Undergraduate Courses

EPSY 2810. Creativity: Debunking Myths and Enhancing Innovation

Three credits. Introduction to the science of creativity and to strategies for enhancing creativity in self and others.

EPSY 3830. Individual Differences in Creativity

Three credits. Prerequisite: EPSY 2810. Overview of how individual differences in a variety of psychological, educational, and demographic factors impact creativity. How these factors are measured and how they may interrelate.

EPSY 3850. Creativity in K-12 Schools and Classrooms

Three credits. Prerequisite: EPSY 2810. Overview of creativity as applied to educational settings. Historical overview of efforts aimed at promoting creativity in K-12 settings, contemporary insights from the creativity studies literature, and factors related to supporting creativity in educational contexts.

EPSY 3870. Creativity Assessment and Research

Three credits. Prerequisite: EPSY 2810. An overview of how creativity is measured, from divergent thinking to problem solving to ratings of creative work to self-assessments. Assessments will be used to conduct research or further the student’s understanding of the field of creativity.

EPSY 4870. Capstone in Creativity and Innovation Sciences

Three credits. Prerequisite: EPSY 2810. Advanced topics in creativity and innovation. Application of topics discussed in earlier courses to students’ primary academic and professional interests.

 

Undergraduate Minor in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Over the past two decades, employers, employees, and policy makers have emphasized that creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship (CIE) are critically important for economic development, success in the workplace, and maintaining a high quality of life.
The ability to be creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial are vital skills in any number of fields. Our economies, cultures, and quality of life all depend on the regular creation and use of original and helpful ideas, and recent research demonstrates that these important skills can be taught and learned. The interdisciplinary minor in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship is appropriate for majors in fields where the creation, implementation, and evaluation of original ideas are valued.

Research provides convincing evidence that people can learn to be more creative, more innovative, and more entrepreneurial. The University of Connecticut is uniquely situated to help students learn the necessary CIE skills and attitudes, given that many of the country’s top CIE researchers and practitioners work at or affiliated with the university.

Student completing the undergraduate minor will:

  • Obtain a better understanding of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, including myths and stereotypes about CIE.
  • Understand an individual differences approach to creativity – why one person may be more or less creative than another person given the same environmental context.
  • Learn techniques for stimulating one’s own creativity.
  • Discover ways to stimulate the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship of others.
  • Learn to avoid common blocks to creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
  • Explore how CIE principles are manifested in each student’s primary fields of study.
  • Summarize and provide evidence of their CIE knowledge and skills.

Course Requirements

Foundations Courses: EPSY 2810 and BADM 3741 or MGMT 3234
Elective Courses: 3 credits of coursework from EPSY 3830, 3850, 3870; BADM or BLAW 3678, BADM or BLAW 3681, BADM or MKTG 3753, BADM or
MGMT 4895 (must be offered as Managing Creativity and Innovation or Gaining Competitive Advantages); DMD 3200, 3230, 3560; DRAM 3141, 3145, 3601
Applied Courses: 6 credits of coursework from EPSY 4870; MGMT 4891 (for work done through the Innovation Quest Program or the Innovation Accelerator);
BADM 3742 or MGMT 3235; ENGR 3195 (when offered as Prototyping).

The minor is open to all undergraduates and administered by the Neag School of Education. It represents a collaboration between the Neag School, the School of Fine Arts, the School of Business, and the School of Engineering. Students may obtain information about the purpose and requirements of the minor by contacting Prof. Ronald Beghetto (ronald.beghetto@uconn.edu).

Students may contact the School of Business Office of Undergraduate Advising (undergrad. business.uconn.edu) for questions concerning the business courses included in this minor. Students may contact the School of Engineering Office of Undergraduate Advising (undergrad.engr.uconn.edu/advising/academic-advising/) for questions concerning the Prototyping course.