Design Strategies
Certificate in the Undergraduate College
Creativity and problem-solving have become necessary skills in today’s world.
Businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs have embraced human-centered design to solve product, systems, service, and social problems. Offered in collaboration with the Center for Integrated Design, the Design Strategies BDP provides a multidisciplinary framework for undergraduate students to master design thinking skills outside of traditional departmental programming to better prepare them to tackle real-world problems. The curriculum engages students in a design process that includes research and insights; creative problem solving; prototyping and testing; and implementation and presentation—all while learning to apply a critical lens to the social context within which design takes place. Students complete a capstone project, have the opportunity to engage in an optional internship or research experience, and gain access to individualized BDP academic advising.
Declaration Requirements
ShowDegree-seeking undergraduates in good academic standing at The University of Texas at Austin are eligible to apply to the BDPs. Students must be in at least the second semester of their freshman year to be eligible to apply. Students must plan to be enrolled at UT as a degree-seeking undergraduate for at least two semesters after the semester in which they apply to the BDP. The BDPs are open to undergraduate students from every college and school at UT. However, because there is significant overlap in program focus and coursework, some majors and BDP certificates may not be combined. View eligibility information for more details.
How to Declare
ShowApplications for the Bridging Disciplines Programs are accepted twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. Learn additional information on how to apply to the BDPs. Interested students can attend an information session, which are offered throughout the semester.
Required Courses
ShowWith 19 credit hours of coursework and Connecting Experiences, including a capstone project, students may earn a BDP certificate in Design Strategies. View a complete list of courses and requirements.
Personality
ShowBDP students are interested in taking an interdisciplinary approach to topics to become more flexible, versatile thinkers prepared for a professional world.
Skills
ShowAfter completing 19 credit hours consisting of coursework and Connecting Experiences, students earn a certificate that will be recognized on their transcript, demonstrating a secondary area of specialization that complements their major. By pursuing an interdisciplinary certificate, students in the BDPs learn to become more flexible, versatile thinkers, better prepared for a professional world that values innovation and collaboration. Students in the BDPs gain access to unique research and internship experiences at UT and around the world, giving them hands-on experience applying what they have learned in the classroom.
