Launch of Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts (IDEAS)

The UIC School of Art & Art History is proud to announce a new undergraduate degree program, Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts (IDEAS). IDEAS begins with the premise that the new millennium requires new ways of thinking, making, and doing in the arts, and between them. IDEAS is intended for students who may or may not have a background in the arts, but who want to cultivate creative and critical skills as artists, makers, designers or arts writers. The emphasis on interdisciplinary methods is carefully designed to promote creative problem solving through the arts, as well as engaged work within any of the departments in the College of Architecture, Design and the Arts.

IDEAS is committed to the principle that the opportunities and problems associated with this emerging paradigm are complex and best approached from a variety of disciplinary standpoints.

IDEAS is built on the premise that sometimes two minds (or three or four!) are better than one, so we emphasize group projects, teamwork, and collaboration.

IDEAS is built around a foundations sequence of four courses that lays a firm groundwork in Art & Art History, intermedia practice, interdisciplinary creativity, digital platforms and design thinking.

IDEAS students to take advantage of the disciplines that make up the College of Architecture, Design and the Arts (CADA).

Through the year-long capstone project, the IDEAS student commences a lifetime of interdisciplinary inquiry. The details of that project are worked out with an outside mentor or the Program Director.

IDEAS is ideal for transfer students. Deadline for transfer applicants is March 31, 2018 for admission in fall 2018.

For more information on IDEAS at UIC School of Art & Art History visit: artandarthistory.uic.edu/ideas