Life and the world aren’t static. New problems require novel solutions. Doing things differently is vital to being prepared for an ever-evolving future. Education is critical. Here are the ten most innovative universities in the US.
10. Johns Hopkins University: Baltimore, MD
Since 2010, Johns Hopkins University has been running a program called Innovation for Humanity. As the program description explains, students travel to another country where they are engaged in solving “real-world challenges – like public health, deteriorating infrastructure, and social welfare.” To date, the program has taken students to Rwanda, India, Ecuador, and Peru.
9. University of Southern California: Los Angeles, CA
Level Design & Development for Video Games is considered one of the most innovative college courses in the world. The Games Department at USC has four distinct degree programs in gaming, including a BA in Interactive Media & Games and a BS in Computer Science with an Emphasis in Games. USC also runs an annual games Expo.
8. University of California-Berkeley: Berkeley, CA
The Beauty and Joy of Computing course at Berkeley is considered the second-most innovative college course in the world. It’s intended for non-computer science majors at the high school and undergraduate freshman level. The course prepares students with the skills necessary for computer programming while introducing them to computing’s social implications, such as the effects of video game violence.
7. Duke University: Durham, NC
Duke is renowned for its innovation, which has garnered the University some serious cash. The college recently received almost $4 billion in funding for solving global challenges. Duke is using this funding in many ways, such as running numerous events that are aimed at making students come up with unique ways to solve problems.
6. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor, MI
One of the major avenues the University of Michigan has its student organizations focused on is in the realm of entrepreneurial innovation. One standout area is the groundbreaking research occurring within many courses at the college. For example, researchers at the college recently discovered that two-minute exercise breaks in classes can help children maintain a healthy weight without disrupting education.
5. Carnegie Mellon University: Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon is a private research university founded by three of America’s biggest industrial entrepreneurs, Andrew Carnegie and Andrew and Richard Mellon. Doing things differently is at the institution’s core. One of its most innovative programs is the college’s Technology Entrepreneurship program, which allows business-minded students to gain a technologist’s perspective.
4. University of California-San Diego: La Jolla, CA
Innovation thrives throughout the college’s curriculum. Students are allowed to innovate society in meaningful ways, such as its management school allowing students to conduct analyses of local companies. Gillie Agmon had the opportunity to develop a diagnostic device for HIV therapy in developing countries. The college combines the facilities of a large university with a liberal arts college feel.
3. Harvard University: Cambridge, MA
Long among the world’s greatest colleges, an innovative twist at Harvard is its Science Fiction & Fact class, which is part of the History of Science. Students read sci-fi books and watch sci-fi movies. Another standout at Harvard is The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. This center aimed at developing new teaching techniques, including hosting in-class experimentation events.
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2. Stanford University: Stanford, CA
Pinpointing how Stanford does things differently is difficult because innovation permeates every course at the University. Some students work alongside robots developed at the college. People can take a virtual reality tour of the campus. Most useful, however, is that professors consistently show students how to take what they learn and apply it to the real working world.
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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge, MA
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is considered the second-most innovative college in the world. It features what many consider to be one of the most original courses worldwide, its Technology and Imagination class. The course is a laboratory for imagination, expression, and computation. It uses technology to further the human understanding of a range of worldwide issues.
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