Prospective Students
Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Program
The Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies (LAES) degree is a hybrid B.S. program that combines the study of Engineering with the study of the Arts and Humanities. Students in this program will be able to take courses in both the College of Engineering (CENG) and the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). The LAES program is designed to be flexible and is centered around the slogans: "Freedom to Choose," "Freedom to Create," and "Freedom to Travel." Students who transfer into the program work with the Program Directors to create a curriculum best suited to their goals and interests.
The curriculum allows Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies students, in collaboration with students from all other Cal Poly majors, to participate in development teams working on national and international technology and cultural projects. To further prepare students for work with diverse teams that include participants from across the globe, the program strongly encourages students to spend three to six months studying and/or working abroad. Graduates of the LAES Program receive a Bachelor of Science Degree.
The BS in Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies can lead to careers in fields such as:
- Animatronics
- Audio Engineering
- Digital Media Production and Management
- Environmental Technology Education
- Film and Television Production
- Game Design
- Government Policy Making / Analysis
- International Technology Management
- STEM Education in School and Out-of-School Contexts
- Sustainable Community Development
- Technical Communications
- Technology Services and Management
- Web Design
- UI/UX Design
Read about how the LAES program has helped out alumni's careers here!
Check out project collaborations our students have worked on!
|
MAJOR COURSES |
UNITS |
|---|---|
| English |
4 |
| LAES Project-based Learning |
16 |
| Science & Mathematics |
40 |
| Engineering Concentration (minimum 12 units at 300-400 level) |
34-35 |
| Liberal Arts Concentration (minimum 12 units at 300-400 level) |
24 |
| Study Abroad or Global Perspectives Courses (required at the 300-400 level) |
8 |
|
Total Major Units |
126-127 |
|
Total General Education Units |
40-52 |
|
Free Electives |
1-14 |
|
Total BS Degree Units |
180 |
Concentrations
A concentration is a group of courses designed to provide specialized knowledge within a degree program. If you are interested in changing your major, visit the advising page for more details.
2019-2020 LAES Concentration and Study Abroad Declaration form (SAMPLE only)
LAES students select one concentration from Engineering and one from Liberal Arts. Students may choose to follow an individualized course of study in Engineering or/and in the Liberal Arts, constructed in consultation with LAES advisors.
Engineering Concentrations (select one)
- Computer Graphics
- Electrical Engineering (Power)
- Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering - System Design
- Usability Studies
Liberal Arts Concentrations (select one)
- Interactive Communication - Cinematic Focus
- Interactive Communication - Theatrical Focus
- Publishing Technology
- Technical Communication
Individualized Course of Study
An Individualized course of study may be selected instead of a pre-defined Engineering or Liberal Arts concentration for certain catalog years. Sample course combinations for specific areas of focus are listed below.
|
AREA OF FOCUS |
combinations |
Sample Courses |
|---|---|---|
|
Audio Engineering |
Engineering: Electrical Engineering
Liberal Arts: Sound Design |
Electrical Engineering:
Intro to Electrical Engineering, Electric Circuit Analysis, Energy Conversion Electromagnetics, Electromagnetic Fields and Transmission, Power Systems
Music:
Music Theory, Sound Design: Technologies, Recording, Synthesis, Composition & Production
|
|
Game Design |
Engineering: Game Design
Liberal Arts: Student's Choice (Typically Art & Design or Theatre) |
Computer Science: Game Design, Intro to Mixed Reality, Interactive Entertainment Engineering
Art: Figure Drawing, Illustration I & II, Collaborative Studio: Storyboarding, Modeling, Animation and Rendering
English:
Interdisciplinary Studies: Intro to Media Arts and Technologies, Media Arts and Technologies: Storytelling & Cinematic Process
Theatre: Intro to Theatre, Stagecraft, Script Analysis, Seminar in Playwriting
|
| Industrial Design |
Engineering: Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering or Materials Engineering
Liberal Arts: Art & Design
|
Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering: Intro to IME, Process Improvement Fundamentals, Industrial Costs and Controls, Project Organization and Management, Engineering Economics, Test Design and Analysis
Art: Foundation in Digital Art, Digital 3D Modeling and Design, Animation, Video, and Interactive Design
|
|
Sustainability |
Engineering: Environmental Engineering
Liberal Arts: Student's Choice (Typically Interdisciplinary Studies)
|
Environmental Engineering:
Intro to Air Pollution, Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, Industrial Pollution Prevention, Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Design: Sustainable Environments, Implementing Sustainable Principles Interdisciplinary Studies: Intro to Science, Technology & Society, Values and Technology |
| Product Design |
Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
Liberal Arts: Student's Choice (Typically Art & Design, Communications, or Graphic Communication) |
Mechanical Engineering: Engineering Statics & Dynamics, Intro to Detailed Design with Solid Modeling, Philosophy of Design, Design for Strength and Stiffness, Mechanical Systems Design, Experimental Methods in Mechanical Design Civil Engineering:
Art: Foundation in Digital Art I & II, Figure Drawing, Illustration I & II, Collaborative Studio: Storyboarding, Modeling, Animation and Rendering
Communications: Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication
Graphic Communication: Intro to Graphic Communication, Digital Publishing Systems, Materials for Graphic Communication Applications
Interdisciplinary Studies: Intro to Science, Technology & Society, Values and Technology
|
| Project Management |
Engineering: Industrial Manufacturing Engineering
Liberal Arts: Student's Choice (Typically Technical Communication or Psychology) |
Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering: Intro to IME, Process Improvement Fundamentals, Industrial Costs and Controls, Project Organization and Management, Engineering Economics, Test Design and Analysis
Communications: Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication
English: Technical Editing, Information Design and Production
Psychology: General Psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology
|
| UI/UX |
Engineering: Usability Studies
Liberal Arts: Student's Choice (Typically Art & Design, Graphic Communication, or Technical Communication) |
Usability Studies:
Art: Foundation in Digital Art I & II, Figure Drawing, Illustration I & II, Collaborative Studio: Storyboarding, Modeling, Animation and Rendering
Communications: Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication
Graphic Communication: Intro to Graphic Communication, Digital Publishing Systems, Materials for Graphic Communication Applications
English:
|
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I apply to Cal Poly as a LAES major? What major should I apply to if I plan to change my major to LAES?
At this time, students cannot apply directly into LAES when they apply to Cal Poly. Students can only change into LAES after their first year. We recommend applying to another major which you would equally enjoy while at Cal Poly! New first year students can work with an Advisor in the Mustang Success Center to see how Calculus and Physics can fit into their block schedule. During your first quarter, you should plan to meet with a LAES Change of Major Advisor. New Transfers should reach out to a LAES Change of Major Advisor after they have received an email that their transfer evaluation has been completed (usually mid July to late Aug).
How do I change my major to LAES?
You can find change of major requirements at: https://cla.calpoly.edu/student-resources/change-major
Is LAES ABET accredited?
No. LAES is not specifically ABET accredited. However, this has not slowed our graduates from getting amazing job in exciting and creative areas that blend engineering and liberal arts.