Minor in Design and Systems Thinking

Overview 

This interdisciplinary minor programme is curated in partnership between CoE, CoS, CoHASS, NBS and LKCMed and is open to all NTU students. Applicants can apply for the Design and Systems Thinking Minor either during the undergraduate admission exercise or during their course of undergraduate studies. There are no special requirements for entry into this minor programme. 

As the economy becomes increasingly diversified and innovation-driven, employees from different domains are required to generate innovative solutions collaboratively. This interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving calls for new pedagogical ways to train the next generation of graduates for tomorrow. The recently published “Schools of the Future” report by the World Economic Forum highlighted several critical characteristics in learning content and experiences that define high-quality learning in the “Education 4.0” framework. These characteristics include (i) opportunities for innovation and creativity, (ii) acquiring technological know-how, (iii) problem-based and collaborative learning and (iv) lifelong and student-driven learning.  

The aim of this minor programme is to prepare students for the future workplace. This programme will expose students to:

  1. complex problems and how these problems are regulated in the real-world, and  

  2. systems-thinking mindset that encourages creative problem solving outside the usual discipline-based channels. 


Requirements 

The Design and Systems Thinking Minor Programme fulfils the standard minimum number of academic units for a Minor, i.e. 15 AUs. Students, therefore, need not exceed their normal candidature of 3 or 4 years. To fulfil the requirements for the Design and Systems Thinking Minor, students will need to complete the following list of courses. Students may choose to take elective courses anytime during their candidature.  


Compulsory Courses (12 AUs)

CodeCourse TitleAUsPrerequisite Semester 
DR5003Introduction to Design 3 1
EE5082Interdisciplinary Project Work 6
2 + ST*
DR5004Design & Systems Thinking 3
2

* 23-week (13 weeks Semester + 10 weeks Special Term) 

 

Elective Courses (Minimum 3 AUs) 

Code Course Title AUs Semester
BU5501 Marketing for the 21st Century  3 1 & 2
BU5502 Marketing Communication  3 1 & 2
PS5886 Making and Tinkering Lite  2 2
BU5545 Consumer Neuroscience: How Brain Science is Informing Business 3 2
HV5001 Introduction to Environmental Humanities 3 1
SU4001 Leaders in Urban Systems & Policy 3 2
ES2203 Global Environmental Politics & Governance 3 2
ES3202 Resilient Urban Systems 3 1
ES4304 Eyes on Earth - Satellite Remote Sensing 3 1
ES5006 Environmental Sustainability 3 2

Important Notes:

  1. Students must read minor courses as either Broadening Electives or Unrestricted Electives, and the AUs earned will count towards the students’ academic unit requirements for Broadening/Unrestricted Electives. 

  2. These minor courses must be graded.  Students must not opt for them to be graded as Satisfactory(S)/Unsatisfactory(U).

  3. Students should complete the stipulated course requirement to be awarded the Minor. 

 

Enquiries

      Ms Madona Fernandez 
      EEE Academic Programme Office
      Email:  [email protected]