IDEAS Linked Major Tracks

There are six available tracks through the IDEAS Major, linked with Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Art Studio and Theater. We also offer an Engineering track in partnership with the Dartmouth college 2-1-1-1 program.

  • Bachelor of Engineering Track

    Bachelor of Engineering Track
    (linked to the Dartmouth Dual-degree program)

    For students wishing to combine the study of engineering with a broad background in liberal arts, Wesleyan maintains a dual-degree program with Dartmouth College that allows students to earn two degrees in five years combined (three years at Wesleyan, two at Dartmouth). This 2-1-1-1 program places Wesleyan students at Dartmouth for their junior year and a fifth year. Students completing this track earn two bachelor degrees, a BA from Wesleyan and a BE from Dartmouth. This track has a larger number of requirements in order to fulfill the ABET accredited BE degree obtained through the dual-degree program with Dartmouth.

    In addition to the Core and Range requirements listed for the IDEAS major the following five courses are required pre-requisites for the dual-degree program with Dartmouth. Students must apply to the Dartmouth 2-1-1-1 program in their sophomore year.

    MATH121 Calculus I
    MATH122 Calculus II
    PHYS113 General Physics I
    PHYS116 General Physics II
    CHEM141 General Chemistry I
    or CHEM143 Honors General Chemistry I

    The required courses taken at Dartmouth (ENGS 22: Systems, ENGS 23: Distributed Systems & Fields, and two Engineering electives) fulfill the Focus requirement for the IDEAS major. 

  • Biomedical Engineering Track

    Biomedical Engineering (linked with Biology) 

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    ARST270 Product Design I
    IDEA170 Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    IDEA175 Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering
    ARST370 Product Design II
    Focus Courses (Electives)
    BIOL212 Principles and Mechanisms of Cell Biology
    BIOL213 Behavioral Neurobiology
    BIOL265 Bioinformatics Programming
    BIOL267 Engineering Biology: Cells and Tissues
    BIOL270 Systems Biology with Programming
    BIOL368 Ecological Resilience: The Good, the Bad, and the Mindful
  • Computation Track

    Computation (linked with Computer Science)

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    ARST270 Product Design I
    IDEA175 Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    COMP211 Computer Science I
    IDEA185 Form and Code
    Focus Electives
    COMP323 Programming Language Implementation
    COMP331 Computer Structure and Organization
    COMP332 Computer Networks
    COMP333 Software Engineering
    COMP353 Robotics
    COMP354 Information Security and Privacy
    IDEA273 Sensors and Instrumentation
    IDEA285 Digital Projects Lab
    IDEA350 Computational Media: Videogame Development
    MATH221 Vectors and Matrices
    MATH223 Linear Algebra
    MATH 233 Stochastic Processes

    IDEAS requires a senior capstone project.  For the linked major with COMP, there must be a COMP faculty member of the capstone project committee who serves as a reader.  The duties of the COMP faculty member are the following: 

    • Approve the initial plan for the capstone project.  The approval will be contingent on the project having sufficient relation to Computer Science. 
    • Meet with the student approximately once per month to review progress and approve any significant changes to the initial plan. 
    • Certify that the completed project has met the requirements set out earlier. 

    The COMP reader may be the advisor for the senior capstone, but that is not required. 

  • Electrical Engineering Track

    Electrical Engineering (linked with Physics)

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    ARST270 Product Design I
    IDEA175 Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    COMP211 Computer Science I
    PHYS342 Experimental Optics
    PHYS345
    		 Electronics Lab
    Focus Courses (Electives)
    COMP212 Computer Science II
    COMP312 Algorithms and Complexity
    COMP301 Automata Theory and Formal Languages
    COMP331 Computer Structure and Organization
    PHYS315 Quantum Mechanics II
    PHYS358 Condensed Matter
    PHYS566 Electrodynamics
  • Mechanical & Materials Engineering Track

    Mechanical & Materials Engineering (linked with Physics)

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    ARST270 Product Design I
    IDEA170 Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    IDEA210 How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials
    IDEA211
    		 Materials and Design Concepts for Structures
    Focus Courses (Electives)
    CHEM373 Principles of Polymer Chemistry (Required Courses)
    CHEM377 Chemistry of Materials and Nanomaterials
    CHEM379 Nanomaterials Lab
    PHYS313 Classical Dynamics
    PHYS358 Condensed Matter
  • Object Design Track

    Object Design (linked with Art Studio)

    The study of objects, their design, and technologies of production. This module consolidates project-based learning in architecture, product design and furniture design.

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    ARST270 Product Design I
    IDEA170 Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    ARST220 Ecological Design I: Being at Home in the World
    IDEA175 Introduction to Electrical Design & Engineering
    Focus Courses (Electives)
    ARST243 Introduction to Graphic Design
    THEA359 Space Design for Performance
    THEA383 Introduction to Costume Design for Performance
    ARST221 A Thousand Years of Iteration: Design for an Uncertain Future
    ARST271 Biodegradable Design: Soft and Hairy
    ARST370 Product Design II
    ARST320 Ecological Design II: Worn Out/Broken In
  • Spatial Design Track

    Spatial Design (linked with Theater)

    Core Courses (Recommended)
    IDEA170 Introduction to Mechanical Design and Engineering
    ARST235 Architecture I
    IDEA180 Design Studies
    IDEA292 Interdisciplinary Project Lab
    Range Courses (Recommended)
    IDEA210 How Things Fail: Mechanics and Materials
    ANTH230 Anthropology of Cities
    THEA185 Text & Visual Imagination: Introduction to Eco Design for Performance
    Focus Courses (Electives)
    ARST220 Ecological Design I: Being at Home in the World
    ARST270 Product Design I
    ARST336 Architecture II
    THEA305 Lighting Design for the Theater
    THEA359 Space Design for Performance
    THEA360 Media for Performance
    THEA384 Advanced Costume Design & Construction