Interdisciplinary Program in Engineering (IDEAS) (BSE)

Program Code: U-IDC-BSE
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Department: Pratt School of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
Website: pratt.duke.edu/undergrad/students/policies/3512 

Program Summary

Through IDEAS: Interdisciplinary Engineering & Applied Science, undergraduates propose their own curricula, or use approved curricula, to create specialized Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degrees.

To participate, engineering students (in consultation with an independent study advisor and appropriate faculty members) propose unique combinations of courses designed to meet their career objectives.

To guide students while creating their proposals, a General Curriculum template and three Approved Curricula templates can be found on the IDEAS site.

IDEAS curricula are not specifically accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, but do satisfy the national general engineering accreditation criteria.

Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.

Academic Requirements

Students must submit proposals to the Engineering Faculty Council, through the Office of the Engineering Dean, for approval.

Timing

A proposal may be submitted as early as the second semester of the first year, but must be submitted before the senior year.

Minimum Requirements

Although not individually accredited, these programs satisfy the national general engineering accreditation criteria.

At the Pratt School of Engineering, the term "national general engineering accreditation criteria" corresponds to 34 courses:

• Writing 101

• 9 Courses in Mathematics and the Natural Sciences

  • At least one (1) Physics Course must be taken post-matriculation

  • Engineering Track Course prerequisites may satisfy Natural Science requirements

• 13 Courses in Engineering

  • EGR 101 Engineering Design & Communication

  • EGR 103 Computational Methods

    • Students with Advanced Placement (AP) credit in Computer Science may substitute CS 201

  • EGR 238 Data & Decision

  • 4 Engineering Track Core Courses

  • 2 Engineering Track Electives

    • 5 or more Track Core and Track Electives must be at or above 300 level

    • 3 or more Track Core and Track Electives must be at or above 400 level

  • 2 Engineering Science Electives

    • Engineering Track Course prerequisites may satisfy Engineering Science elective requirements

  • 2 Independent Study, Capstone, or Equivalent Courses

• 1 Open Track Elective

  • Not necessarily an engineering course

• 5 Social Science & Humanities Courses

  • Must cover 3 of 4 distribution areas: FL, CZ, SS, AL

  • 2 courses in the same department; one must be at or above 200 level

  • 2 Social Science & Humanities course requirements may be satisfied by AP credits

• 5 or More Free Electives

  • AP credit may not be applied toward free elective courses

Curricula and Templates

While it is not required, students may use—and are strongly encouraged to use—the Approved Curricula and templates provided on the IDEAS site.