There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.

Essential skills build through majoring in Industrial Design include:

• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Technology

Click here to learn more about each essential skill.

Students graduating from Industrial Design find themselves most often in product design, development, exhibit design, and many more.

• Employment rate for Industrial Designers is projected to grow 2% from 2022-2032.

Click here to explore career opportunities by major.

Students who choose to pursue a graduate degree often consider these pathways:

• ArtCenter College of Design
• Ohio State University
• Rochester Institute of Technology

Click here to learn more about applying to graduate school.

Major milestones consist of activities students should complete during their first year, middle years and last year at MSU Denver. These milestones will help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan to integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom, and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences. For example, milestones might list specific classes student should take at specific times along their journey or may suggest when students should participate in research opportunities with faculty members.

Simply put, Major Milestones are meant to enhance your student experience and set you up for success.

To use this tool to the fullest, follow these steps

1. Click on your year in school from the list below.
2. Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
3. Complete any necessary steps listed.
4. Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.

All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.

• Attend orientation and register for classes.
• Meet with your Academic Advisor.
• Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF and the General Scholarship Application.

• Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
• Declare a major, (explore our fully online programs!) or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
• Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).

• Attend Orientation, declare your major and register for classes
• Meet with your department academic advisor to map out your course journey
• Complete scholarship and financial aid application
• Take the IND 1000-Introduction to IND course

• Join the IND student club and start getting connected on campus
• Speak with a professor or IND advisor about opportunities within the department
• Attend department-sponsored events, including the end-of-semester Senior Show(s)

• Check out on-campus and career-aligned jobs on Career Link
• Begin to develop and explore a career pathway
• Build your portfolio and resume early
• Research and connect with design professionals online and through in-person networking opportunities

• Consider adding a minor or certificate to your chosen major.
• Explore resources like the tutoring program or the writing center.
• Get familiar with MSU Denver’s Academic Planning Tool.

• Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
• Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
• Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.

• Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
• Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
• Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.

• Build your student portfolio of design work
• Check your Degree Progress Report and meet with your department advisor
• Build your sketching, computer modeling, physical prototyping, and creative problem-solving skills

• Speak with a professor about special projects in which you could engage outside of classes
• Attend speaker and special events hosted by the department
• Seek out other hands-on learning experiences or design volunteer opportunities
• Participate in IND student club activities

• Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2 Hub) on professional mentoring and networking opportunities
• Consult with the department’s Internship Coordinator about local internship connections you are researching
• Attend career fairs

• Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
• Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
• Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.

• Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
• Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
• Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.

• Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
• Attend in-person career-focused events with an industry-ready resume.
• Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
• Prepare and submit applications for jobs, graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.

• Refine your design skills while seeking assistance from professors and professionals to strengthen your work
• Develop a self-directed final project for the IND Pro-Studio class
• Determine which electives you will take to both broaden and deepen your design learning

• Take advantage of opportunities to practice your leadership skills, especially related to design activities
• Continue to attend special events hosted by the department, and engage with individuals at those events

• Collect and organize your portfolio materials
• Seeking out internship opportunities to fulfill the graduation requirement and prepare for professional employment
• Collect information about companies and areas of design opportunities that are of interest to you
• If considering graduate school, discuss options with your faculty advisor