The USC Iovine and Young Academy has introduced a new Bachelor of Science in Human Technology Interaction (HTI), described as the first undergraduate program of its kind in the United States. The HTI degree is designed to prepare students for an evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
According to the academy, the program will provide hands-on training with advanced technologies, focusing not only on how these tools work but also on their application in real-world, human-centered settings. The curriculum aims to address a growing need for talent capable of bridging technical and human domains within organizations.
Citing recent research, the academy noted that only 21% of employees report effective cross-team collaboration, referencing findings from Asana’s Work Innovation Lab. Additionally, a Boston Consulting Group study revealed that 66% of executives feel ambivalent or dissatisfied with their company’s AI progress due to a lack of skilled talent.
The HTI program integrates full-stack technical education with human-centered design, communication skills, and applied product management. A key component is IYA’s Challenge-Based Reflective Learning model, which encourages students to engage directly with real-world challenges and collaborate across disciplines.
“This is an exciting addition to the Academy experience– 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,” said Josh Kun, interim Dean of the Iovine and Young Academy. “The program further establishes the academy as a hub of experimentation in higher education, a place where students are not merely reacting to change but creating ahead of it.”
Graduates are expected to lead teams and develop products that move beyond traditional distinctions between humans and technology.
“The Human Technology Frontier is one of the core challenges of contemporary industry and society,” said IYA Professor Thanassis Rikakis. “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. We’ve purpose built a program for the kind of leaders that industry – and society at large – are desperately seeking, those who don’t just adapt to new tools, but shape how technology and people work together to create meaningful impact.”
The curriculum draws from multiple USC schools including Viterbi School of Engineering; Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism; and Keck School of Medicine.
“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,” added Adrian Percia, Academy Board Member. “This degree will produce graduates ready to lead across teams and capable of building technologies that enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and capability.”
Applications for the new degree close on January 10.
