About

About the Independent Concentration program 

The Independent Concentration (IC) program is as old as Brown’s Open Curriculum, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Many standard concentrations emerged from interest as Independent Concentrations:  For example, Brain Sciences/Neuroscience; Behavioral Decision Sciences; Contemplative Studies; Science, Technology, and Society; Statistics, and others.

Students approved for their independent concentration in their IC proposal demonstrated a coherent field of inquiry not formally offered as a standard concentration. An independent concentrator garners the support of faculty to advise them and serve as their capstone or thesis advisors.

In the senior year, independent concentrators design a capstone project or elect to pursue a thesis over two semesters for honors candidacy.  The student's thesis committee and the IC Dean award Honors based on the high quality of the submission and the student's overall performance in their concentration.

The IC program would not be possible without the tireless and dedicated efforts of the Curricular Resource Center’s IC student coordinators. They meet with scores of students, review proposal drafts, and sit on the Independent Concentrations subcommittee of the College Curriculum Council. Thank you, Jasmine Bacchus ‘21, Ann Garth ‘20, and Vlad Barbulica ‘20, for your service this academic year.

The IC Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) had at the helm Will Friend ‘20 and Julia Ostrowski ‘20 since their junior year. Thank you, Will and Julia, for your leadership.