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Interdisciplinary Programs (IDEAS)
Follow an approved curriculum or propose your own
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 below.
Important Notes
- IDEAS curricula are not accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- A student’s independent-study advisor need not also be the student’s academic advisor
- Duke rules for credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Placement apply
Submit a Proposal
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.
Proposal Requirements
A general description of proposal requirements can be found in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction »
Curricula and Templates
While it is not required, students may use—and are strongly encouraged to use—the Approved Curricula and templates provided below.
General Curriculum
Use this general template to create a new IDEAS proposal:
General Template
Track Core, Track Elective, Engineering Science and Natural Science courses are bolded and italicized.
|
First Year |
|
|---|---|
| MATH 111L Calculus I | MATH 112L Calculus II |
| CHEM 101DL Chemistry | PHYS 151L Mechanics |
| EGR 101 Engineering Design & Comm. | Writing 101 |
| EGR 103L Computational Methods |
Engineering Science Elective 1 or elective |
| Second Year | |
| MATH 212 Multivariate Calculus | MATH 216 Linear Algebra & Diff. Equations |
| PHYS 152L Electricity & Magnetism | Natural Science Elective |
| Elective or Engineering Science Elective 1 | EGR 190 Data & Decision |
| Elective | Elective |
| Third Year | |
| MATH 353 Ordinary & Partial Diff. Equations | Elective |
| Engineering Science Elective 2 | Elective |
| Track core 1 | Track core 2 |
| Track elective 1 | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Fourth Year | |
| Track core 3 | Track core 4 |
| Track elective 2 (engineering) | Elective |
| Independent Study | Independent Study |
| Elective | Elective |
Approved Curricula
Use these Engineering Faculty Council-approved templates to make a proposal in these topic areas:
Computational Simulation
Curriculum Template
Track Core, Track Elective, Engineering Science and Natural Science courses are bolded and italicized.
|
First Year |
|
|---|---|
| MATH 111L Calculus I | MATH 112L Calculus II |
| CHEM 101DL Chemistry | PHYS 151L Mechanics |
| EGR 101 Engineering Design & Comm. | Writing 101 |
| EGR 103L Computational Methods |
Engineering Science Elective 1 |
| Second Year | |
| MATH 212 Multivariate Calculus | MATH 216 Linear Algebra & Diff. Equations |
| PHYS 152L Electricity & Magnetism | Natural Science elective |
| EGR 201L Solid Mechanics | EGR 190 Data and Decision |
| Elective | CS 201 Data Structures and Algorithms |
| Third Year | |
| MATH 353 Ordinary & Partial Diff. Equations | MATH 453 Intro to Partial Diff. Equations |
| MATH 561 Numerical Linear Algebra | Natural Science Elective |
| Engineering Science Elective 2 | Engineering Science Elective 3 |
| CEE 421 Matrix Structural Analysis | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Fourth Year | |
| CEE 530 Intro to FInite Elements | Elective |
| CEE 493 Independent Study | CEE 492 Independent Study |
| CEE 541 Structural Dynamics | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
Notes
- Students may select one (1) from: CEE 301L, BME 307, or ME 366L.
- Students may be required to complete three (3) engineering science electives to get to 12 engineering courses in total, depending on courses taken to satisfy Track Elective prerequisites
Advisors
The academic advisor for students on this track is Guglielmo Scovazzi.
Faculty members who could serve as independent study advisor include, but are not limited to:
Courses
|
Track Core |
Offered |
Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| CS 201 Data Structures and Algorithms | Fall and Spring | CS 101 or EGR 103L |
| EGR 201 Solid Mechanics or BME 244 Quantitative Physiology |
Fall and Spring Fall and Spring |
MATH 122, PHYS 151 EGR 103L, BIO 201 (co), MATH 212, 216, or 353 |
| MATH 561 Numerical Linear Algebra, Optimization, MCS | Fall | MATH 122, MATH 216 |
| CEE 530 Intro to Finite Elements |
Fall |
MATH 353, MATH 453 |
| Track Electives | ||
| CEE 301L Fluid Mechanics | Spring | EGR 201L, EGR 244 (co) |
| BME 307 Transport Phenomenon in Biological Systems | Spring | BME 244L, BME 260L, MATH 353 |
| ME 336L Fluid Mechanics | Fall and Spring | EGR 201L, EGR 224L, ME 331L, MATH 353 (co) |
| CEE 421L Matrix Structural Analysis | Fall | MATH 216, EGR 201L |
| CEE 425 Analytical and Computational Solid Mechanics | EGR 201L, MATH 212, MATH 216 | |
| CEE 541 Structural Dynamics | Fall, even-numbered years | EGR 421L and MATH 353 |
Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology
Curriculum Template
Track Core, Track Elective, Engineering Science and Natural Science courses are bolded and italicized.
