Case Study Research: Design & Methods: Applied Social Research Methods Series

New Blockchain Course Introduced in USC

The Viterbi School of Engineering has a new course in the curriculum for students. The course focuses on blockchain and it was introduced after an apparent quest for the course by both the students and instructors. This course is the first of its kind in the school and it aims at imparting students with the knowledge about the possible applications of blockchain in business. The course, which is taught by associate professor Nitin Kalé, also focuses on the relevance of blockchain in the society as a whole.

Blockchain is the technology that enabled Bitcoin, one of the best cryptocurrencies, to reach its full potential. The technology is widely lauded for several features that include:Professor Kalé says that this technology has the potential to disrupt business, hence his reason for bringing the course to students.

 

The Course Has Gained Popularity


The initial test run for the course at the school proved to be successful according to the professor. Many students expressed interest and the class size had to be adjusted upwards. The blockchain course has indeed had a similar reception in other universities like UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Princeton where it has been ongoing for a while now.

Professor Kalé admits that the course he introduced was a result of his own commitment to study and analyze the blockchain database for a period of two years. While the course is not complete, he has great hopes for it.

The long-term goal for both the school and the professor is to have a blockchain curriculum that will allow students to access the course as a permanent offering.


The Viterbi Information Technology allows for either a minor or specialization course structure. Professor Kalé hopes that both of the options will be available for students by the end of 2019.

More Improvements Will be Made on the Course


Professor Kalé hopes to improve the course over the course of time. Even though the first attempt was successful, he admits that some inefficiency issues were identified which must be fixed. There is still room to add some more topics and he hopes to add them before the next run starts.

On the part of the students, the interest in blockchain has been there even before the course was introduced. Trojan Blockchain Society, for instance, was founded by Daniel Aghachi to bring together students who were interested in the technology. Aghachi, a junior student pursuing business administration represents a legion of other students who come from different fields but share the same passion. Aghachi cities the lack of a central body to coordinate the affairs of students interested in the technology as the key motivator for the formation of his organization.

Aghachi and Professor Kalé have faith in the new course and they are now the leading figures who are spreading the gospel about the new course. They both hope that the faculty and the entire school fraternity will get behind them. Professor Kalé has already demonstrated his commitment to the course by sending actual bitcoin to students as part of coursework.

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