About
The College of Design and Engineering Studies (CoDES) 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, students engage in making as a form of inquiry and research.
Launched in 2023, the College of Design and Engineering Studies unites Wesleyan's growing design and engineering programs. The College brings together students and faculty from across the arts, sciences, and social sciences to explore connections between creativity, technology, and society.
CoDES builds on the success of the Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society (IDEAS) program, which began as a minor in 2017 and quickly became one of Wesleyan’s most popular interdisciplinary offerings. The college supports the Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts, and Society linked major, the Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts, and Society minor, and Dual Degree Programs in Engineering, creating new pathways for students to pursue hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning.
At its core, CoDES is driven by a simple idea: that great design and responsible engineering start with curiosity, collaboration, and care. Students learn to embrace iteration, experimentation, and failure as essential parts of discovery. By combining the rigor of technical study with the creative inquiry of the arts and the reflective lens of the social sciences, CoDES embodies the best of Wesleyan’s liberal arts tradition: an education that prepares students to imagine, make, and lead in a changing world.
Research
CoDES students have access to hands-on research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Whether you’re assisting a faculty project, developing a prototype, or applying design thinking to a social challenge, research is a cornerstone of the CoDES experience.
A student who is interested in being an artist, but also wants to learn about engineering, the sciences, or the social sciences, can do so. CoDES is about building a conversation across disciplines. ”
