MIIPS Program Details: 16-Month Degree Format
Building on the core MIIPS curriculum, the Advanced Study degree takes your Integrated Innovation training a step further. You'll gain practical, industry experience in a summer internship and delve further into cutting-edge technology and applied research.
Program Features:
- 16 Months (August - December) with a summer internship & additional fall semester
- Ideal for candidates seeking more professional experience or to pivot careers completely
- Students will take core courses across engineering, business, and design, plus specialized courses in AI, product and brand management, product development and leadership
Curriculum Requirements & Plan
Students must maintain full-time student status (36 units) during three semesters: fall #1, spring #1, and fall #2 terms. Students must complete at least 42 units of electives relevant to the product development process and be approved by an advisor. This includes 12 units of electives completed within the Integrated Innovation Institute (49-xxx).
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To work with industry sponsors during the degree-required Integrated Product Development capstone course, signing contractual terms regarding intellectual property and non-disclosure agreements may be required to complete the course project.
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All coursework must be completed with graduate-level courses.
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Students must have a minimum QPA of 3.0 to graduate.
16-Month Curriculum Plan
Fall Semester 1 |
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| How Things Can Be Made Full Semester Course |
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| Mastering Collaborative Strategies and Business Environments Full Semester Course |
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| Figure it Out: Your Professional Identity and Story Full Semester Course |
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| iii Seminar Series Full Semester Course |
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| User Research: Theory, Methods, Practice Half Semester Course |
Visual Communication for Innovators Half Semester Course |
| People First: A Critical Look at Collaboration Half Semester Course |
It Depends: An Inquiry into Innovative Thinking Half Semester Course |
| Elective Courses Students have the ability to select two 6-unit electives or one 12-unit elective* |
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Spring Semester 1 |
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| Integrated Product Development Capstone Full Semester Course |
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| AI and IoT for the Real World Full Semester Course |
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| iii Seminar Series Full Semester Course |
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| Managing Products and Brands Half Semester Course |
Creative Leadership Half Semester Course |
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Elective Courses |
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Summer Semester 1 |
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| Internship Full Semester Course |
Fall Semester 2 |
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| Innovation Mindset in Practice Full Semester Course |
| Elective Courses Students have the ability to choose between 24 - 36 units of electives* |
*Students may select graduate level electives from across the university. Examples of departments students select electives from include Tepper School of Business, College of Fine Arts, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Human Computer Interaction Institute. Students are encouraged to review the schedule of classes each semester when considering elective options.
"You become amazed by the incredible professionals around you. It’s all over the spectrum. On the one side, you have the designers, with their unique mindsets and dedication to user needs that completely changed my perspective on products. On the other side, you have the engineers, who can build anything imaginable in front of you and it’s mind-blowing."
Daniela Decoud (MIIPS '24)
Read more about Daniela's journey >
Featured Course
Mindset INTENSIVE in Practice
Take your thinking to the next level as you explore a topic that interests you and will lead you to an innovative new way of thinking about a problem, service, technology, experience, system etc.
There are three concentrations to choose from:
- Experience Driven Innovation
- Systems Thinking Driven Innovation
- Technology Driven Innovation
These concentrations all challenge you to use critical thinking and your best analysis skills as you apply and sythesize learnings from the program and beyond to research, innovate on, and communicate new work in compelling ways.
Past topics have included:
- Harmonizing Interdisciplinary Teamwork: The Making of AI Symphony, A Board Game for Early-Stage AI Development.
- Where do humans fit in future manufacturing systems? Speculating the future of manufacturing and evolving human roles.
- A sustainable solution to India’s rural water problem.
- How might we develop a culture of innovation at a legacy organization?
Application Deadline
Applications Now Open
January 20, 2025
Start-Term: Fall 2025
Practical Experience: Summer Internships
All MIIPS Advanced students complete a summer internship to put skills learned to use in a practical, hands-on setting. Students often land internships at leading organizations like Adobe, Google, Honda, Apple, Walmart and more.
Krutin Kanumuri
MIIPS ‘24
Strategic Product Planning Intern,
Volvo Group
This summer, I interned as a Strategic Product Planning Intern with the Volvo Group in Greensboro, NC.
My projects included market research on the hydrogen industry, identifying business opportunities, and defining the scope for future Mack and Volvo highway products. I developed "day in the life" profiles for medium-duty trucks, analyzing their operations and challenges. My automotive background and training at the iii emphasized a customer-centric approach, focusing on understanding customer needs before problem-solving. I also analyzed truck drive cycles using telematics data and customer insights to align new models with real-world needs. Researching hydrogen's evolving market required adaptability, teaching me to navigate challenges with perseverance and flexibility.
Daniela Decoud
MIIPS ‘24
Product Management Intern
General Motors Software and Services Organization – AI Cameras Focus
At General Motors, I worked closely with a diverse team of engineers, designers, and PMs, conducting market and user research, crafting roadmaps, and executing projects. My manager and an additional mentor provided exceptional guidance, greatly contributing to my growth. The MIIPS program deepened my understanding of the product development cycle, from user research to go-to-market strategies, complementing my startup experience. Transitioning to GM's corporate culture taught me about complex decision-making processes. This experience boosted my skills in stakeholder management, executive presentations, and data visualization, while AI and data science courses prepared me for technical challenges.
Mark Yan
MIIPS ‘24
UX Product and Industrial Design Intern,
Roku
This summer, I interned as a UX and Product Industrial Designer on Roku's Device (Players and Remotes) team.
Roku is a tech company specializing in TV streaming. The iii's career-oriented class helped me build connections and navigate career fairs, and it also prepared me for presenting during our capstone project.
During my internship, I focused on reducing errors in product processes and improving user experiences. I faced challenges involving hardware-software collaboration, requiring insights from engineers, as well as strong communication and visualization skills to redesign user flows.
Learning By Doing: Past Student Projects
Jamie Curran (MIIPS Adv '17) shares the "totally life-changing" design and user-research skills she learned in the IoT Advanced course.
Pengyuan Huang (MIIPS Adv '17) explains his product, MyGlobe, designed in the Designing for the IoT Advanced course.
Rhea Pandley (MIIPS Adv '20) showcases the cost-effective irrigation system she designed in the Designing for IoT Advanced course.