Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts and Society Linked Major
The Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts, and Society Linked major combines creative exploration with hands-on experience. Students learn to approach complex challenges through both design and engineering, connecting ideas to action.
IDEAS Major at a Glance
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Duration
Full Time
Number of Credits
32
Format
On Campus
Why the IDEAS Linked Major?
The Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts, and Society (IDEAS) major challenges students to think broadly, design responsibly, and respond critically to the world around them.
Blending design, engineering, and the liberal arts, IDEAS equips students to explore how creative and technical decisions shape—and are shaped by—social, cultural, and environmental forces. Through project-based courses and collaborative studios, students learn to make as a form of research and discovery.
IDEAS is a linked major, completed alongside a primary major such as Art Studio, Biology, Computer Science, Physics, or Theater. Students develop an individualized plan with a dedicated IDEAS advisor, culminating in a capstone project and digital portfolio that showcase their technical skill, creative process, and critical insight.
Graduates leave with the ability to prototype, design, and innovate across fields—from architecture and sustainability to robotics, urban planning, and user-experience design.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTSIDEAS Linked Major Tracks
Explore the pathways that connect design and engineering. Each track pairs design principles with a discipline-specific focus, allowing students to explore intersections of creativity, technology, and research.
Explore the intersection of biology and design. Develop innovative solutions for healthcare, biotechnology, and environmental systems.
Translate data into design. Combine coding and creative algorithms to shape interactive and digital experiences.
For students exploring circuits, energy systems, and electronics. This track combines IDEAS with Physics, emphasizing design thinking and applied problem-solving in technology and research.
Investigate how materials move and respond. Experiment with mechanics, manufacturing, and sustainable systems.
A path for students interested in design, fabrication, and making. This track combines IDEAS with Studio Art, emphasizing sculpture, product design, and the artistry of physical form.
Explores how people interact with space. Linked with Architecture, Art History, or related disciplines, this track connects design, structure, and social experience.
Opportunities and Research
The Student Experience
IDEAS majors learn by doing. In studios and labs, students design prototypes, code interactive systems, build installations, and collaborate across disciplines. Courses emphasize critique, iteration, and experimentation—skills that prepare students to adapt to emerging technologies and global challenges.
Research
IDEAS students expand their learning beyond the classroom. Many participate in research projects with faculty, exploring how design and technology intersect with sustainability, data, or the arts.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad, bringing global perspectives to their creative work—from urban design in Europe to sustainable systems in Asia.
Capstone and Honors
In the senior year, the Capstone project allows students to pursue an independent or collaborative design challenge, synthesizing educational experience and their IDEAS coursework.
Career Outcomes for IDEAS Majors
Graduates of the IDEAS major pursue careers in fields such as product design, architecture, user experience, data visualization, engineering, and sustainability. Others go on to graduate study in design, architecture, or technical innovation.
IDEAS alumni work in creative studios, research labs, nonprofits, and startups—places where imagination and problem-solving meet.
Ready to Declare?
The IDEAS linked major must be declared alongside a primary major. Each track determines its companion discipline, for example, Biology for Biomedical Engineering or Studio Art for Object Design.
Declare IDEAS through your WesPortal in the spring of your sophomore year. You’ll be paired with an IDEAS advisor who helps you plan your coursework, connect your creative and technical interests, and prepare for your capstone project.
Your advisor will be a key resource as you explore how art, design, science, and engineering intersect at Wesleyan, and how to shape a path that’s uniquely yours.
