The Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society (IDEAS) linked major challenges students to think broadly, make responsibly, and respond critically to the complex social, technological, cultural, and environmental conditions that surround them. Through a curriculum that brings together iterative creation, experimentation, and critique, IDEAS majors will gain proficiency in making as a form of inquiry and research. Hands-on, collaborative, project-based courses form the core of the major. Drawing on Wesleyan’s strong liberal arts tradition, students will complete courses across all three academic divisions before establishing an area of focus. The IDEAS major culminates with a supervised capstone project.

The linked major in Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society (IDEAS) is the secondary major to a primary, companion major (e.g. art studio, biology, computer science, physics, theater, etc.). Students cannot obtain the BA degree with IDEAS as their only major. Students must complete all the requirements for graduation from their primary major in addition to those of IDEAS as their linked major. Each student will work closely with an IDEAS advisor to develop an individual course of study within an established major track. Students are encouraged to declare the IDEAS linked major in the spring of their sophomore year.

IDEAS Core (4 Courses)

Comprised of four courses, the IDEAS major Core is designed to introduce students to hands-on, project-based studio, laboratory, and critical coursework in design and engineering. There are multiple possible introductory courses to fulfill three of the four core course requirements. The fourth course within the core (IDEA 292: Interdisciplinary Project Lab) acts as the gateway to the major.

1. Introductory Design Studio (ARST220, ARST235, or ARST270)
2. Engineering Foundations Lab (IDEA170 or IDEA175)
3. Design & Technology Seminar (IDEA180) or another approved Social Science course

4. Major Gateway (IDEA292). All students intending to major must enroll in the Interdisciplinary IDEAS Project Lab after completing a foundations lab or introductory design studio course (1 or 2 above).  Completion of the gateway courses is recommended prior to completion of sophomore year, but not required.

• Building a foundation of knowledge that includes the technical, aesthetic, and social aspects of design and engineering.
• Learning how to apply theoretical knowledge to the creation of objects, systems, or methods.
• Understanding how design and engineering choices are influenced by social structures and pressure, and vice-versa.
• Learning how to use the design process as a framework for creative exploration and problem solving.
• Learning how to effectively work in group settings and how to harness complementary skills of group members.

Study abroad is encouraged for IDEAS major students. Students should consider programs that offer courses in the areas of design and/or engineering. Students should request approval for any courses they wish to transfer for credit prior to study abroad.

IDEAS Core courses must be taken at Wesleyan. Up to three course requirements for the IDEAS major can be fulfilled with transfer credits, subject to approval from an IDEAS advisor and program chair.

Student honors projects may be pursued with an IDEAS Core faculty member or through a project with a mentor from the student’s companion major that has prior approval from the student’s IDEAS advisor. Such honors projects would fulfill the capstone described above. Projects completed in the companion department are not evaluated by IDEAS. For Departmental Honors in IDEAS, a student must have a minimum GPA of 85.0 and complete both Stage I and Stage II general education expectations. Depending on the focus area, an IDEAS mentored thesis may be a written thesis, exhibition, or body of work, and must be evaluated by the thesis advisor and two additional faculty members to meet the standards for honors or high honors.

Students will complete a team-based or independent original project culminating in a public presentation, exhibition, or publication. The capstone may be one to two credits, depending on scope of project. There are several ways to fulfill the capstone requirement.

1. The project may take the form accepted by the companion department as a senior project (e.g., senior thesis, senior essay, senior performance, senior exhibition, senior film thesis). The final project is submitted to the companion department and is not evaluated by IDEAS.
2. The student may register for and complete a senior thesis in the IDEAS major. The mentor can be any Wesleyan faculty member, but the topic must be approved by the student’s IDEAS advisor. The thesis material may take the form of a written publication, public presentation, or exhibition, with the form approved by the student’s IDEAS advisor and the College of Design & Engineering Studies chair.