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Human-Centered Design Minor

The minor in Human-Centered Design is an interdisciplinary program focused on the process of innovation for addressing human needs. The six-course minor combines engineering and design thinking courses with a wide range of cultural, behavioral, and artistic offerings.

Worksheet

Students planning to pursue the minor should submit the Human-Centered Design Minor Student Worksheet to Professor Peter Robbie.

Prerequisites

Design Foundation

2 courses.

Core Courses

Choose 2 courses.

Ethnographic Methods

  • ANTH 3: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 18: Introduction to Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 56: Introduction to Research Methods in Medical Anthropology
  • SOCY 11: Research Methods
  • GEOG 11: Qualitative Methods and the Research Process in Geography

Human Factors / Psychology

  • PSYC 21: Perception
  • PSYC 22: Learning
  • PSYC 23: Social Psychology
  • PSYC 27: Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSYC 28: Cognition
  • PSYC 40: Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
  • PSYC 43: Emotion
  • PYSC 51.11: Thinking about Thinking

Elective Courses

Choose 2 courses.

Design Electives

  • COSC 25.01: Intro to UI/UX Design I
  • COSC 25.02: Intro to UI/UX Design II
  • COSC 27: Projects in Digital Arts
  • COSC 28: Advanced Projects in Digital Arts
  • COSC 29.02: Impact Design
  • ENGS 15.01: Senior Design Challenge-I
  • ENGS 15.02: Senior Design Challenge-II
  • ENGS 18: Systems Dynamics in Policy Design and Analysis
  • ENGS 44: Sustainable Design
  • ENGS 75: Product Design
  • FILM 51: Game Design
  • PBPL 43: Social Entrepreneurship
  • SART 65: Architecture I
  • SART 66: Architecture II
  • SART 68: Architecture III
  • Independent Study in a relevant discipline

Important Notes

  • For Engineering Majors: If ENGS 44 or ENGS 75 is selected for the minor, it may not be counted toward the major
  • Students may substitute relevant courses in the “Required Courses” section (that cover ethnographic methodology or human factors psychology) and the "Design electives" section (that focus on problem-solving of human needs and result in the creation of artifacts) with prior approval from the Faculty Advisor and the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Engineering Sciences).
  • Before taking Design electives courses, it is recommended that students complete both courses in "Design Foundation" plus at least one course from "Ethnographic Methods and Human Factors".
  • Courses may require prerequisites in addition to those noted.
  • No courses, other than those used as prerequisites to the minor, may be taken under the Non-Recording Option to satisfy requirements of the minor.
  • Courses used in the major cannot be used in the minor.

Faculty Contacts

Engineering Sciences Department

Computer Science Department