About

About the Independent Concentration program 

The Independent Concentration (IC) program is at least 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 support of the IC faculty advisors, the IC selection committee,  and the tireless and dedicated efforts of the Curricular Resource Center’s IC student Co-Coordinators.  The coordinators meet with scores of students, review proposal drafts, and sit on the Independent Concentrations subcommittee of the College Curriculum Council.  Thank you, Florín, Gemma, and Jasmine.

The IC Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) had at the helm Briana Das '21 and the IC Co-Coordinators.  Thank you for your leadership!