Individualized Curriculum Program

ICP proposal and process must occur during the first and second year per the guidelines below:

• Policy: Typically, a minimum of a 2.50 GPA is required to propose an ICP. Students should begin the ICP application process prior to completing 51 Furman credits (typically during the sophomore year).
• ICP approved before student completes 58 credits.

1. Students interested in proposing an ICP should first review the ICP regulation in the course catalog. If the prospective course of study meets the outlined academic criteria, students should meet with the ICP Coordinator, who will review the criteria and process including selecting an oversight committee, preparing a pitch, and completing a full application (described below).
2. With guidance from the ICP Coordinator, students who choose to pursue an ICP will assemble an oversight committee consisting of:
   1. A primary ICP faculty advisor with expertise in the proposed area
   2. Two additional faculty members with expertise in the proposed area
   3. The ICP Coordinator
   4. Primary chair: the department chair or program director for the primary advisor’s department or program (who may be one of the other members of the advisory committee).
3. With support from their oversight committee, the student prepares a 2-page pitch with the following sections:
   1. Header information:
      1. Student Name
      2. ICP Title

• Degree (BA or BS)

1. Anticipated graduation date (Month, Year)
2. Proposed home department (department or program of the primary ICP advisor)
3. Anticipated additional majors or minors, if any

1. An introductory section describing the field of study
2. Educational Goals Draft: a list of approximately six educational goals (see the full application description below for more guidance on educational goals).
3. Potential Courses: A list of 16-20 potential courses for the major, including course number and title. No additional information about courses is required at this point.
4. Similar Programs: A list of three schools that offer similar majors. At least one of the schools should be a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts school similar to Furman. Include the school name, the name of the major, a link to the major description in the school’s website, and indicate which school(s) are similar to Furman.

The pitch will require iterative revision with input from all members of the advisory committee.

4. Once the pitch is finalized, the student obtains written endorsements from the following stakeholders who send email approval to the ICP coordinator by copy/pasting the applicable statements below. In the email, each approval should include the role(s) of the individual and the appropriate statements for each role:
   1. Primary advisor: “I believe this is a valuable field of study that can be authentically pursued at Furman. I will serve as the student’s primary advisor through the process of developing and completing this ICP.”
   2. Two additional faculty members: “I believe this is a valuable field of study that can be authentically pursued at Furman. I will advise this student through the process of developing and completing this ICP.”
   3. Primary chair: “My department will review this student’s ICP and will treat this student as a department major with respect to department programming and awards.”
   4. Department chairs or program directors of any program with a course included in the ICP or with oversight committee members (including the Primary chair): “Those with expertise in the field of study have been consulted for feedback on the program. I approve any oversight committee members from the department. The courses listed are likely to be offered while the student is enrolled at Furman.”
5. Once all endorsements have been received, the ICP Coordinator sends the endorsements and pitch to the Academic Policies Committee (APC) for approval and feedback.
6. APC will inform the ICP Coordinator of their evaluation, which may be:
   1. Accepted for full proposal. APC will include a list of questions that must be addressed in addition to the proposal questions.
   2. Returned for revisions – APC must specify.
   3. Rejected based on the Furman Catalog ICP regulation.

The ICP Coordinator will communicate the evaluation with the student and decide how to proceed.

7. Once the pitch is approved, the student, with support from their oversight committee, prepares a full proposal with the following sections:
   1. Header information:
      1. Student Name
      2. ICP Title

• Degree (BA or BS)

1. Anticipated graduation date (Month, Year)
2. Proposed home department (department or program of the primary ICP advisor)
3. Anticipated additional majors or minors

