College of Design and Engineering Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between CoDES and IDEAS?
  The College of Design and Engineering Studies (CoDES) hosts the Integrated Design, Engineering, Art, and Society (IDEAS) linked major and minor. 
• What is a linked major?
  The IDEAS linked major can only be declared and completed in addition to a primary major. The primary major is determined by the major track. Students must complete all the requirements for graduation from their primary major in addition to those of IDEAS as their linked major. 
• Declaring the Major
  The IDEAS linked major must be declared alongside your primary major. Each major track is linked to a specific major, for example the Biomedical Engineering track is linked to the Biology major. Declare the IDEAS linked major through your WesPortal.  
• Declaring 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 declaration requests are reviewed bi-annually, in October and March, prior to pre-registration. 

  In addition to submitting a minor declaration request, students should email Anika (adane@wesleyan.edu) and copy Elijah Huge (ehuge@wesleyan.edu) with the concentration they intend to pursue. 

  Students must identify at least one concentration they intend to pursue for their minor declaration to be approved and a minor advisor assigned.  

  A student may change their IDEAS minor concentration in consultation with their minor advisor, the CoDES Director, or CoDES Associate Director. 

• Completing the Minor

  While it is encouraged for students to complete the core requirements prior to completing the concentration requirements, courses for fulfillment of the minor may be taken in any sequence.  However, there may be prerequisite courses required for some of the courses offered for minor credit. These prerequisites do not count towards the minor. 

  Some courses that meet minor requirements may be cross-listed with multiple departments; students can enroll in any listing for the specified course. 

  Students may propose a different combination of concentration elective courses in consultation with their 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.  

  Courses for the Minor may be taken CR/U.

  Up to two credits towards the minor may be transfer credits.  It is strongly encouraged that all credits for the minor core be completed at Wesleyan. 

  A single course cannot be used to satisfy both a core and concentration requirement.   

  Typically, introductory (100-level) courses may not be counted toward the concentration requirements. 

• Will I be assigned an advisor for IDEAS?
  Yes, you will be assigned an advisor for IDEAS in addition to the advisor for your primary major. Depending on your major track or minor concentration, it is possible for your IDEAS advisor and your primary major advisor to be the same person. Your IDEAS advisor is not required to approve your schedule, but it is important to meet with them to discuss the course of study and requirements for the linked major or minor.  
• Transfer Credit
  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.