Customer Experience Key Initiative

CX Innovator Certificate Curriculum

Students wishing to pursue the optional CX Innovator Certificate must complete at least one course addressing each of the five core CX competencies. For most students, this entails two courses outside what they would normally take as a part of their major. For example, an entrepreneurship major might need to add a qualitative research or design class. A graphic communications major might need qualitative research and organizational leadership. This approach creates well-rounded graduates who share a unified understanding of CX principles—ideal for assembling multi-disciplinary teams capable of bridging organizational silos.

• Stakeholder Research
  

  The goal of stakeholder research is to develop "actionable empathy." As a Carnegie Research 1 University, Clemson provides undergraduate students with the training and resources they need to conduct academic-grade research. Exemplar classes include Qualitative Consumer Insights, Qualitative Research Methods for Social Sciences, Business Anthropology, Eye-Tracking Methodology and Applications, Marketing Research and Biometrics for Business

• Entrepreneurship/Innovation
  

  Designing great experiences is an act of innovation. Clemson's commitment to entrepreneurship is second to none, with resources like the Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Brook T. Smith Launchpad. Exemplar courses include Entrepreneurial Mindset, Entrepreneurial Foundations, Evaluating Innovation: Fixtures, Fads and Flops.

• Design/Design Thinking
  

  CX thinking originates from a design tradition. As the only R1 B-school in the country with an in-house Graphics Communication Department, we can assemble student teams with diverse skill sets to tackle tough problems. To build this competency, non-design students must satisfy a design requirement where they gain foundational design thinking skills and exposure to the human-centered design tools essential for creating impactful CX artifacts. This can be accomplished through courses like Experience Design, Design and AI, Introduction to Digital Graphics or a certificate of completion from one of our Service Design "Jams."

• Leadership/Organizational Alignment
  

  The leadership competency focuses on breaking down organizational silos, promoting stakeholder buy-in, and building customer-centric cultures. Clemson offers several options to gain this competency, including participating in the Leadership Signature Program, our multi-disciplinary Creative Inquiry (CX Bridges), and traditional coursework like Organizational Psychology, Management of Organizational Behavior and Change Management.

• Implementation/Practicum
  

  We believe the future of CX lies in mastering implementation. There is no better place to train undergraduates for this challenge than Clemson, where outreach, leadership and experiential learning are part of our DNA. Exemplar courses include CX Journey Management, Venture Consulting or any classes with a pre-approved "real-world" client deliverable relevant to CX.