Notes
* Students developing an IDEAS curriculum in Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology may choose to replace Physics 152L and/or Math 353 with: BIO 201L, BIO 202L, CHEM II, Organic Chemistry I, or Organic Chemistry II.
Advisors
Academic advisor: Claudia K. Gunsch
Faculty members who could serve as an independent study advisor include, but are not limited to:
Courses
|
Track Core |
Offered |
Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 461 Chemical Principles in Environmental Engineering | Fall | CHEM 101DL |
| CEE 462 Biological Principles in Environmental Engineering | Spring | None |
| CEE 563 Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds | Fall | None |
| CEE 566 Environmental Microbiology |
Fall |
CEE 462 or instructor consent |
| Track Electives | ||
| CEE 565 Environmental Analytical Chemistry | Spring | CHEM 201DL or CHEM 401 or instructor consent |
| CEE 575 Air Pollution Engineering | Fall | None |
| CEE 661 Environmental Molecular Biotechnology | Spring, odd-numbered years | BIO 201L |
| CEE 666 Aquatic Geochemistry | Spring | CEE 461 or CEE 561 |
| CEE 667 Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants | Spring | CEE 563 |
| BIO 201L Molecular Biology | Fall and Spring | CHEM 101DL |
| BIO 202L Genetics and Evolution | Fall and Spring | None |
| CHEM 201DL Organic Chemistry I | Fall and Spring | CHEM 101DL |
| Electives to Meet Pre-Med Requirements | ||
| BIO 201L Molecular Biology | Fall and Spring | CHEM 101DL |
| BIO 202L Genetics and Evolution | None | |
| CHEM 201DL Organic Chemistry I | Fall | CHEM 101DL |
| CHEM 202DL Organic Chemistry II | Spring | CHEM 201DL |
| CHEM 210DL Modern Applied Chemical Principles | CHEM 101DL | |
| BIOCHEM 301 Intro to Biochemistry | CHEM 201DL, 202L | |
| English SSH | None | |
| PSY 101 Intro to Psychology or PSY 101/107 Behavior | None | |
| SOC 110D Sociological Inquiry | None | |
| BME 244 Quantitative Physiology | EGR 103L, MATH 212 (co), BIO 201 (co) | |
Risk, Data & Financial Engineering
Curriculum Template
Track Core, Track Elective, Engineering Science and Natural Science courses are bolded and italicized.
|
First Year |
|
|---|---|
| MATH 111L Calculus I | MATH 112L Calculus II |
| CHEM 101DL Chemistry | PHYS 151L Mechanics |
| EGR 101 Engineering Design & Comm. | Writing 101 |
| EGR 103L Computational Methods |
Engineering Science Elective 1 or elective |
| Second Year | |
| MATH 212 Multivariate Calculus | MATH 216 Linear Algebra & Diff. Equations |
| PHYS 152L Electricity & Magnetism | EGR 190 Data & Decision |
| EGR 201L Solid Mechanics | CEE 201L Uncertainty, Design, Optimization |
| Elective | Elective |
| Third Year | |
| MATH 353 Ordinary & Partial Diff. Equations | STAT 230 Probability |
| EGR 305 Engineering Economics and Optimization | Natural Science Elective |
| ECE 555 Probability for ECE | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Fourth Year | |
| CEE 490 Risk and Resilience Engineering | EGR 590 Financial Informatics |
| CEE 493 Independent Study | CEE 492 Independent Study |
| STAT 340 Statistical Decision Analysis | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
Advisors
The academic advisor for students on this track is Mark Borsuk.
Faculty members who could serve as independent study advisor include, but are not limited to:
Courses
|
Track Core |
Offered |
Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 201L Uncertainty, Design, and Optimization | Spring | EGR 201 |
| EGR 305 Engineering Systems Optimization | Fall | MATH 216 (co) |
| EGR 590 Financial Informatics | Spring | ECON 377, EGR 103 |
| CEE 690 Risk & Resilience Engineering |
Fall |
CEE 201, EGR 305 |
| Track Electives | ||
| ECE 555 Probability for Electrical Engineering | Fall | MATH 216 |
| CEE 690 Uncertainty Quantification | Spring | MATH 216, MATH 353 |
| CEE 690 Health & Environmental Data Science | Spring | EGR 103, MATH 216, Data & Decision |
| STAT 340 Statistical Decision Analysis | Fall | MATH 112L, STAT 230 |
| STAT 323D Statistical Computing | Spring | MATH 112L, STAT 210, 230, 250 (co) |
| STAT 325L Machine Learning & Data Mining | Spring | MATH 112L, STAT 210, 230, 250 (co) |
| ECON 413 Forecasting Financial Markets | Spring | MATH 212, STAT 230 or 250, ECON 101 and 208D |
| ECON 208D Intro to Econometrics | Fall and Spring | MATH 112, STAT 230 or 250, ECON 101 |
| ECON 377 The Economics of Financial Derivatives & Financial Engineering | Spring | ECON 205D or 372, Probability & Statistics |
| ECON 378 Financial Risk Management | MATH 212, ECON 201, 205D, 210D |
Additional Resources
Previous IDEAS Topics
In recent years, students have completed IDEAS curricula in:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Energy Conversion
- Engineering Mechanics
- Materials Science
- Ocean Engineering
- Pollution Control
- Systems and Controls
- Urban Engineering
Engineering Science Courses
Engineering Science electives should be selected in consultation with your academic advisor.
