Key Takeaways
- The USC Iovine and Young Academy has introduced a new Bachelor of Science in Human Technology Interaction (HTI) degree program, the first of its kind in the country.
- The program aims to equip students with full-stack technical skills, human-centered design, and cross-functional leadership abilities to lead innovation in an AI-driven world.
- The HTI degree combines technical training, human-centered design, communication, and applied product management, delivered through a Challenge-Based Reflective Learning (CBRL) model.
- The program is designed to address the critical shortage of tech-literate talent equipped to drive cross-functional innovation in today’s complex, AI-driven world.
- Graduates of the program will be empowered to lead teams and deliver products that transcend the traditional "human vs. technology" divide, advancing solutions where people and technology thrive together.
Introduction to the Human Technology Interaction Degree
The USC Iovine and Young Academy has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Science in Human Technology Interaction (HTI) degree program, a groundbreaking initiative that prepares students to work and build alongside emerging technologies. This innovative program equips students with full-stack technical skills, human-centered design, and the cross-functional leadership abilities needed to lead real innovation in an AI-driven world. The HTI degree is the first undergraduate program of its kind in the country, and it is designed to address the urgent challenge of bridging the gap between disciplines and building teams that can deliver innovation across technical, product, and human domains.
The Need for Cross-Functional Innovation
As artificial intelligence, extended reality, and other emerging technologies rapidly reshape entire industries, organizations face an urgent challenge: bridging the gap between disciplines and building teams that can deliver innovation across technical, product, and human domains. However, according to data from Asana’s Work Innovation Lab, just 21% of employees report effective cross-team collaboration. Furthermore, a Boston Consulting Group study found that 66% of executives are ambivalent or dissatisfied with their company’s AI progress, citing a lack of skilled talent as a primary reason. This data signals a critical shortage of tech-literate talent equipped to drive cross-functional innovation in today’s complex, AI-driven world.
The HTI Program’s Unique Approach
The HTI program stands apart by combining full-stack technical training, human-centered design, communication, and applied product management, delivered in part through the IYA’s Challenge-Based Reflective Learning (CBRL) model. This approach enables students to learn by taking a hands-on approach, tackling real-world challenges, collaborating across disciplines, and reflecting on their process to develop effective, human-centered solutions. The program’s curriculum includes a number of courses from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and the Keck School of Medicine of USC, ensuring students benefit from a true cross-disciplinary education.
The Program’s Goals and Outcomes
The HTI program is designed to train students to actively shape and imagine the future of technology with their own unique skills and critical knowledge. After graduating from the program, HTI students will be equipped and empowered to lead teams and deliver products that transcend the traditional "human vs. technology" divide—advancing solutions where people and technology thrive together. According to Josh Kun, interim Dean of the Iovine and Young Academy, "The HTI program won’t merely prepare students for a workforce being transformed by AI, it will train them to actively shape and imagine it with their own unique skills and critical knowledge."
The Significance of the HTI Program
The HTI program is a significant development in higher education, as it addresses the critical shortage of tech-literate talent equipped to drive cross-functional innovation in today’s complex, AI-driven world. According to IYA Professor Thanassis Rikakis, "The Human Technology Frontier is one of the core challenges of contemporary industry and society. But, the current education infrastructure isn’t designed to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology or to teach students how to work with these new tools to solve real-world problems." The HTI program is purpose-built to address this challenge, producing leaders who can shape how technology and people work together to create meaningful impact.
Conclusion and Future Directions
By launching the HTI degree, USC and the Iovine and Young Academy continue to reimagine what higher education can—and must—be in an era where the boundaries between technology and humanity are constantly redrawn. The program’s innovative approach and cross-disciplinary curriculum make it an exciting development in the field of higher education. As Adrian Percia, Academy Board Member, noted, "Businesses urgently require talent who not only understand technology but can translate it into meaningful value. That combination of expertise is rare, and it is exactly what this program is designed to deliver." Applications for the Human Technology Interaction degree close on January 10, and interested students can learn more about the degree program online.
