Shocker Design Experience

The Shocker Design Experience is a unique, year-long program that brings together first-year students from all majors. Students learn to have an entrepreneurial mindset and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team on a meaningful, real-world project over two semesters. Enroll in our program and gain valuable skills for any career path!

Fall FYS Course Spring Applied Project FAQ

Supporting Student Innovation

We couldn't run the Shocker Design Experience without the incredible support from our sponsors. We're proud to have Koch Industries as the lead sponsor of our program and of the Koch Innovation Challenge, as well as for our paid peer mentorship program, which provides upperclassmen with valuable applied learning experiences. A special thanks to Great Plains Ventures for sponsoring our classroom studio, named for their founder, Charles Peer, in the John Bardo Center. Their companies, Great Plains Industries (GPI) and Aerospace Systems and Components (ASC), also provide crucial funding for student projects, ensuring our students have the materials and tools needed to bring their ideas to life. Their generous contributions not only make a significant impact on the student experience but also help us increase freshman retention, directly preparing our students for successful internships and careers.

Shocker Design Experience:
Fall FYS + Spring Project

Enroll Now

Students sitting at a table laughing about a shared activity

Fall FYS Course

Step 1 - Enroll in our Fall FYS Course

Take our First Year Seminar (FYS) course to learn about the inventions that made our modern world possible. You'll then experience the innovation process yourself using entrepreneurial mindset and the design thinking process, a human-centered design method for innovation that focuses on empathy as a way to understand the user and design to meet their needs. The FYS course is a prerequisite for the spring semester applied project. Open to students of all majors!

Enroll in FYAP 102A Introduction to Technology & Innovation

A students shows off her cardboard prototype

Spring Applied Project

Step 2 - Enroll in our Spring Applied Project

Continue your work from the fall FYS in your spring semester in the applied project, where your team can transform your ideas into a fully working prototype. We'll coach you on product development, protecting your intellectual property, and giving an elevator pitch to share your new product. Participate in the Koch Innovation Challenge, a fun innovation competition to earn applied experience credit or Engineering+ credit towards graduation. Open to students of all majors!

Enroll in ENGR 102B Entrepreneurship & Innovation Applied Project

A team of students with their faculty mentors, all dressed up for the final competition.

Why Join SDX?

This new and unique experience has many benefits for first year students of all majors:

You'll belong a community with other first year students around shared interests
Faculty and peer mentors will guide you through your first full year at WSU
You'll be in a multidisciplinary team that will help you build your teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills
Professional development workshops will pique your curiosity as you explore interesting topics and learn new skills to add to your own professional development plan