Cornell University Registrar

Program Description

The Department of Human Centered Design (HCD) offers a Design and Environmental Analysis Minor to interested students. 

The minor provides students with an understanding of evidence-based design practices and principles. Students learn design thinking strategies, how research informs the design process, and how they can make a difference to responsive and responsible design solutions for a rapidly changing world. 

Academic Standards

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of B- or better in courses required by the minor. Courses offered only on an S/U basis may count toward the minor; however, they may not exceed 3 credits in total.

Minor Declaration Information 

1. Students who complete the Intent to Minor in DEA form will be given preference for admission to DEA courses once students in the major are accommodated, with the stipulation that studios are capped due to space constraints and there may not be room.
2. Submit the Intent to Minor form any time after having completed at least one of the courses required for the minor with a grade of at least a B-. Note that to receive any consideration or priority for course enrollment, a form must have been submitted prior to the semester in which enrollment is desired.  Formally declaring intent to minor in DEA does not guarantee that a student will be able to take an offered DEA course.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of courses required and completed toward the minor; students will not be assigned an DEA advisor. Only DEA courses may be used to satisfy the requirement of the minor.
4. During the semester in which a student is planning to graduate, submit an Application to Graduate with a Minor in DEA form by March 15^th to the Program Coordinator.
5. After it has been verified that the student has completed the requirements for the minor, the appropriate college registrar will be notified, and the final transcript will indicate that the student are earned a minor in Design and Environmental Analysis.

Program Information

• Minimum Credits for Minor: 15

Minor Requirements

Earning a minor in Design and Environmental Analysis (DEA) requires a minimum of 15 credits in DEA courses. To be considered for the Minor in DEA, students must not be a DEA major.

Students must complete the following core requirements in any order:

• DEA 1110 Making a Difference by Design or DEA 2200 Art and Science
• DEA 1500 Introduction to Environmental Psychology.

In addition, students must complete:

• One DEA studio course
• Two upper-level DEA thematic courses

For detailed course requirements and a list of eligible electives, please refer to the Application to Graduate with a Minor in Design and Environmental Analysis (contact program coordinator for form). 

Getting Started

After completing courses (DEA 1110 Making a Difference by Design or DEA 2200 Art and Science, and DEA 1501 Introduction to Environmental Psychology - Writing in the Major) students should submit the Intention to Minor in DEA form (contact program coordinator for form). To receive consideration or priority for enrollment in DEA courses, this form must be submitted prior to the semester in which enrollment is desired; however, submission does not guarantee enrollment. The DEA minor is self-guided. As some courses have prerequisites, students are encouraged to plan their coursework carefully.