Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society

Department website: http://www.wesleyan.edu/ideas/

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 modules that span design and engineering disciplines.

Admission to the Minor

Students should complete at least one course from the required gateway courses to be admitted to the IDEAS minor.  The gateway courses are in categories of Design & Engineering  and Design & Arts; for students in the class of 2024 and beyond, a third gateway course in the Social Sciences is also required.  Declare the IDEAS minor through your WesPortal.

Both Regular Decision applications and Early Decision applications include the following:

First-Year Application & Personal Essay

Completed Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, including Wesleyan’s member-specific questions.

Secondary School Report Form & Transcript

Your school counselor should submit a secondary school report along with an official transcript (including courses in progress) and school profile.

Homeschool Supplement (if applicable: only available on Common Application site)

Wesleyan encourages applicants to request that school forms be filed electronically via the Common Application website.

Counselor Recommendation

Your school counselor should submit a written evaluation.

Mid-year Grade Report

Your school counselor should submit your midyear grades when available (end of first semester or second trimester).

Teacher Evaluation Forms

Two academic teacher evaluations are required. You are encouraged to submit one from a humanities or social sciences teacher and one from a math or science teacher.

Wesleyan encourages applicants to request that teacher evaluations be filed electronically via the Common Application website.

Early Decision Agreement

The Early Decision Agreement form is available for download, but it is also provided as part of the Common Application.

(Early Decision applicants ONLY)

Application Fee

$65 Application Fee (non-refundable) or Fee Waiver. We will waive the application fee for all applicants who apply for financial aid. Receiving this fee waiver will not disadvantage an applicant in any way.

Track Your Application Materials

After you have submitted your application you will receive an email with a PIN which will enable you to access WesCheck, your applicant portal, to track your application materials.