IC Uncertainty

Dear CRCers:  

Word on the street is that the independent concentration proposal is really tough. I'm excited to try but starting to feel intimidated.  

Signed, 

Wanna IC but...

It is a rigorous process; there is no denying this. Yet we've heard lots of urban legends:

• "They don't like to review X-type of IC field."

• "The process is totally byzantine, really hard to decipher."

• "ICs are almost never approved now because there are so many interdisciplinary, standard concentrations that are flexible; so they just want you to fit your ideas into one of the regular concentrations."

We'd like to address these misconceptions:

1. The IC subcommittee of the College Curriculum Council, a small group of faculty, students and deans, works diligently to thoroughly and fairly review each proposal we see. So far this year, we have reviewed 66 proposals, and we expect to have reviewed close to 100 by the end of the year. See the IC website for a description of a strong proposal, and look for our Scoring Rubric.

2. The IC student coordinators are available for drop-in one-on-one appointments, as is the CRC director, to help translate the various parts of the proposal; we are available to read drafts before the submission due dates.

3. It is true that with over 80 concentrations--many of them interdisciplinary and flexible--students interested in designing an IC must make the case for their proposal's distinction. Independent concentrations either cover areas not offered in a standard concentration or cohere in areas outside of the standard offerings. Examples from the current cohort include Bioethics, Critical Mental Health Studies, Multimedia Storytelling, and Logic.

Common mistakes we see in the IC application include:

1. Rushing the application process: It's never too early to speak with an IC advisor! Talk through your initial thoughts, and don't be shy about showing us an early, rough draft.

2. It's too long: Less can be more. Your proposal need not be the length of a term paper, but it needs to be thoroughly researched and well-written for a general audience. Take the time to run your proposal by someone at the Writing Center, or your IC faculty sponsor.

3. It's two concentrations rather than one interdisciplinary one: Think deeply about the concentration's coherence. ICs bridge various fields, and they help a student achieve learning goals because of the interplay between the fields. We look for "bridge" course offerings that incorporate the interdisciplinary theory and practice the student wants to achieve in their concentration.

CRCer/ICer Dorothy wants to add:

The IC process is hard work, that's for sure, and that's part of why it's so transformative and rewarding! In the process of articulating your ideas, driving your own research, and seeking mentorship, you are creating a new degree at Brown. Personally, the process allowed me to take my own interests more seriously, explain and justify them to others, and talk to knowledgeable people in my fields. I started asking the questions I had been thinking about and began realizing others were finding answers I wanted to be a part of.

If you're thinking about an IC and, through your research and conversations, realize it's not for you, that's okay, too. Know that the IC coordinators are here to chat at any point in the process, and we're rooting for you to pursue your genuine interests in the best way Brown can support them!