Direct Your Journey with an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Ciocca Center Mindset Scholars is for incoming first year students. This two-year program is an opportunity to develop a transformative way of thinking!
The Mindset Scholars Experience supports growth across a multidisciplinary and multicultural community of undergraduate students and includes recognition from University Leadership and the tools to engage the entrepreneurial mindset centered around four facets:
Mindset Scholars Program Components
Academic Coursework
Mindset Scholars includes Academic Coursework that covers the entrepreneurial mindset from the perspective of Business, Arts & Sciences and Engineering supporting engagement across disciplines. Mindset Scholars typically take 1 course per quarter and commit an estimated 2-4 hours per week on average.
Mindset Scholars take BUSN 70 - Contemporary Business Issues (4 units), - taught by a former tech CEO.
Mindset Scholars explore empathy through SOCI 1 - Introduction to Sociology (4 units), which includes an intro into qualitative research. This course is taught by Dr. Cara Chiaraluce.
Mindset Scholars are exposed to topics like Design Thinking, Product Opportunity Analysis, and more, to identify solutions to real challenges. There is no math in the Engineering courses and students complete 2 units in these topics.
Program Benefits
Mindset Scholars are given priority to a variety of Ciocca Center opportunities, including Innovation Fellows, Bronco Ventures Accelerator, and BEACH.
Each Mindset Scholar is matched with a mentor, who is a current SCU student in their major, minor, or school. They provide insights on navigating SCU and opportunities to connect across campus.
Mindset Scholars receive quarterly advising hours where they are supported with a Ciocca Center advisor. These advising hours are personalized for each Mindset Scholar to connect them into resources at SCU related to their personal interests. For example, a Mindset Scholar interested in Creative Writing would be connected to the Santa Clara Review, the HUB Writing Center and other resources related to writing, whereas a Mindset Scholar interested in building a business might be connected to MakerLab and Ciocca Center Bronco Ventures Accelerator and other resources related to building a business and access to the many available tools at SCU's Career Center, finding an on-campus job, Internships, Resume help, and many additional resources.
Co-curricular and Experiential Program Opportunities
Idea Lab
Mindset Scholars are advised on which section of Idea Lab to take based upon their interests.
Go Boldly
A career planning experience that helps Mindset Scholars create a 3-5 year career plan by applying Design Thinking to their lives
Career Launch & Networking
Mindset Scholars are provided the tools to be stronger at networking as well as networking opportunities to connect them to unique internships.
Field Excursions, Special Workshops, and Opportunities
Opportunities to explore the entrepreneurial mindset in Silicon Valley. Last fall, students attended StartUp World. Other opportunities include breakfast with SCU President Julie Sullivan.
Apply to Mindset Scholars
Applications are closed for this academic year. Applications for incoming first year students will re-open in the Spring 2023.
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