What is the Bachelor of Innovation?

The Bachelor of Innovation (BI) is a one-of-a-kind accredited degree offered only at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. I am majoring in Computer Science with a Cross-Core in Business Administration. This unique degree program has allowed me to do so much more than learn just basic skills, as I have learned how to transform my ideas into impact.

The BI program has allowed me to expand my skills beyond the classroom in ways unlike any other conventional degree. Unlike any other degree program, the BI has focused on making me more than just a student, as I have been taught how to innovate and impact.

Innovation to me:

The experiences and lessons that I have gained from the Bachelor of Innovation (BI) program have been unique and unlike those from a standard degree program. One of the most important skills that I have gained from the BI program is the ability to transform my ideas into impact, otherwise known as the ability to innovate. From working on teams, with real people and businesses, I have understood that I do not have to graduate and be in a professional role to make an impact in some way. This has been my greatest takeaway from the BI program because it has allowed me to be self-sufficient, independent, and confident in my abilities, which has led to me working as a professional full-time software engineer prior to graduating. Without the BI program, I would not be in the position that I am today.

The BI program has allowed me to network and grow skills outside of academia. When transitioning into a professional full-time role I felt comfortable dealing with other professionals because I had done it in teams’ classes before. In most classes teachers would talk about what to expect after college and in the real world, but the BI innovation courses actually showed me what it was like to interact with businesses and businesspeople. One of the best aspects of working with business owners and in teams is that I was able to experience the negatives of work outside of class. Experiencing a struggling business model or a difficult client taught me how to interact with people when grades were not a factor. I have learned how to solve real problems that relate to actual money and margins. The pressure of knowing that someone else’s livelihood is dependent on my ability as a team member gave me a different type of pressure and experience that I could not get from any class ever. Getting to experience real work environments, problems, and solutions is where the true benefit of the Bachelor of Innovation program lies. These are experiences that I could only find at UCCS.

In the future I will present and apply my skills as a professional and a student to make real impact in the software engineering field. I am utilizing skills that I have learned both in school through the Bachelor of Innovation program and in my first professional roles as a software engineer. With these skills, I am progressing in both my career and role and architecting software from the ground up. No longer am I following the plans and design of a senior member, instead I am a senior member with a real voice and impact in the planning, designing, and executing of the software development that I am a part of. In this role, I am making the lives of others both safer and easier through the software that I play a major role in creating. Perhaps more importantly, I am passing my knowledge down onto team members in lower roles than mine.

I realize how important and impactful my knowledge and skills are for these members because I used to be them. Without the help of senior mentors and leaders, I would not be able to architect software because I would not have the necessary knowledge or trust that I now have. My ideas are being transformed into even deeper impact than previously. This is because I have a more important role and leadership position. Were it not for my past confidence in my abilities and knowledge of how to transform my ideas into real results that I learned from the BI program at UCCS, I would not be confident in my role or in my decision making abilities.

Outside of my professional career I am also transforming my ideas into impact. I am using my confidence and abilities to lead my family and children. Just as I am applying my knowledge on those within my professional job, I will apply my knowledge and values on my family. Realizing that my ideas are meaningful and can become something has allowed me to lead and influence as a father and partner. I am instilling confidence in those around me and ensuring that each member in my family knows that they also can turn their ideas into impact. The BI program gave me a confidence and belief in myself that I did not previously have, so I have used this experience to influence my family members in the same way. Without the BI program, I would not be able to influence and impact those around me, whether it be in a professional or home setting.

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