Design Thinking for Social Innovation
Offered as a minor
The Design Thinking for Social Innovation (DTSI) interdisciplinary minor introduces students to the methods, mindsets, and process associated with design thinking (i.e., human-centered design) to solve real world problems. Design thinking is a creative problem-solving process that prioritizes ethnographic research, convergent and divergent thinking, as well as rapid prototyping. To fulfill this minor, students must take five courses; three from the CORE; one related to social or environmental problems, and one focused on creative ideation.
![Student presenting a project in a classroom](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_300w/public/2024-02/Design-Thinking-Minor.jpg?itok=uaeJ_wJE)
Featured Course
BU102: Introduction to Social Innovation
This course introduces students to design thinking phases while also providing hands-on experiences tackling real-world problems.
What excites me most about social innovation is the endless possibilities that design thinking fosters. It gives the space and time to think outside the box. The crazier the idea the better. And because of that, it inspires impactful change in communities and globally.
15.0015
departments offer courses
60.0060+
courses
5.005
courses required to fulfill minor
Faculty Behind the Minor
![Dina Frutos-Bencze](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_300w/public/Images/Headshots/crop-duplicate-1-for-Dina_Frutos-Bencze.jpg?itok=KKeVbSHo)
Dina Frutos-Benzce, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics and Business
![Kathleen Flannery](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_300w/public/Images/Headshots/Kathleen_Flannery.jpg?itok=-3l6FWJb)
Kathleen Flannery, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
We believe this minor will inspire students to explore new ideas and possibilities in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Given design thinking involves empathy and understanding people's needs, students will be able to generate more effective solutions for complex problems in the future.
1 Introduction class (2 course options) *Must complete first
1 Deeper dive (6 course options)
1 Ethics (3 course options)
1 Social or environmental problems course (24 social options, 14 environmental course options)
1 Creative Ideation Course (17 course options)
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Economics and Business
Education
English
Fine Arts
History
Modern Languages
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Sociology
Theology