updated on October 29th, 2023