USC Diploma in Innovation
The Diploma in Innovation is a highly selective program for current Ph.D. students designed to complement their disciplinary scholarship with the practical skills and creative perspectives that will help them become leaders at the vanguard of their chosen fields. At USC, we embrace the principle that innovators can come from all backgrounds, and that their ventures – from new products, services, and companies to scholarship and creative works – bring fresh approaches and creative thinking to bear on global community needs.
$5,000 grants are awarded to teams whose proposed projects demonstrate the potential to push the boundaries of existing scholarship by translating novel ideas into tangible benefits to society. Upon completion of the program, the most outstanding projects will earn the USC Ph.D. students from each team the Diploma in Innovation, a signature honor that USC awards to students who have demonstrated exemplary ability to collaborate in pursuit of innovative solutions or scholarship that will have lasting impact.