The interdisciplinary major program offers students with unusual interests, superior ability, and exceptional self-discipline the opportunity to design an individual program of study instead of pursuing a regular department major.Cognitive learning wiki the program hopes to attract proposals that show creativity, novel approaches to learning, and experimentation, but it does insist that the applicant be able to designate clearly a definite field of study which falls within the liberal arts and sciences.Cognitive learning wiki arts administration, medical ethics, psychobiology, irish studies, physical anthropology, and philosophical psychology are examples of the kinds of programs that are acceptable.Cognitive learning wiki there are, of course, many others. The program is a distinguished majors program and requires a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.4.Cognitive learning wiki students generally apply in their third or fourth semester. Proposals made after the fifth semester cannot be considered. Students whose projects can be completed through regular departmental or interdepartmental majors will be asked to apply to those programs.Cognitive learning wiki

Successful applicants must demonstrate that the college has sufficient resources to support the proposal. Toward this end, you are asked to list thirty hours of course work (normally 300-level and above), drawn from three different departments of the college that will form your curriculum.Cognitive learning wiki also, you must secure the sponsorship of your proposal from (full-time) faculty members from each department as well as their agreement to serve as your mentor.Cognitive learning wiki finally, all IMP students must agree to write a year-long thesis, worth six credit hours, in their fourth year. At least two of the sponsors must agree to direct, read and grade this work.Cognitive learning wiki

If you are interested in applying, you should first discuss the project with several members of the faculty in your fields of interest, and, once your plans are firm, make an appointment to meet with shawn lyons, the program chair in monroe hall.Cognitive learning wiki to apply for the program you must have, along with the application, a written proposal outlining your project, a list of courses related to your field with a total of 30 credit hours, and a current transcript.Cognitive learning wiki upon receiving an offer of admission to the program, you must submit a formal declaration of major form to be signed by mr. Lyons.

The emphasis in your major must be on a liberal arts education (rather freely interpreted) and not on a vocational objective.Cognitive learning wiki experience has demonstrated that "pre-law," "pre-medical," or "pre-business" programs may be superficially attractive, but they do not really function well since they are career goals rather than self-contained ends in themselves.Cognitive learning wiki they remain unfocused because they are ultimately vague.

The thesis is a two-semester project, designed to be a yearly graded course with a total of six semester credit hours.Cognitive learning wiki no credit for the course will be recorded until both semesters have been completed. You must register in your last two semesters for IMP 4970 (fall) and IMP 4971 (spring), respectively.Cognitive learning wiki equally important is the thesis proposal form, which must be submitted to the chair, shawn lyons, with the course action form. Expectations

cognitive learning wiki

The interdisciplinary major committee sees the senior thesis as a project in which the student has a free choice of subject area and methodology.Cognitive learning wiki it should certainly go beyond, or perhaps be outside, any course given. Although the student may develop materials already considered, the senior thesis should be viewed as an opportunity to examine an area not previously treated in the depth desired.Cognitive learning wiki

The thesis should be a full exploration: ideally, the student should strive to know everything in the subject area. That exploration should, furthermore, take place over an extended period of time so that ideas can mature.Cognitive learning wiki paradoxically, however, the thesis is a demonstration of the difficulty in fully developing a limited and well-defined area: there is never enough time or energy to answer all the questions implicit in a problem.Cognitive learning wiki preparation

In your seventh semester, each student must enroll in IMP 4970 for three hours’ credit. The result of this independent study will be a typed draft, to be submitted to each of your readers.Cognitive learning wiki since the thesis is a major undertaking, differing from the familiar term paper, both in quantity and quality, it is imperative that you plan your project carefully.Cognitive learning wiki of critical importance is close and frequent contact with your readers. You should consult with them at each major step: definition of a topic, initial readings and preliminary research, formulation of a hypothesis, rough outline, detailed outline and, finally, exposition of your research.Cognitive learning wiki the proposal form

At the start of your last year you must submit to mr. Lyons a proposal in outline form identifying your thesis topic and those faculty members who will serve as readers.Cognitive learning wiki this is in addition to your enrollment in the respective courses. The proposal must be submitted with readers' signatures, no later than the drop deadline of your seventh semester.Cognitive learning wiki completing the thesis

The design of the senior thesis is up to the student and the two readers. Essentially the student serves as the chair of the three-person group; the group will decide on the appropriate shape and length of the project.Cognitive learning wiki given the wide diversity of the program, it is impractical to suggest any uniform size or method. For the social sciences and humanities, normally we would be thinking in terms of 50 to 60 pages.Cognitive learning wiki

The final thesis must be submitted to readers for evaluation--and to the program chair--no later than thirty days before the beginning of the examination period.Cognitive learning wiki plan ahead: the costs and time required for typing and photocopying need to be anticipated. Generally the date in which senior theses are due in spring semesters has been april 4 or 5; your readers may allow you flexibility in meeting this date so long as this flexibility will not effect any delay in the readers' forwarding their evaluations and recommended grade to dean lyons, the program chair.Cognitive learning wiki these must be received by the dean prior to the first day of semester final examinations. Any extension of this deadline must be via written request of the student and written approval of both readers, and subject to the final approval of mr.Cognitive learning wiki lyons.