Just down the road from Universal Orlando Resort鈥檚 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 鈥� alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships 鈥� UCF has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe鈥檚 debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.
Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it鈥檚 also transforming how students learn.
Epic in Curriculum
At 鲍颁贵鈥檚 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.
鈥淎nyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than UCF.鈥� 鈥� Carissa Baker 鈥�08MA 鈥�18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor
Carissa Baker 鈥�08MA 鈥�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鈥檚 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鈥檚 creative parameters and presented them directly to leaders at the company.
鈥淪everal of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park,鈥� Baker says. 鈥淒ozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships.鈥�
Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling
Epic Universe is also reshaping 鲍颁贵鈥檚 approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan 鈥淛ay鈥� Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park鈥檚 immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.
鈥淥ur students aren鈥檛 just studying the industry. They鈥檙e helping shape its future.鈥� 鈥� Jonathan 鈥淛ay鈥� 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 鈥� from food concept development to intellectual property (IP) integration and guest immersion.
鈥淲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,鈥� Judy says. 鈥淲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.鈥�
Epic Economics, Real-World Impact
The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation 鈥� areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.
鈥淓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 鈥� something I鈥檓 looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class,鈥� Ridderstaat says.
He notes that the park鈥檚 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鈥檚 global tourism appeal. But he also encourages students to consider other related topics 鈥� such as housing affordability.
A Creative Pipeline to Universal
“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” 鈥� Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs
鲍颁贵鈥檚 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 鈥� which are among the first of their kinds nationally 鈥� 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淥ur students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality,鈥� Weishar says. 鈥淣ow that it鈥檚 opening to the public, it鈥檚 serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning.鈥�
鈥溑虯V is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field,鈥� Weishar adds.
Engineering the Experience
At the intersection of innovation and imagination, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 STEEL Club 鈥� the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders 鈥� 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 鈥� all aligned with the demands of modern attraction engineering.
鈥淲e鈥檙e building a great program,鈥� says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. 鈥淲e look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance 鈥� not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe.鈥�
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.
鈥淲e鈥檙e helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry,鈥� 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鈥檚 team built a fully functioning flat ride model from scratch 鈥� applying controls, mechanics and problem-solving under real-world pressure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to know we鈥檙e helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world 鈥� right here at UCF.鈥� 鈥� 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鈥檙e also partnering with other UCF organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still a young club, but we鈥檝e already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal,鈥� Price says.
For UCF, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor 鈥� it鈥檚 a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, UCF students aren鈥檛 just learning about the future of themed entertainment 鈥� they鈥檙e building it.
