Academic Minors

These exciting academic minors are offered to UMD undergraduate students.

Science, Technology, Ethics and Policy (STEP) Minor

Technology Innovation Leadership

The Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP) Minor is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the School of Public Policy, the College of Information, and the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Students in the minor explore the ways that scientific practice and technological development are embedded in social, cultural, humanistic, and political systems. Students will develop tools for anticipating potential social, ethical, and political problems and employ these insights for emerging science and technology governing strategies; and investigate how culture, politics, economics, law, professional training, funding, and employment settings affect the pursuit of science and the development of technology. This minor is available to UMD College Park or UMD Shady Grove students. Courses are delivered online.

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Careers

Specific organizations in which students with this minor would find employment include:

  • The United Nations
  • World Health Organization
  • The Department of Defense
  • The Department of State
  • NASA
  • Apple
  • Meta
  • Google
  • Deep Mind
  • Lockheed Martin
Courses

6 Credits of Core Courses

  • ENES240 Introduction to Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy
  • ENES440 Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy Capstone

9 Credits from Concentration Areas

  • Political and Policy Implications
  • Science and Technology Development
  • Information Economy

The Information Risk Management, Ethics, and Privacy Minor

The 5-course (15 credits) undergraduate minor in Risk Management, Ethics, and Privacy is designed to prepare students to evaluate major information and big data privacy and security issues that businesses and individuals are faced with. The curriculum will examine risks companies face while collecting, storing, and managing information and their existing customers’ and stakeholders’ data. The coursework will focus on practical strategies to mitigate risks and explore the ways emerging technologies benefit in the context of risk management, ethics, and privacy. Must be a UMD College Park (UMCP) student. Courses are available at the UMCP campus or online.

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Information Risk Management, Ethics, and Privacy
Careers

Students will be prepared for entry-level positions such as:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security and information assurance are among the top 15 fastest-growing occupations, with a growth rate (2016-29) of 31% and ranks sixth in terms of median pay (over $92,000).
Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

Courses
  • Human-Centered Cybersecurity (3 credits)
  • Privacy, Security and Ethics for Big Data (3 credits)
  • Risk Management Leadership in the Information Age (3 credits)
  • Information Assurance & Compliance (3 credits)
  • Emerging Technologies and Risk Management (3 credits)

The Technology Innovation Leadership Minor

Technology Innovation Leadership

The 5-course (15 credits) undergraduate minor in Technology Innovation Leadership prepares students to effectively create and navigate a climate of technological innovation within an organization or team. By combining creative leadership, design thinking, and understanding socio-technical challenges, students will tackle large-scale problems relating to technology innovation. Innovative thinking approaches incorporated into the curriculum will allow students to create new ideas and energy and solve socio-technical challenges through leadership experiences. The coursework will examine the different ways leaders and social entrepreneurs strategically use innovative technologies and information to solve social, cultural, and environmental problems. This minor is available to UMD College Park or UMD Shady Grove students. Courses are delivered online.

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Careers

Technology innovations create opportunities for companies and organizations in a variety of industries; therefore, students will be able to apply skills in many different business domains. Students who have completed this minor will have the expertise to support the mission and vision of innovative technology companies and will be in demand to join organizations that create economic and social value. Students will be prepared for entry-level positions such as:

Courses
  • Fundamentals of Technology Innovation (3 credits)
  • Leading and Sustaining a Culture of Innovation (3 credits)
  • Lean Tech Startup (3 credits)
  • Project Management (3 credits)
  • The Technology Socialpreneur (3 credits)

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