Courses

The Center for Design Thinking regularly offers courses to Elon students in a wide variety of disciplines. Check out the descriptions of previous courses and see what upcoming courses you can register for now.

Upcoming Courses

Human Service Studies 3000

Wicked Problems & Design Thinking

This course will advance your ability to systematically address wicked problems via equity-centered design thinking practices. We will deepen our understanding of the design thinking process by applying it to both a self-selected and a community project. You will learn how to more inclusively frame complex social issues, explore via diverse lenses, generate more creative options, prototype real responses, and cultivate progress. The course will help you explore the value of critically reflecting upon and exercising positional and personal power towards enacting positive change.

  • Online
  • 4 credits
  • Summer I or Summer II
  • Satisfies the Advancing Equity Requirement

Previous Courses

james shields talks to a human service studies class and points to an exhibit in the african american cultural arts and history centerHuman Service Studies 2130

Working with Groups and Communities

Students in this course engaged in exploration and discovery – of self, and of others – and how understanding ourselves and others connects to social issues. They explored and discussed theories of group development, community development, group and community dynamics and structures, and how to understand “power” and “privilege” within groups and communities – with a goal of advocacy and positive change.

director of design thinking danielle lake poses with students in the winter term class in greeceGlobal Education 2460

Classical Greece in Context

This study abroad course explored the role of design throughout Greece’s history through a combination of readings, guided tours, and experiential travel. Through site visits, walking tours, dialogue, and reflective writing, students documented how various designs, including cultural traditions, institutional models, and various landmarks, have left a lasting impact upon the world today.

2 students smiling during a pathways to design thinking class sessionInterdisciplinary Studies 2770

Pathways to Design Thinking

This interdisciplinary, one-credit course supported students from a wide variety of majors to use design thinking in their everyday lives and communities.  Students completed a personal design challenge to improve their wellbeing and a group project with a client. Through consulting and collaborating with each other and community partners, students learned how to frame design challenges, more fully explore complex real-world situations, generate diverse options, and cultivate viable solutions.

a participant in the power and place stories of alamance county event talks with others at their tableHonors Fellows Program 2550

Place & Placemaking

This community-engaged learning course implemented an array of participatory design practices to share stories of place. In partnership with the African American Cultural Arts & History Center, the Burlington Masjid, CityGate Dream Center, and the Power + Place Collaborative, students engaged in local walking tours, community dialogues, and counter-storytelling campaigns. Groups produced videos and transcripts of interviews with local storytellers to explore how faith and geography influence the community.

a masters of education student holds an inflatable beach ball with questions written on it. She is explaining a get-to-know-you game to young students as part of a teaching exerciseMaster of Education 7460

Design Thinking

This graduate course explored the role of curiosity, creativity, and imagination in transformative teaching and learning practices grounded in design thinking. Students completed three equity-centered design thinking learning projects, including a self-designed teaching program, a class-led lesson plan, and a community-youth focused workshop. In alignment with social justice and local history educational efforts, design thinking educational lessons were implemented with local youth in summer day camp programs.