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Minors
Design Minor
The Design Minor is an interdisciplinary program that spotlights the design process and shows how design thinking can be used as a catalyst for exploration and research. Choosing from a selection of both lecture and studio courses, students are introduced to the history, theory, and practice of design across multiple design disciplines.
With the Design Minor students may compose their own individual program in which they will:
- understand the interdisciplinary nature of the design process
- appreciate the role design plays in everyday life
- experience design thinking and action
- explore and expand their own design interests
- understand how to work with designers in their chosen field
The design minor provides an integrated education in design where students enhance their learning by making connections between traditional design courses and non-traditional views of design.
Admission Requirements:
You must be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
Program Requirements:
- This minor requires a minimum of 18 credits.
- All coursework must be taken on the A/F grade base and completed with a C- or better.
- A maximum of two courses taken for a major or another minor may be used toward the design minor.
- Study abroad or transfer courses must be approved by the design minor adviser.
Course Requirements:
| Design Thinking: "Big Picture" (select one course) | Credits | |
Arch 1701/1701H |
The Designed Envrionment (fall term only) | 3 |
| Des 1000 | D@MN: Design at Minnesota | 3 |
| Des 1101W/1101V | Introduction to Design Thinking (Arts & Humanities; Writing Intensive) | 4 |
| LA 1001 | Sustainability by Design Thinking (The Environment) (spring term only) | 3 |
| LA 1401 | The Designed Environment (spring term only) | 3 |
| Design Thinking: "Hands On" (select one course) | ||
| Arch 1281 | Design Fundamentals 1 (spring term only) | 4 |
| Des 1111/1111H | Creative Problem Solving | 3 |
| Des 2101 | Design and Visual Presentation (spring term only) | 3 |
| GDes 1315 | The Graphic Studio | 4 |
| GDes 3312 | Color and Form in Surface Design | 3 |
| LA 1301 | Introduction to Landscape Architecture Drawing (Arts & Humanities) | 3 |
| ME 2011 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering (fall term only) | 4 |
| PDes 3702/5702 | Concept Sketching and Rendering (fall term only) | 2 |
| PDes 3711/5711 | Toy Product Design (spring term only) | 4 |
Elective Courses (to complete the 18-credit minimum) |
||
| Refer to Undergraduate Catalog for a list of approved courses | 10-13 |
|
Application Process:
Apply online for the minor. The application should take just a couple of minutes.
If you are unsure about the minor and would like to speak to an adviser, complete the online application and include your questions in the final comment box. An adviser will contact you before processing your application.