INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE IN NEW PRODUCT COMMERCIALIZATION

摘要

A new experimental course, "New Product Commercialization" was offered during the spring 2013 and spring 2014 semesters at the University of Bridgeport to students in the School of Engineering, School of Design, and the School of Business. The course was cross listed between three departments in the School of Engineering (technology management, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering), as an undergraduate course in industrial design (School of Design), and as a graduate course in design management (School of Design). MBA majors could register through either the technology management or the design management course in 2013, and the School of Business listed the class as a graduate management course for the 2014 semester. The class had an enrollment of 20 students in 2013 and 22 students in 2014, composed of a wide variety of majors representing all three schools. The creation and execution of this multidisciplinary course in entrepreneurship is discussed, including the lessons learned by the students and the instructor. The first offering of the course was supported by a planning grant, and the success of the initial course offering led to subsequent external funding for three years.