The Individualized Major Program admits new students twice a year, in spring and fall. Admission is non-competitive; each application is judged on its own merits. Applying for an individualized major is a semester-long process during which you'll reflect on your academic goals and design a personalized curriculum in consultation with your faculty sponsor(s) and the IMP staff. The steps of this process are described below.
Guidelines for applying to our major
Application steps
When can I apply?
- Sophomore or junior year: This is when students generally apply to the IMP.
- Second semester of freshman year: You are required to have completed at least one semester at IU Bloomington with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Beginning of senior year: You will need to complete at least three semesters in the IMP. If you wait to apply until the beginning of your senior year, plan to spend at least one extra semester at IU.
Are there prerequisites?
There are no prerequisite courses for the IMP. The General Education requirements (foreign language, breadth of inquiry, etc.) for the IMP are the same as those for any other bachelor of arts degree from the College of Arts and Sciences.
When are the application deadlines?
Fall 2024
- Rough Draft Deadline: Thursday, October 10
- Final Draft Deadline: Friday, November
What is an initial consulation?
After reviewing the information available on this website, you should schedule an initial consultation with the IMP assistant director. This is an informational session when you can ask questions about the program and the assistant director can get a better sense of your interests.
How do I schedule a consultation?
You can book an appointment with the assistant director by searching for "IMP" through the Student Appointment Scheduler (SAS) on One.IU. If you're unable to find an appointment using SAS, feel free to email the office at imp@iu.edu. You are welcome to schedule a consultation even if you don't plan to apply right away.
What is a sponsor?
Choosing a faculty sponsor to supervise your individualized major is one of the most crucial steps in the admission process. Sponsors offer you expert advice on your majors and support in the completion of your degrees. It is important that your sponsor knows your subject and knowsyou.
How many sponsors do I need?
You are only required to have one sponsor, although the interdisciplinary nature of your proposed major might call for two sponsors with expertise in complementary fields. Having more than two sponsors is not recommended. At least one sponsor of each student should be a faculty member with an appointment in the College of Arts and Sciences.
How do I find a sponsor?
Finding a sponsor can be difficult for some students, especially those who have not been on campus long and are not acquainted with many faculty members. The most common way to enlist a sponsor is to approach a faculty member whose expertise is in your area of interest and with whom you are studying or have already studied. Faculty profiles on departmental websites, the Sponsors page on this site, and the IMP staff can also be helpful in identifying potential sponsors.
What if my potential sponsor says "no"?
Plan to contact several prospective sponsors to discuss the IMP and your proposed program of study. Your success in persuading faculty members to take an interest in your major depends on a variety of factors, including their workload and predisposition toward working individually with students. Don't be discouraged if a faculty member declines to serve as your sponsor. You may have to knock on several doors before you succeed.
What resources can I share with my potential sponsor(s)?
If your potential sponsor has questions about what a sponsor's role entails, please encourage them to visit our Being a Sponsor page or to contact the IMP office.
What is the next step once I have a sponsor?
Once a faculty member has agreed to be your sponsor, please have them complete the following form: Consent Memo. If you have more than one sponsor, please submit a separate Consent Memo for each sponsor.
Where do I submit the Consent Memo?
Please email (or have your sponsor email) the Consent Memo to imp@iu.edu or deliver it in person to the IMP office in Lindley 201D.
When should I submit the Consent Memo?
As early as possible—don't wait until the other application materials are due. Submitting it early will give the IMP staff an opportunity to reach out to your sponsor(s) and orient them to their role so they will be better prepared to assist you in developing your major.
After I secure a faculty sponsor and submit a consent memo, what should I include in my draft application?
- Curriculum Planning Form
- Admission Statement
Where do I submit my draft application?
Submit your draft to the IMP Office by the rough draft deadline, either in person or via email. Please note that you will not receive feedback on your draft if you have not already submitted a sponsor consent memo. IMP staff will review your draft and provide feedback about ways to strengthen your application.
What are potential issues?
Unclear writing in the Admission Statement and incorrect numbers of credit hours on the Curriculum Planning Form are examples of the potential issues we check for at this stage.
How do I prepare my final application?
- After receiving feedback on your rough draft, make any necessary revisions in consultation with your sponsor(s).
- Your sponsor(s) must sign the final version of your Curriculum Planning Form to indicate that they have read and approved both it and the Admission Statement.
- Please do not submit an application that your sponsor(s) have not approved. It is important that they are familiar with your application, as they will be asked about it during the admission interview.
What happens after I submit my final application?
Submit a copy of your final application by the final application deadline. After submitting the Curriculum Planning Form and Admission Statement, your final application process will be complete once scheduling information for you and your sponsor(s) has been submitted.
How are admission interviews scheduled?
Interviews are scheduled by the IMP staff based on the availability provided by you and your sponsors. They generally take place during the last four weeks of each semester.
Who will be at the interview?
You and your sponsor(s) will be interviewed by a two-member subcommittee of the IMP Faculty Committee. A member of the IMP staff will also be present. The discussion will revolve around your proposed course of study as described in your application materials.
How long is the interview?
Interviews last up to 90 minutes, although many are shorter. The committee chair will ask you to leave the room for the first and last 15 minutes of the interview to allow committee members to deliberate among themselves and consult with your sponsor(s) about any concerns.
What should I be prepared to discuss?
- Why your educational needs cannot be met by majors in other departments, double majors, or interdepartmental majors.
- The rationale behind your course selections. The committee may recommend or require changes to your course selections in order to add coherence, depth, or usefulness to the major.
- The professors who will supervise your proposed independent-study courses. IMP students most commonly work with their faculty sponsors on independent-study courses, but there will be cases when the sponsor may not be the most appropriate supervisor for a given course.
- How the proposed course of study relates to your career aspirations or plans for postgraduate work.
- Your plans for the final project. These plans do not have to be set in stone at the time of admission; however, the closer you are to your intended graduation date, the more specific you will need to be.
When will I learn the outcome of the admission interview?
The committee will inform you of their decision at the end of the admission review. Possible outcomes include:
- Admission: The most common outcome. The committee may accept your proposed major as-is, or they may require you to make small changes (such as the addition of a course).
- Conditional admission: The committee may require you to revise and resubmit your Curriculum Planning Form and/or your Admission Statement and admit you once the materials are satisfactory. In most cases, this does not require a second interview.
- Denial: The committee may decide not to admit you. This is the least common outcome and usually means that the committee believes you would be better served by an existing major. If your application is denied, you are welcome to revise it and reapply in a future semester.
What happens if I am admitted?
If you are admitted to the IMP, you will receive an official admission letter via e-mail a few weeks after the interview. The admission letter will include a list of any requirements or recommendations, so be sure to keep it for future reference. A copy of this letter will also remain available on your IMP Canvas course page.