Minor in Design Thinking
Catalog Year: 2025-2026
Banner Code: LA-MINOR-DSTH
The Design Thinking Minor is designed flexibly to include courses that may already be in a student’s major. It culminates in a capstone course with a studio format in which students with multi-disciplinary backgrounds collaborate and learn by using the design thinking process to explore problems, prototype solutions, and convey their ideas through effective visual, written, and oral presentations.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Policies
In addition to the required coursework, three courses should be selected from either the list of electives under the Design in the Built Environment Track or the User Experience Design Track. Note that the three electives must all belong to one of these two groups.
Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
For policies governing all undergraduate programs, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Minor Requirements
Total credits: 18
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DSGN 101 | Introduction to Design Thinking | 3 |
| DSGN 102 | Design in the Modern World (Mason Core) | 3 |
| DSGN 401 | Design Thinking Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Design in the Built Environment Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 elective credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Architecture (Mason Core) | ||
| Design of Cities (Mason Core) | ||
| Modern Architecture (Mason Core) | ||
| Visual Thinking | ||
| Typography (Mason Core) | ||
| Creative Processes | ||
| Art as Social Action | ||
| Graphic Design Methods and Principles | ||
| Visual Communication Theories | ||
| Experiential Design History | ||
| Introduction to Agent-based Modeling and Simulation | ||
| Cartographic Design | ||
EVPP 336 |
Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment (Mason Core) | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
User Experience Design Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 elective credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
| Mobile App Design | ||
| User Experience Design | ||
| Package Design | ||
| Problem Solving and Leadership in STEAM | ||
EDIT 401 |
Introduction to Learning Technologies | |
EDIT 426 |
Web Accessibility and Design | |
| Professional and Technical Writing | ||
| Peer Tutoring in Writing across the Disciplines | ||
| Introduction to Game Design (Mason Core) | ||
| Systems Analysis and Design | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||
| Experiential Entrepreneurship | ||
| Human Factors Psychology | ||
SWE 205 |
Software Usability Analysis and Design | |
SYST 469 |
Human Computer Interaction | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |