Courses
Learn and practice design thinking and human-centered design with our "DTX" courses
SCD uses our research to develop content for our courses, and creates unique offerings in partnership with instructors and colleges. Our own "DTX" course code stands for "Design Thinking & X", meaning any discipline could combine with human-centered design.
Our DTX courses range from an introduction to Design Thinking to specialty capstones. These courses allow students to take a deeper dive into the key principles and mindsets of Design Thinking and learn how they can apply this to their specific fields. To enhance the connection to real-world situations, many of our adjunct instructors are primarily brought in from industry.
Our Certificates offer ways to combine Design Thinking with programs across campus.
Fall 2025 Courses
DTX 180 | Exercising Empathy
This course emphasizes the role that empathy can play in everything we do. Understanding empathy throughout our lives enables us to live a full and intentional life. How do we become compassionate people? When we approach trying to solve problems in our world, how do we ensure that we consider others, their perspectives and their needs? Students will be introduced to six core values to form a foundational understanding of empathy: collaboration, open-mindedness, empiricism, human factors, context, and reflection.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Fall 2025 for: Social & Beh Sci - Beh Sci
DTX 451 | Introduction to Design Thinking
Provides a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design. Students review, analyze, and reflect on completed design challenges employing the human-centered design (HCD) approach. Students experience HCD while working collaboratively on a semester-long project. Students learn methods to perform initial research, project scoping, conduct interviews, create journey maps and wireframes, brainstorm and propose ideas, and plan for prototyping. Students also learn to implement and develop storytelling and critiquing skills.
This course is offered in two section: a live online synchronous section and an in-person section.
DTX 495 | Special Topics in Design Thinking
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Social Design
For students interested in combining human-centeredness with social impact design
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Health Innovation
For students interested in the concepts, mindsets, and processes they need to innovate sustainable and human-centered solutions to complex problems within the health industry.
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design
For students interested in using Human-Centered Design to connect deeply with audiences when designing everything from augmented and mixed reality to real environments.