RDC Summer Early College Summer Design Thinking for High School Students and Recent Graduates
With Summer Early College courses offered through the Nancy Richardson Design Center at Colorado State University, it is now easier than ever to equip students with the power of design thinking: an innovative, nonlinear problem-solving approach that puts people at the center of the design process.
Design thinking is not at all limited to just the design industry though. Whether students are emerging artisan tinkerers, gaming enthusiasts, mad scientists, social engineers, or totally undecided — they can acquire highly marketable skills through collaborative and interdisciplinary STEM coursework all while exploring personal interests, discovering new perspectives, building toward future goals, and earning college credit.
Accessible and collaborative learning RDC Summer Early College Offerings
IDEA 110: Design Your Life With Social Impact
(AUCC 3C/GT-SS3) An introspective course that will encourage students to reflect on their own interests and viewpoints to design a personalized approach toward building fulfilling life experiences.
Students will explore best practices for building self-awareness, being open to diverse perspectives, gaining confidence to reframe problems as opportunities, and developing a “whole human” life view.
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: None
Terms Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Additional Information: Social & Behavioral Sciences (AUCC 3C), Human Behavior, Culture, or Social Frameworks (GT-SS3).
IDEA 210: Introduction to Design Thinking
(AUCC 3B/GT-AH1) A comprehensive and adaptable project-based course that immerses students in the real-world to tackle contemporary problems through a unique blend of theory and practical application.
Students will work in teams on a project of their choice to strengthen creative competence, develop an appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration, and learn best practices for delivering impactful ideas.
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: None
Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer
Additional Information: Arts & Humanities (AUCC 3B), Arts & Expression (GT-AH1).
Want to learn more? Frequently Asked Questions
How are the courses delivered?
Courses will be offered through CSU Online (asynchronous), or in-person at the CSU Main Campus in Fort Collins or CSU Spur in Denver.
Do courses count for high school and college credit?
No, summer early college courses only count as college credit.
How do students pay for the course?
You will register for the course as a CSU Guest, and tuition for the course will be posted to your CSU student account. If you are interested in scholarship opportunities, please see our CSU Spur Summer Early College Scholarship application or PSD Summer Early College Scholarship application.
How do I register for a course?
Register through CSU Online, on the course page which you are interested in. You will need to create a login to CSU Online to complete your registration. For more details or help with registration, please email Design_EarlyCollege@colostate.edu
Who do I contact for more information?
Reach out to Design_EarlyCollege@colostate.edu