Students in the University of Iowa College Of Engineering are combining art with engineering learn valuable concepts and skills while adding something more to their education.
Beginning with the fall 2015 semester, all entering first-year undergraduate students in the College of Engineering are required to take at least three semester hours in creative arts. Current and incoming engineering students are able to select from a broad list of existing courses at the UI to satisfy the requirement. Leaders within the College of Engineering and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are also collaborating to develop a set of creative arts courses that are specific to the needs of engineering students.
These courses will allow students to explore creative problem solving and give them a chance to participate in hands-on learning activities. Topics fitting under the creative arts course requirement include theater, painting, sculpture, 3-D design, creative writing, music composition, and cinema.
UI College of Engineering leaders say bridging engineering with the arts gives students an opportunity to design and create new products, processes or devices that solve problems in society. The goal of the creative arts requirement is to continue providing UI Engineering students with an enhanced academic experience that will allow them to graduate as well-rounded engineers.