Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society Minor
Department website: http://www.wesleyan.edu/ideas/
Minor Description
The challenges of our society demand nimble students that utilize an integrated skill set. The Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society (IDEAS) program prepares students to succeed at the intersection of design, the arts, and engineering in a liberal arts context. Students develop foundational knowledge in these areas by working in collaborative groups and individually on project-based assignments which emphasize making and doing as critical forms of knowledge. Core courses within the minor provide a foundation in the technical, aesthetic, and human dimensions of design and engineering. These courses are followed by a focus in one of many concentrations that span design and engineering disciplines.
Admission to the Minor
Students should complete at least one course from the required core courses to be admitted to the IDEAS minor. Declare the IDEAS minor through your WesPortal.
Minor Requirements
A minor in IDEAS requires seven credits. Comprised of three courses the IDEAS minor core is designed to introduce students to hands-on project-based studio, laboratory, and critical coursework in design and engineering. The remaining four elective courses come from course concentrations. Some courses offered on an irregular basis are not listed in concentrations, but may be used for electives subject to approval from the minor advisor.
Student Portfolio
All IDEAS minors will assemble a portfolio encompassing work developed within IDEAS courses. Students participating in the minor will begin the development of a digital and/or physical portfolio in the required project-based minor courses. In consultation with an advisor, projects will be added to this portfolio and reviewed before completion of the minor.
Required Core Courses
Students must complete one course from each group below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One Engineering Foundations Lab | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| One Introductory Design Studio | 1 | |
| Architecture I | ||
| Ecological Design I: Being at Home in the World | ||
| A Thousand Years of Iteration: Design for an Uncertain Future | ||
| Biodegradable Design: Soft and Hairy | ||
| Product Design I | ||
| Form and Code | ||
| Digital Foundations | ||
| Fast & Furious | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Digital Projects Lab | ||
| One Design & Technology Seminar | 1 | |
| Design Studies | ||
| Or another approved social science course | ||
Elective courses from Concentrations:
The concentrations provide topical focus in the wide array of areas in Design, Engineering, Arts & Society. The IDEAS concentrations consist of four courses above the three required courses, to make the total of seven courses in the minor.
Some of the proposed concentrations include courses listed among those that will satisfy the gateway course distribution requirement listed above. Students will work with an advisor to help them achieve the appropriate depth of study in the concentration. Related courses that are not offered on a regular basis or course substitutions may be considered for minor credit, subject to review by the minor advisor. Typically, introductory (100-level) courses may not be counted toward the elective requirement.
Arts and Design
The study of objects, their design, and technologies of production. This module consolidates project-based learning in architecture, product design and furniture design.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, three of the following design courses: | 3 | |
| Product Design I | ||
| Ecological Design I: Being at Home in the World | ||
| A Thousand Years of Iteration: Design for an Uncertain Future | ||
| Studies in Computer-based Modelling and Digital Fabrication | ||
| Architecture I | ||
| Fast & Furious | ||
| Biodegradable Design: Soft and Hairy | ||
| Ecological Design II: Worn Out/Broken In | ||
| Architecture II | ||
| Product Design II | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Space Design for Performance | ||
| Text & Visual Imagination: Introduction to Eco Design for Performance | ||
| One course in the History of Architecture: | 1 | |
| European Architecture and Urbanism to 1750 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Italian Art and Architecture of the 16th Century | ||
| European Architecture and Urbanism, 1750-1910 | ||
| American Architecture and Urbanism, 1770--1914 | ||
| Architecture of the 20th Century | ||
| Contemporary World Architecture | ||
| Buddhist Art and Architecture in East Asia | ||
| Energy and Modern Architecture, 1850-2020 | ||
Applied Math
Mathematical methods applied in science, engineering, computer science, and social science.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, two of the following engineering design courses: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| One additional course from the following list: | 1 | |
| Differential Equations | ||
| An Introduction to Probability | ||
| Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Waves and Oscillations | ||
| Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos | ||
| Mathematical Physics | ||
Biological or Biochemical
Applications of biology and biochemistry to solve challenges in life and health sciences.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Principles and Mechanisms of Cell Biology | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| Genomics Analysis | ||
