What is IA

Get a major competitive edge: minor in innovation at UF

Spring-Summer Residential (In-Person) Program

The exclusive minor curriculum focuses on entrepreneurship, design, creativity, collaboration, leadership, ethics, prototyping, and innovation. Learn strategic risk-taking, experiment with rapid prototyping, collaborate with experts and peers, and earn a competitive edge in your career.

Employers, thinkers, and leaders are evolving rapidly to keep up with the ever-changing international community. The modern job market is seeking interdisciplinary individuals that welcome change, embrace creativity, and venture into the unknown. Our quality of life, economic growth, and access to affordable technology depend on our commitment to innovation.

Rooted in a commitment to fostering collaborative and forward-thinking individuals, the Innovation Academy program transcends conventional academic boundaries, providing students not only with a prestigious UF degree but also with a rich array of 21st-century skills through a specialized minor in Innovation. IA is an undergraduate spring/summer program that teaches innovation through a minor embedded in +25 majors across seven colleges, and we offer vast co-curricular experiences including a living-learning community and multiple program-specific student organizations. Given our unique schedule, IA students have the opportunity to enjoy Fall co-curricular activities, pursue internships, study abroad, or enjoy the break at home.

Given the nature of IA’s unique spring-summer calendar, IA students are NOT eligible to participate in NCAA-sponsored athletic teams.

Innovation Minor

Creativity & Design ThinkingStudents examine the dynamics of creativity, discovery, and innovation across disciplines. They learn problem-finding and problem-solving skills through design thinking. EthicsStudents will become familiar with some of the major ethical theories, with ethical issues surrounding innovation, and with some of the psychological obstacles to acting ethically. Entrepreneurship MindsetStudents will develop a practical, hands-on understanding of the stages of the entrepreneurial process with a focus on the decision-making process within a start-up company. LeadershipBy studying key leadership theories and models, students will develop the basic skills and knowledge necessary to move an innovation from creation to implementation.

Co-Curricular Highlights

Campus Life

Students can stay engaged in their clubs and organizations and attend UF social and athletic events.

Internship Opportunities

IA offers a successful Fall Internship Program with local start-up companies in Gainesville where students work in teams and earn 4 credits in the process. IA also offers an independent internship database to support students looking for opportunities nationally.

Ambassadors

Develop valuable internship skills with an emphasis on servant-leadership, public speaking, networking, and marketing.

Employment

IA has caught the attention of many employers and leaders who have sought upper-level students to work for them full-time in the fall when all other students return to campus or can only work part-time.

Study Abroad

The fall semester off is ideal for study abroad, giving students a large window of time to work when studying abroad and increased opportunities.