General Course Listing

SIG-5030

Fundamentals of Design for Social Innovation One semester: 3 credits

This course explores the skills needed to be an actor in social innovation, including change models, facilitation, relationships, team building and leaning into uncertainty. Structured as part lab and part discussion, students complete readings, journal assignments and activities related to interaction, dialogue, capturing and observing data, writing research and facilitation plans, and developing relationships. At the end of the course, each student facilitates a group discussion with different representatives from part of a system with the goal of helping the group see the system through multiple vantage points to shift to a collective intention and prototype new solutions

SIG-5070

Communication Design

One semester: 3 credits

In this course, students use language and verbal and visual communication skills to engage, persuade and shift behavior through story writing and telling, cogent logic and public presentations. Throughout the semester, students develop a personal voice as well as work with external clients and organizations to design communication as a system with intentional impact on outcomes. The course culminates with presentations to external clients.

SIG-5120

Understanding Natural and Social Systems

One semester: 1 credit

This course investigates social and environmental issues in the context of complex human communities and natural systems in which they exist, both online and on the ground. Issues integral to climate change, health, national security, personal identity and social justice are examined in relationship to the players and places that impact humanity and the environment. In addition to online communities, the interwoven dynamics of business, not-for-profit organizations and public agencies are covered.

SIG-5150

Mapping and Visualization Design

One semester: 3 credits

The mapping and visualizing of systems are addressed in this course in order to facilitate a journey from thinking to making. Readings, discussions and weekly “experiments” are employed to investigate how mapping and modeling techniques can help develop sustainable frameworks of action. The course helps students visualize and articulate their thinking, consider ways of planning and communicating solutions and develop new models of engagement and action.

SIG-5170

Technologies for Designing Change I

One semester: 1 credit

In this making course, students will explore a range of methods and techniques for taking a concept to completion using design and physical computing. We will focus on digital and physical prototypes as a method of testing and learning. This learning will support the systematic design decisions that determine the quality, impact and outcome of social design.

SIG-5220 / SIG-5225

Global Guest Lecture Series I and II

Two semesters: 3 credits per semester

This lecture series exposes students to the lives and ideas of some of the most important people defining social innovation in the world today. Speakers are curated to inspire new thinking and dialogue on various opportunities for careers in social innovation and how design plays a role in each of them.

SIG-5350

Disruptive Design: Research and Insights

One semester: 3 credits

Students explore how to meaningfully connect user and audience understanding to strategies for enterprise and social change. While discussing the processes, thinking and practices of primary, ethnographic-based research, students investigate how to collect compelling user stories as they come to understand the nuances of behavior, culture and emotion in the lives of their audiences.

SIG-5360

Environmental Ethics

One semester: 1 credit

In this course students use systems thinking and creativity to explore the intersection of sustainability and design, including discussions on economics and quality-of-life indicators, how to distinguish problems from symptoms and unpacking the operating principles for life on Earth.

SIG-5390

Games for Impact

One semester: 3 credits

Games designed to address social and political issues are one of the fastest growing categories in the “serious games” movement. This course incorporates game theory and analysis with hands-on development of social impact games: interactive experiences that integrate sociopolitical events, values and messages into their design and game mechanics. Working in teams, students take on game projects from concept to a functional prototype, and refine their projects through several iterations, ending with presentations to a jury of experts.

SIG-5410

Technologies for Designing Change II

One semester: 2 credits

In this making course, students explore a range of methods and techniques for taking a concept to completion using design and physical computing. Digital design and physical prototyping are used as a method of testing and learning. This learning will support the systematic design decisions that determine the quality, impact and outcome of social design.

SIG-5440

Introduction to Thesis

One semester: 3 credits

Exercises in problem definition, audience identification, research and barriers to change help students test their own hypotheses. In this course, students investigate a variety of topics, researching each to the point of confirming their own interest and the viability of the concept. Criteria include demonstration of need on the part of the audience, a clear articulation of the concept and metrics for success. By the end of the semester, students will have a fully vetted topic for their thesis.

SIG-5811

Creative Writing for Social Designers

One semester: 1 credit

The maxim that all change begins with language is true in the visual arts to the same extent that it is anywhere else. Yet social impact designers—who make their professional careers developing initiatives that change lives, often with enormous public consequence—are often not taught how to write. Both the design and social innovation fields are rife with argot and clichés that deaden meaning instead of uncovering it. The goal of this course is to give social designers access to the power of creative writing in order to more fully understand themselves, and combine that self-knowledge with writing that will infect and inspire their audiences.

SIG-6170

Metrics and Data Visualization I

One semester: 3 credits

Metrics and Data Visualization looks at the theory and practice of gathering and visualizing data by integrating the identification of metrics into ongoing student projects, and evaluating metrics from case studies in order to understand strategy. In the fall semester, the course focuses on data and visualization for exploration—asking useful questions and engaging in purposeful discovery. Guest lecturers include data scientists, financial modelers and corporate social responsibility experts.

SIG-6175

Metrics and Data Visualization II

One semester: 3 credits

This is the continuation of SIG-6170, Metrics and Data Visualization I. In the spring semester, students will study data and visualization for explanation—how various tools and techniques help us communicate with and influence others. Guest lecturers include data scientists, financial modelers and corporate social responsibility experts.

SIG-6180 / SIG-6182

Leadership I and II

Two semesters: 2 credits per semester

A survey of key leadership theories and practices will be examined in these courses, with the aim for students to discover their leadership identity and apply their new knowledge and understanding in positive social change contexts. Through in-class discussion, case studies and leadership development process documentation, students will engage in intensive, reflective experiences that have been designed to transform leadership notions into knowledge. The courses help students to consider the “why” of their DSI experience from a leadership lens.

SIG-6185

Entrepreneurship

One semester: 1 credit

This course is devoted to equipping students with the business language and concepts needed for real-world venture success. Students will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in the key business building blocks needed to execute a successful start-up that is viable, financially sustainable and scalable. Students will also have the opportunity to evaluate and present their respective theses as a business concept.

SIG-6190

Thesis Consultation: Research, Writing, Presentation

One semester: 6 credits

Guided by their faculty advisors, students conduct research to develop a thorough understanding of the context, landscape and challenges of their thesis topic. Students design and implement a series of prototypes to test and refine their theory, and create a compelling presentation, which brings each vision’s potential to life through words, images and graphics. There will be a required presentation to the thesis advisory board for approval of the thesis.

SIG-6220 / SIG-6225 Global Guest Lecture Series III and IV Two semesters: 3 credits per semester This lecture series exposes students to the lives and ideas of some of the most important people defining social innovation in the world today. Speakers are curated to inspire new thinking and dialogue on various opportunities for careers in social innovation and how design plays a role in each of them.

SIG-6940

Thesis Consultation: Implementation

One semester: 6 credits

With the help of thesis advisors, students will complete their thesis and develop it into a form ready to be implemented. Presentation of the thesis to the full board of advisors is required. Following approval, students present their final thesis to a public audience. A review committee consisting of the program chair, additional faculty and outside experts will critique presentations at critical intervals during the semester.

SIG-6950

Monitoring and Evaluation

One semester: 1 credit

This course is designed to complement the thesis process, and will examine how to measure program effectiveness through monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Monitoring is the routine process of data collection and measurement of progress toward program objectives; evaluation is the use of social research methods to systematically investigate a program’s effectiveness. Students will be guided on the development of their own measurement plan and data collection.

Curriculum