Syllabus in 60: Design Your Life

BA 1021: Design Your Life

This course allows students to customize their college experience to get the most out of it. Using a process rooted in Design Thinking, a framework developed by Stanford University, the course equips students with tools to create and test a journey that best aligns with who they are and what they hope to get from college. 

Students explore the purpose of higher education; reflect on personal value and strengths; explore diverse perspectives and mindsets while reframing limiting beliefs; and engage in experiential learning by applying design thinking methods for problem-solving and educational wayfinding. By facilitating deep discussions through thoughtful activities, the instructors aim to help students develop a sense of belonging at the Carlson School.

5 Takeaways

• The course, required for all students and taken in their first year, was developed as part of the Undergraduate Program’s redesign, which launched in Fall 2022. The revamped curriculum was honored with a 2023 Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Innovations That Inspire award.
• The course is designed to help students develop skills that will help them make thoughtful choices about classes, internships, student groups, and, more generally, how to spend their energy.
• 92% of students surveyed after the class found it helped them expand their idea of what is possible in college, as well as process and reflect on the transition to college.
• Nearly 84% said they felt more comfortable sharing their personal thoughts about their hopes, dreams, fears, and goals.
• In a post-class survey, one student shared, “I think the curriculum was highly inclusive, allowing students to talk about their lives and personalities.”