BIPS Courses Benefit Any Career

Core curses develop key skills that you will use throughout the BIPS program. These courses build on each other, teaching you how to identify patterns, interpret data, work with others to solve problems, and make informed decisions — skills that will help you in any career.

Design Thinking

This course will lead you through the design-thinking process — a creative and practical path to innovation. Take a human-centered approach as you examine case studies, identify a problem you want to solve, and develop a prototype solution.

Systems Thinking

How do thoughts, perspectives, models, patterns, and perceptions impact the world? That will be the focus of this course, as you apply systems-thinking tools to case studies and a real-world example of your own choosing.

Understanding Data

In today’s data-driven world, having the ability to interpret data is critical. In this course, you will use videos, case studies, and interactive activities as you learn to identify, analyze, interpret, and utilize data to solve problems.

Contemporary Media Literacies

There’s no doubt about it — employers want to hire candidates who can communicate effectively. In our globally connected environment, that means communicating in a variety of new and emerging formats. Examine theories of contemporary media literacy in this thought-provoking course.

Self-Awareness

Focus on your career and life goals in this innovative course based on Business Model You: A One-Page Method for Reinventing Your Career. Identify your values, assess your skills, and learn about your personality characteristics — and then apply them to your work and vision for life.

Global Awareness and Intercultural Competence

In today’s workplace, cultural competence and empathy are more important than ever. Increase your global awareness and learn how to use empathy effectively when working with other cultures.

BIPS Area of Focus

Selecting your area of focus is intentionally flexible to meet your individual needs.  Each area includes a selection of four courses. If these areas don’t fit your career goals, consider designing your own with the Self-Designed Area of Focus.

Health & Wellness

Examine health and wellness from a variety of perspectives. Explore issues in international health and the role that culture plays in health care. Learn the basic principles of physical fitness and nutrition and apply them to the leisure and tourism industry. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing health and wellness professionals and how to address them.

Arts, Entertainment, & Media

Learn the skills needed for success in the arts, entertainment, and media industries. Start by developing a strong foundation in the arts, the creative process, and innovation. Then follow your interests in this ever-changing field as you focus on advanced communication skills, ethics, leadership, and turning a creative endeavor into a business opportunity.

Service

Although the service industry is broad — ranging from food and retail to travel and tourism — professionals who lead service-based businesses or nonprofits need deep knowledge and skills. Service explores the strategies and styles of negotiation, service management and customer satisfaction, and the ins and outs of leading nonprofit organizations.

Self-Designed

Customize your industry focus area to build new skills and deepen your understanding with a self-designed area of interest that aligns with your professional goals.

BIPS Capstone Project

Demonstrate what you’ve learned in the BIPS program by creating an electronic portfolio in the IPS 410 Capstone course. You will integrate skills learned in the six core courses in a self-designed, real-world project of your choosing.

BIPS Develops T-Shaped Professionals

Research shows that employers are looking for professionals with a T shape — having the depth in your area of interest and the breadth to see and think from different perspectives. BIPS was designed to develop deep knowledge in an area of focus and skills in core courses that benefit any career.

The T-Shaped Professional

Core Courses
  • design
    thinking
  • systems
    thinking
  • understanding
    data
  • contemporary
    media
    literacies
  • self-
    awareness
  • global
    awareness
    & intercultural
    competence
Depth of Experience
  • bips capstone project
  • bips
    area of focus
  • skills
    developed
    on the job
  • certification credentials