1. Field of Study Introduction: a detailed description of the field of study including supporting citations. Citations could include books, peer-reviewed research, journal or conference venues, program or professional organization websites, etc. The description may include framing questions in the field, methods used in the field, related careers or graduate work, etc.
2. List of Educational Goals: a numbered list of approximately 6 educational goals. The list of goals should consider methodological, theoretical, and application aspects of the field. An additional paragraph can further explicate each goal.
3. List of courses: 32-48 credits following the regulations outlined in the University Catalog. The list of courses should provide flexibility for completion of the major. For example, courses that are not offered every semester at Furman should have alternatives that meet similar educational goals. The list should be organized to clearly communicate a structure to the major, and describe how the courses fit together. Indicate any courses the student plans to count towards an additional major or minor.
   1. If the list of courses contains any courses that have prerequisite courses not included in the program of study, provide a list of the prerequisite courses.
4. Program map: Provide a table that maps individual courses to educational goals. Indicate how course alternatives map to educational goals. Example:

1. Capstone: describe the planned Capstone experience. See the regulation outlined in the University Catalog.
2. Pathways 3 and 4: describe the Pathways 3 and 4 plan developed in coordination with the home department.
3. Program Alternatives: Describe how the educational goals cannot be fulfilled by existing major(s) and minor(s) combinations.
4. Similar Programs: Describe at least three programs at other schools. At least one of the schools should be a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts school similar to Furman. Include the school’s name, the name of the major, a link to the major description in the school’s website, and indicate which school(s) are similarly to Furman. Describe similarities and differences between the similar programs and the proposed program.
5. Response to APC: Answer any additional questions APC provided during the pitch process.

The proposal will require iterative revision with input from all members of the advisory committee.

8. The student obtains approval from the following stakeholders who send email endorsement to the ICP coordinator by copy/pasting the applicable statements below. In the email, each approval should include the role(s) of the individual and the appropriate statements for each role:
   1. Primary advisor: “I believe this is a valuable field of study that can be authentically pursued at Furman. The student’s educational goals cannot be met by existing major(s) and minor(s) combinations at Furman. I will serve as the student’s primary advisor through completing this ICP.”
   2. Two additional faculty members: “I believe this is a valuable field of study that can be authentically pursued at Furman. The student’s educational goals cannot be met by existing major(s) and minor(s) combinations at Furman. I will advise this student through completing this ICP.”
   3. Primary chair: “My department approves this ICP and will treat this student as a department major with respect to department programming and awards. My department will support the Pathways 3 and 4 plan outlined by the student in the proposal.
   4. Department chairs or program directors of any program with a course included in the ICP or with oversight committee members (including the Primary chair): “Those with expertise in the field of study have been consulted and their feedback incorporated. I approve any oversight committee members from the department. The courses listed are likely to be offered while the student is enrolled at Furman.”
9. The ICP Coordinator collects all approvals and once the application is complete, forwards it to APC.
10. APC reviews the proposal. APC will inform the ICP Coordinator of their evaluation, which may be:
    1. The proposal is also forwarded to Enrollment Services.
    2. Returned for revisions.
    3. Rejected based on the Furman Catalog ICP regulation.

The ICP Coordinator will communicate the evaluation with the student and advise how to proceed.

APC is reviewing proposal to ensure adherence to the regulations outlined in the University Catalog. Specifically, they are evaluating the:

• Validity of the field of study. To evaluate the field of study, they rely on sections (b) Field of Study Introduction and (i) Similar Programs as well as approval of the oversight committee.
• Authenticity of the program of study at Furman. To evaluate if the program can be authentically studied at Furman, they rely on sections c, d, e, and i to understand how the courses map to educational goals and the programs at other schools.
• Lack of alternatives: To evaluate that the educational goals cannot be met by existing major(s) and minor(s) combinations, they rely on sections c and h as well as approval by the oversight committee to determine that the proposed program is the best option for the student.
• Student’s ability to complete the program. To evaluate if the program can be completed, they rely on sections d and e as well as program or department chair approvals to determine if there is enough flexibility in course options that the student will be able to complete the program without conflicts.

If changes need to be made to an approved ICP, students should work with the ICP Coordinator to resubmit educational goals, a list of courses showing revisions, and a revised map highlighting changes to the approved proposal. APC will review the proposed changes for possible approval.

Note regarding changes in a course list after the proposal is approved:   NO course changes will be approved retroactively. Change requests must be approved before the first day of class, for a course that you plan to include in your ICP major.