This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
HCDN 351. Introduction to Human-centered Design. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. This course explores the human-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective. Students are exposed to human-centered design thinking and experiential client activities. Topics include human-centered design principles, methodologies, user research, data collection and assessment, inspiration, ideation, and implementation phases, and critical- and creative-thinking models.
HCDN 352. Human-centered Design Methods. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Prerequisite: HCDN 351. This course explores human-centered design methods and an experiential client interaction. Students will be challenged to develop, utilize and assess several ways of knowing and thinking about how to effectively contextualize, formulate, conduct, analyze and disseminate the results derived from particular engagements with human-centered design and their processes in the context of research and design.
HCDN 353. Human-centered Design Through Service Learning. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: HCDN 352. This course allows students to engage in an experiential nonprofit client scenario working through human-centered design methods that solve a community need specific to social innovation. Lecture is coupled with 20 hours of service-learning client engagement.
HCDN 491. Special Topics in Human-centered Design. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Study of current and emerging topics in the field of human-centered design. Topics may vary from semester to semester.