The King’s College Announces a New Minor in Technology, Innovation, and Design

As part of the College’s commitment to cultivating students who are prepared to thrive at the heart of strategic institutions around the world, The King’s College will begin offering a new minor in Technology, Innovation, and Design (TID). The College’s Fellow in Technology and Entrepreneurship, Robb Myer, will bring his considerable expertise and broad experience in these fields to the minor, in conjunction with a number of other faculty.

The minor will be available starting fall 2018, and will be offered in the context of the College’s ongoing partnership with Praxis Academy, an entrepreneurship program committed to mentoring students on connecting their faith and their work in innovative sectors.

“Every strategic institution in our society makes use of technology to further its work: We want our students prepared to bring a powerful combination of insights, an eye for design, and an entrepreneurial spirit to their use of those tools in helping to shape and eventually lead those institutions,” said Dr. Mark Hijleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.

The Technology, Innovation, and Design minor will be housed in the Business and Finance Program. Professor Brian Brenberg, chair of the business and finance program, says, “The TID minor enables students to think critically about the opportunities and challenges of technological innovation in the 21st Century, and acquire a set of marketable skills in design and technology applications.”

The minor will also draw heavily on courses and expertise from the Media, Culture, and the Arts program. Dr. Harry Bleattler, chair of Media, Culture, and the Arts, says, “With the adoption of the TID minor, any student at King’s can now pick up some of the basic design and technology skills that employers are increasingly looking for in applicants. This addition greatly enhances our students’ career opportunities.” The new minor is an opportunity for students to “study perspectives and develop skills at the intersection of technology, enterprise, culture, and creativity,” as the proposal for the program explains.

The minor will provide much-needed opportunities for students to take skill-based tech classes, but it is much more than simply a tech skills program. The program of study is broad, encompassing a range of classes that will allow students with a variety of goals to engage with the subject matter. Currently, the course map provides opportunities for students to explore various facets of technology and its influence in contemporary culture. For example, the minor provides courses that cultivate a basic understanding of technology and entrepreneurship, study the uses of technology in visual design and communication, and possibly delve into the philosophy, history, and theology of technology. As the program expands, more options for electives will deepen and broaden the possibilities for the minor.

Dr. Hijleh says, “I am delighted that this minor, which emerged from a multi-year exploration of what King’s can best offer students in these interrelated areas, has the flexibility to accommodate a variety of configurations. That will in turn allow students to pursue what will be most valuable for their individual goals.”