| Molecular Modeling and Design | ||
| Science Materials For a Malagasy Classroom | ||
| Introductory Medical Biochemistry | ||
| Introduction to Biomolecular Structure | ||
| Advanced Genetics | ||
| Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | ||
Chemical
Applications of chemistry to the design of new chemicals, materials, and energy production.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Principles of Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Principles of Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Physical Chemistry I: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy | ||
| Physical Chemistry II: Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Kinetics | ||
| Chemistry of Materials and Nanomaterials | ||
| Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | ||
| Molecular Modeling and Design | ||
Computer
Applications of computer science to the design of new computer hardware and software.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Digital Projects Lab | ||
| Computer Science II | ||
| Automata Theory and Formal Languages | ||
| Algorithms and Complexity | ||
| Design of Programming Languages | ||
| Computer Structure and Organization | ||
| Computational Media: Videogame Development | ||
Electrical
Applications of electrical and magnetic systems to the design of new devices and communications.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Radio Astronomy | ||
| Waves and Oscillations | ||
| Quantum Mechanics I | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Experimental Optics | ||
| Electronics Lab | ||
Environmental
Application of environmental and ecological knowledge to the protection of ecosystems and human population.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Ecology | ||
| Soils | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Environmental Geochemistry | ||
| Energy Sustainability: An examination of US, New England and Connecticut Energy | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Living in a Polluted World | ||
| Modeling the Earth and Environment | ||
Geomechanics/Geosystems
Applications of geology and earth science to the development and preservation of subterranean resources.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, one of the following engineering design courses: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
| Interdisciplinary Project Lab | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Two additional courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Mineralogy | ||
| Earth Materials | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Modeling the Earth and Environment | ||
Materials Science
Discovery, design, and properties of new materials.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, two of the following engineering design courses: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| One course in statics and dynamics: | 1 | |
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
Mechanical
Application of mechanics, kinematics, and thermodynamics to design and develop new mechanical systems.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| If not completed in the general requirements, two of the following engineering design courses: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Sensors, Measurement, and Data Analysis | ||
| One course in computing and programming foundations: | 1 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Bioinformatics Programming | ||
| How to Talk to Machines | ||
| How to Design Programs | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| One course is statics and dynamics: | 1 | |
| How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials | ||
Performance Design
Stage design for theater or dance, sets, costumes, and lighting.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two courses from the following list: | 2 | |
| Text & Visual Imagination: Introduction to Eco Design for Performance | ||
| Studies in Computer-based Modelling and Digital Fabrication | ||
| Lighting Design for the Theater | ||
| Media for Performance | ||
| Space Design for Performance | ||
| Introduction to Costume Design for Performance | ||
| One course in the History of Design: | 1 | |
| European Architecture and Urbanism, 1750-1910 | ||
| American Architecture and Urbanism, 1770--1914 | ||
| Architecture of the 20th Century | ||
| European Architecture and Urbanism to 1750 | ||
| One additional credit from the following list: | 1 | |
| Applied Scenography: From Idea to the Stage | ||
and | ||
| Performance Practice in Design A | ||
or | ||
| Performance Practice in Design B | ||
Additional Minor Information
- There may be prerequisite courses required for some of the courses listed above. These prerequisites do not count towards the minor.
- Some of the courses may be cross-listed with other departments; students can enroll in any listing for the specified course.
- Students may propose a different combination of elective courses in consultation with the IDEAS advisor.
- Some courses may overlap with existing major requirements. A student may only count three course credits toward the IDEAS minor that are also counted towards a major, linked major, certificate, or other minor, unless receiving explicit approval from the IDEAS minor administrator to waive this requirement.