Just down the road from Universal Orlando Resort 麻豆精品 S檚 newest theme park, UCF serves as the epicenter of theme park education and workforce development, helping to shape the future of the global attractions industry.
With specialized programs in hospitality and themed experience design 麻豆精品 S� alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships 麻豆精品 S� UCF has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe 麻豆精品 S檚 debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.
Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also transforming how students learn.
Epic in Curriculum
At 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located less than a mile from Epic Universe, the park has become a living case study for both faculty and students. Ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education by CEOWORLD magazine for 2025, the college is globally recognized for its leadership in shaping future professionals in tourism, attractions and entertainment.
麻豆精品 S淎nyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Carissa Baker 麻豆精品 S�08MA 麻豆精品 S�18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor
Carissa Baker 麻豆精品 S�08MA 麻豆精品 S�18PhD, assistant professor of hospitality, has embedded Epic Universe into multiple classes across the theme park and attraction management curriculum. In one course, students analyze the park 麻豆精品 S檚 community and economic impacts. In another, they follow the site creation process from research and development to operations and guest experience. Students have also designed guest experience concepts based on Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 creative parameters and presented them directly to leaders at the company.
麻豆精品 S淪everal of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park, 麻豆精品 S� Baker says. 麻豆精品 S淒ozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships. 麻豆精品 S�
Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling
Epic Universe is also reshaping 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan 麻豆精品 S淛ay 麻豆精品 S� Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park 麻豆精品 S檚 immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.
麻豆精品 S淥ur students aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just studying the industry. They 麻豆精品 S檙e helping shape its future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jonathan 麻豆精品 S淛ay 麻豆精品 S� Judy, Rosen College faculty member
In his course, Culinary Experiences in Theme Parks and Attractions, students study the full lifecycle of culinary operations in destination attractions 麻豆精品 S� from food concept development to intellectual property (IP) integration and guest immersion.
麻豆精品 S淲hen Universal Orlando announced the themes for the various worlds, my students created sample menus based on the IP for each world. We have also used Epic extensively as a class discussion topic, 麻豆精品 S� Judy says. 麻豆精品 S淲atching a park like Epic Universe launch is a masterclass in themed food innovation. From kitchen concept to culinary spectacle, this course gives students the tools to imagine and execute food experiences that could exist in any world, real or fictional. 麻豆精品 S�
Epic Economics, Real-World Impact
The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation 麻豆精品 S� areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.
麻豆精品 S淓pic Universe presents a valuable opportunity to view a theme park not just as an attraction, but as a major investment with measurable economic impact 麻豆精品 S� something I 麻豆精品 S檓 looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class, 麻豆精品 S� Ridderstaat says.
He notes that the park 麻豆精品 S檚 projected $7 billion investment and estimated 17,000 new jobs could generate up to $2 billion in economic impact in its first year, while driving new infrastructure and expanding the region 麻豆精品 S檚 global tourism appeal. But he also encourages students to consider other related topics 麻豆精品 S� such as housing affordability.
A Creative Pipeline to Universal
“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” 麻豆精品 S� Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs
鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience M.F.A. program, based in the College of Arts and Humanities, is providing a direct pathway into the creative engine of the industry. The programs 麻豆精品 S� which are among the first of their kinds nationally 麻豆精品 S� teach students the unique creative skills, processes, and concepts needed to design and produce themed environments and attractions. Many graduates go on to become show set designers, architects, show writers, coordinators, project managers, producers, art directors and even creative directors at some of the top themed entertainment companies.
Through the UCF/Universal Creative Lab, students work directly with Universal Creative 麻豆精品 S檚 show producers, engineers and designers, gaining rare access to behind-the-scenes development processes.
According to program director and professor Peter Weishar, approximately 40% of themed experience students go on to work for Universal Creative.
麻豆精品 S淥ur students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality, 麻豆精品 S� Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淣ow that it 麻豆精品 S檚 opening to the public, it 麻豆精品 S檚 serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淯CF is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field, 麻豆精品 S� Weishar adds.
Engineering the Experience
At the intersection of innovation and imagination, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 STEEL Club 麻豆精品 S� the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders 麻豆精品 S� is creating new pathways for engineering students to enter the attractions industry. Founded in early 2024, the club has quickly become a hub for students eager to apply technical skills to the world of themed entertainment.
Focused on disciplines like ride control, show systems, mechanical safety and systems integration, the club regularly hosts industry speakers from Universal Creative, Disney, SeaWorld, and third-party vendors. Members also participate in technical workshops on topics ranging from Arduino programming and LED integration to mechanical modeling and wiring 麻豆精品 S� all aligned with the demands of modern attraction engineering.
麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e building a great program, 麻豆精品 S� says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. 麻豆精品 S淲e look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance 麻豆精品 S� not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe. 麻豆精品 S�
Garner, who was a Compliance and Auditing intern for Universal Creative, says his experience applied Advancing Standards Transforming Markets (ASTM International) safety standards and engineering best practices to support the development of the park.
STEEL President Bryanna Price, also a senior mechanical engineering major, says the club was founded to fill a gap at UCF for students who wanted hands-on, engineering-focused experience in themed entertainment.
麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry, 麻豆精品 S� Price says.
The club recently competed in the Ride Engineering Competition, where student teams design and build operational ride models under strict time and size constraints. In the latest event, held at The Ohio State University, Price 麻豆精品 S檚 team built a fully functioning flat ride model from scratch 麻豆精品 S� applying controls, mechanics and problem-solving under real-world pressure.
麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 exciting to know we 麻豆精品 S檙e helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world 麻豆精品 S� right here at UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Bryanna Price, student and STEEL Club president
Beyond competitions, STEEL students are attending industry events like the ASTM F24 Conference, which develops global engineering safety standards for amusement rides and devices. They 麻豆精品 S檙e also partnering with other UCF organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.
麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e still a young club, but we 麻豆精品 S檝e already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal, 麻豆精品 S� Price says.
For UCF, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, UCF students aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just learning about the future of themed entertainment 麻豆精品 S� they 麻豆精品 S檙e building it.