| Course | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| BME 244 Quantitative Physiology | EGR 103, Math 212, Bio 201 |
| BME 260L Modeling Cell and Molecular Systems | Bio 201, Math 212, BME 244 |
|
BME 271 Signals and Systems |
ECE 110, Math 216 |
|
CEE 132L Engineering the Planet * |
None |
|
CEE 201L Uncertainty, Design, and Optimization |
EGR 201 |
| CEE 301L Fluid Mechanics | MATH 353 (co), EGR 224 (co) |
| CEE 307 Transport Phenomena | BME 260, MATH 353 |
| CEE 421 Matrix Structural Analysis | EGR 201 |
| CEE 461 Chemical Principles in Environmental Engineering * | CHEM 101 |
| CEE 462 Biological Principles in Environmental Engineering | None |
| CEE 520 Continuum Mechanics | EGR 201, MATH 212, 216, 353 |
| CEE 530 Intro to Finite Elements | MATH 353, 453 |
|
CEE 541 Structural Dynamics |
MATH 353, CEE 421 |
| CS 201 Data Structures and Algorithms * | EGR 103 |
| ECE 110L Fundamentals of Electrical & Computer Engineering * | EGR 103, MATH 112 (co) |
| ECE 230 Micro Electronic Devices and Circuits | EGR 103, PHYS 152, ECE 110 |
| ECE 270L Intro to Electromagnetic Fields | EGR 103, PHYS 152, MATH 216, ECE 101L |
| ECE 280L Intro to Signals and Systems | ECE 110L |
|
ECE 340 Optics and Photonics |
ECE 270 |
|
ECE 341L Solar Cells * |
PHYS 152 |
|
ECE 363L Electric Vehicle Project |
PHYS 152 and: ECE 110L or EGR 244L |
|
ECE 364L Performance and Tech Composition * |
None |
| ENGEGR 310 Intro to Energy Engineering * | None |
| ENGEGR 490 Special Topics in Energy Engineering | Consent |
| EGR 305 Engineering Systems Optimization and Economics * | MATH 216 |
| EGR 121L Engineering Innovation * | None |
| EGR 201L Mechanics of Solids * | MATH 113, PHYS 151 |
| EGR 224L Electrical Fundamentals of Mechatronics | EGR 103, EGR 201, MATH 212, PHY 152 |
| EGR 244L Dynamics | MATH 212, EGR 201 |
| ME 221L Structure and Properties of Solids | CHEM 101, EGR 201 |
|
ME 331L Thermodynamics |
CHEM 101, EGR 201 |
| ME 336L Fluid Mechanics | MATH 353 (pre/co), ME 331, EGR 244 |
| ME 344L Control Systems | EGR 224, MATH 216 |
| ME 415L Failure Analysis and Prevention | EGR 201, ME 221 |
| ME 426 Ocean Engineering | ME 221 or EGR 244 or ECE 230 |
| ME 431 Heat and Mass Transfer | ME 331, ME 336, MATH 353 |
| ME 438 Constructal Theory * | None |
| ME 442 Intro to Robotics and Automation | ECE 280 or EGR 244 |
Notes
* Prerequisites for these Engineering Science Electives are met by the regular engineering requirements
Natural Science Courses
| BIOLOGY 20 AP/IB/IPC credit |
| BIOLOGY 201DL Gateway to Biology: Molecular Biology |
|
BIOLOGY 202DL Genetics and Evolution |
| BIOLOGY 215/215L Introduction to Mathematical Modeling in Biology |
| BIOLOGY 275A Biology for Engineers: Informing Engineering Decisions (@ NSOE Marine Lab) |
| BIOLOGY 311 Systems Biology: An Introduction for the Quantitative Sciences |
| CHEMISTRY 201DL Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEMISTRY 202L Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEMISTRY 210DL Modern Application of Chemical Principles |
| EOS 101 The Dynamic Earth |
| EOS 102 The Dynamic Ocean |
| EOS 201L The Solid Earth: Minerals, Rocks, and Structural Geology |
| EOS 202 Ocean and Atmospheric Dynamics |
| EOS 370A Introduction to Physical Oceanography (@ NSOE Marine Lab) |
| PHYSICS 264 Optics and Modern Physics |
| PHYSICS 305 Introduction to Astrophysics |
| PHYSICS 361 Intermediate Mechanics |
| PHYSICS 513 Nonlinear Dynamics |
Updated: March 1, 2019