Interdisciplinary Science and Business
The scientific method has been responsible for some of the biggest technological innovations in history. Companies that embrace science are competitive. It’s important to understand that science is not just about the development of technology. It’s about understanding the world and how people use products or service.
Scientists are typically immersed in their work and focused on expanding knowledge. It is the entrepreneur who can transform this knowledge into something that benefits society. This requires a different set of abilities, including the ability to be skeptical, as well as a practical approach. While science can be driven by intuition, curiosity and prior knowledge, it is important to include scepticism and methods like external and internal peer review, random control trials, and so on to avoid blind optimism.
Business is not just about profit. It’s about making choices that benefit employees, customers, and shareholders over the long term. The goal is to design an organizational framework that can accommodate both aspects, and recognizes their interdependence.
A major in Interdisciplinary Science and Business is an opportunity to create an integrated framework that combines these two areas of expertise so you’re prepared for a job in any related field to business. The interdisciplinary program is managed jointly by Penn State Behrend’s School of Science and the Black School of Business, and is among the few undergraduate business science programs nationwide. You can tailor your education by selecting a block of courses from either the science or business aspect that best suits your interests.