Design & Entrepreneurship

Every product or service starts with an idea. In Design and Entrepreneurship, you'll turn your ideas into business concepts and learn how to design, build, test, and refine a prototype. You'll strengthen your problem-solving, collaboration, and professional skills while working on projects inspired by real-world challenges.

Students can choose the Design, Business, and Rapid Prototyping or Design and Pre-Manufacturing pathway, or complete both for a broader experience. Working with industry software and equipment, you'll gain experience in product design, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship while earning certifications that prepare you for college, careers, or additional training in engineering, manufacturing, business, and related fields.

Albie Mitchell | 314.989.7578 | Send an Ema il

APPLY NOW

Prerequisites

Subject	Sophomore Year		Junior Year
	After 1st Semester	After 2nd Semester	After 1st Semester
English	1.5	2	2.5
Math	1	1.5	2
Science	.5	1	1.5
Social Studies	.5	1	1.5
Minimum Core Needed Includes credits from ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies, PLUS up to 1/2 credit Health, 1/2 credit Personal Finance, and 1 credit PE	5	6.5	8
Minimum Total Credits Needed	9	12	15

Linked Courses

Students can choose to take one or both of these year-long courses

Course	Session	Content
Design, Business, & Rapid Prototyping	Morning	Design thinking, rapid model creation and testing, entrepreneurship fundamentals, business, management
Design & Pre-Manufacturing	Afternoon	Hands-on design and development, prototype production, design software, manufacturing tools and machinery

Related Programs

Eligible juniors who wish to pursue an additional pathway during their senior year can choose from one of these related programs.

Course	Session	Content
Print Design	Morning	Hands-on production of posters, print ads, mock-ups, signage
Digital Design	Afternoon	Digital production of advertising-related content, interactivity, user experience, screen-based design

Your School Supplies

Tools & Equipment

Uniform Requirements

Academic Materials

Credits & Certifications

High School Credit

College Credit

St. Louis Community College - Students may be eligible for college credit through the credit for prior learning process at STLCC

College credit and certification are not guaranteed. Their attainment is dependent on student performance in both the course and on external industry assessments. All certifications are through external agencies and the accommodations permitted will vary from assessment to assessment. Additionally, students must participate in the full two years of the program to be potentially eligible for all certifications listed.

Certifications

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – 10 hour Certification
Autodesk (Autocad)
Certiport Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification
BLS (Basic Life Support) stackable credentials

Core Essential Skills

Core Essential Skills

Core Essential Skills

Essential Processing Skills Needed for Success

Independently perform basic computer skills; for example manage passwords and access online platforms
Apply problem solving and troubleshooting skills
Ability to follow simple and multi-step verbal and/or written instructions
Demonstrate willingness to ask for help
Ability to manage one’s time; for example, to complete an assignment/project within a given time frame
Ability to accept constructive feedback and adjust work accordingly
Adhere to and follow all program safety rules and expectations and assume personal responsibility for safety
Ability to manage the demands and organizational needs of attending 2 different schools
Learn to apply problem solving and troubleshooting skills to specific problems to generate multiple solutions
Understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents (technical reading) and current professional articles
Have knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and their applications; able to read a tape measure to the nearest 16th, and add/subtract mixed numbers and fractions
Ability to explore the effects of changing information and how it applies to current and future problem solving and decision making
Ability to learn and apply the principles of design thinking (creative/innovative solutions to redefine problems and/or challenge assumptions) to both identify and solve problems
Work individually and in groups; able to work with others in team settings
Take initiative to start task(s) once instructions have been given
Have an awareness of personal safety in the shop, adhere to safety procedures and assume personal responsibility
Communicate information effectively with peers and instructors while using technical terminology
Ability to learn and independently operate/use power tools and/or computer-operated machinery
Willingness and ability to adhere to a professional dress code and/or uniform
Ability to learn and safely operate/use cutting tools and other sharp objects independently

Essential Physical Skills Needed for Success

Make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers, hands and arms to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects
Keep hand and arm steady or held in one position for a long period of time
Tolerant of a production environment, including fumes, dust, and loud noises
Able to stand and move for extended periods of time
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)
Good hand-eye coordination

How will my time be spent?

Program Year	Classroom Time	Lab Time
Design, Business, and Rapid Prototyping	25 % - 50%	25 % - 50%
Design and Pre-Manufacturing	25% - 50%	25% - 50%