by Heidie Raine, Student Public Relations Writer
Innovators are creative problem-solvers who constantly look for new opportunities to enrich the world around them. And for The Graduate School at Cedarville University, that desire to solve, form and create is resulting in a new master's program.
The Master of Arts in Innovation program will welcome its first students in March 2022. The program is designed to hone students’ knowledge and practical skills and deepen their problem-solving abilities in the workplace.
“We are excited to launch a degree that not only teaches innovation but is innovative in its very conception and delivery,” said Janice Supplee, dean of graduate studies for Cedarville.
“This online degree is delivered as a strategic collaboration with our partner in Columbus, Ohio, the International Center for Creativity. Students will learn from both business faculty experts and active industry consultants so what they’re gaining in the virtual classroom is broadly applicable and relevant.”
“The concept of innovation is needed in every organization and applicable to a broad range of professionals,” said Jim Stevenson, president of the International Center for Creativity. “It’s the marriage of creative problem-solving with business, and it can serve anyone — people in charge of company departments, engineers, executives.”
Sole proprietors, start-up entrepreneurs, missions and ministry leaders, marketers, engineers, educators, and designers will gain insight, wisdom, and direction from the Master of Arts in Innovation. “They can all benefit from being able to generate better ideas and better solutions,” added Stevenson.
Cedarville faculty members began discussing the program’s possibility in April 2014, revisiting and developing content since the initial meeting. Pulling from the school of business’ current innovation and entrepreneurship M.B.A. concentration, the M.A. in innovation cycles through its innovation and business content in greater depth with a stronger emphasis on the problem-solving process.
The program, which is offered 100% online, can be completed within two years.
And now, more than ever, the program is suited to serve employees and employers alike.
“The number of jobs that have ‘innovation’ in the title grows every year,” Stevenson explained. “In a recent study done by the business consulting group McKinsey, 84% of top executives acknowledge that the future success of their company will depend on innovation. The marketplace is seeing more and more that people with innovation skills have a place in their company.”
Recognizing this need, Stevenson worked closely with Supplee; Dr. Jeffrey Haymond, dean of the school of business administration; Dr. John Delano, associate dean of the school of business administration; Dr. Rob McDole, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning; and Dr. Thomas Mach, vice president for academics, to develop the new master’s program.
“We’re excited to be on the front end of this,” Stevenson added. “Not a lot of Christian universities — maybe only a small handful — are pushing the front end of innovation education, and now, with this program, Cedarville is at the forefront.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including the Master of Business Administration program, strong graduation, and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.