A final project is the capstone of the IMP experience. Every individualized major student is required to complete one. Final projects can take many forms, ranging from scholarly papers to internships to performances, exhibits, or other artistic endeavors. After completing your project under the supervision of your sponsor(s), you will participate in a final project review before a faculty committee. The steps of the final project process are described below.
IMP B.A. final project
Final project deadlines for upcoming semesters:
- Spring 2023 : Thursday, April 6.
- Summer: Summer reviews are available by special arrangement. Please contact the IMP office several months in advance to discuss your options.
- Fall 2023 : Thursday, November 9.
These deadlines are the dates by which all final project materials must be submitted to the IMP office.
When should I check in with my sponsor(s) about my project?
When planning your project, you and your sponsor(s) should agree on earlier check-in dates so that you have time to share drafts with your sponsor(s) and obtain their approval prior to the submission deadline.
For a complete timeline, including recommended deadlines for checking in with your sponsor, review the Final Project Checklist.
What is a final project?
Final projects can take many forms. Your chosen project should reflect the successful fulfillment of your educational goals and integrate what you have learned in the various courses and other experiences that make up your IMP major.
What are some project possibilities?
- write a thesis
- create an artwork or performance
- conduct a research project
- work an internship
- teach a workshop or create an informational exhibit
What needs to be included in the project?
All projects must include an analytical writing component (either the project itself, if it is a scholarly piece of writing, or by the inclusion of a 10-12 page analytical essay in the case of other creative projects) and other required documents (for details see "Complete and document your project" below).
In advance of your mid-program assessment you will be expected to submit a brief written proposal describing the project you've chosen and how you plan to carry it out. Please see Mid-Program Assessments for more information.
What course do I enroll in while working on my final project?
Please enroll in IMP-X 490 during the semester when you are working on your final project (usually the last semester of the senior year). This is the means by which you will receive credit and a letter grade for your project. The usual number of credit hours is three. If you wish to take IMP-X 490 for more than three hours, if your work on the project will span multiple semesters, or if your final project is an internship, please consult the IMP office for guidance before enrolling.
Do I need to take a writing workshop?
In addition to the required enrollment in IMP-X 490, you may wish to take IMP-I 470, a one-credit, first-eight-weeks writing workshop designed to help you prepare the written components of the final project. IMP-I 470 is optional unless specifically required for you by your admission committee.
For details about how to enroll in IMP-X 490 or IMP-I 470, see Courses.
When do I work on my project?
Once you've proposed a project and registered for credit, the next step is to carry out your project! Most students do this during the last semester of the senior year. Please keep in close contact with your faculty sponsor(s) while working on your project.
How do I fund my project?
Consider applying for grants related to your project, especially if it involves expenses for supplies, research travel, etc. See the Funding Opportunities page for details.
What supporting documents are required?
- The project itself
- Analytical writing component (if required)
- Retrospective statement
- Final list of courses for the IMP major
- Final project approval form(s) (one per sponsor)
- Scheduling information from you and your sponsor(s)
Instructions for preparing each of these documents are below.
Please submit a copy of your project, assuming it is something that can be transmitted digitally (such as a thesis, creative writing piece, or audio recording). For other types of projects, please submit appropriate alternative documentation:
- Events: If your project is an event such as a performance or exhibit, please submit a video and/or photos of the event. The IMP office has a video camera that students may check out for this purpose. If you have other documentation such as programs, fliers, or reviews, we encourage you to submit that as well. Please also notify the IMP office and your committee members in advance of the event so they can make an effort to attend. The IMP office can provide contact information for committee members.
- Internships: If your project is an internship, please submit copies of the weekly reports you wrote for IMP-X 473 or IMP-X 490 and an internship evaluation form. If you have additional documentation of your internship duties, such as a portfolio of projects you worked on, we encourage you to submit that as well.
- Objects: If your project involved creating a one-of-a-kind object such as a sculpture or costume, please submit photos. Additional documents such as preliminary notes and sketches are encouraged. If possible, please bring the original object with you to your final project review.
If you're unsure what type of documentation would be most appropriate for your project, please consult the IMP office.
How do I complete the writing component?
If your project is a piece of sustained analytical writing such as a thesis, this requirement is already satisfied. If not, you must write a paper called the analytic essay. If you’re unsure whether your project requires an analytic essay, please consult the IMP office.
What is the analytic essay?
The analytic essay is a 10- to 12-page analysis of your final project. It plays a crucial role in helping your final project review committee to understand precisely what your project was and what you learned from it. This is especially important if your project is something the committee can’t witness firsthand, such as an internship.
The essay should describe the project and critically discuss your process for completing it. Analyze the decisions you made and obstacles you faced. What did you learn from this process? What might you have done differently?
The essay should also explore the relationship of the project to your IMP major as a whole. Did knowledge gained in specific courses help you carry out the project? What are some important issues in your field of study, and how did they manifest themselves in your project? For example, if your project was a social science experiment you might discuss how you ensured the ethical treatment of human subjects.
The analytic essay isn’t necessarily thesis-driven like a typical academic paper, and it doesn’t need to cite secondary sources (although it may). It does, however, have a persuasive purpose: to demonstrate that the final project is an effective culmination of your individualized major. To achieve this, it may be helpful to identify four or five key points and organize your essay around them, rather than organizing the essay chronologically. Craft an introduction that captures the reader’s attention and interest while also making clear what the project is and the strategy the essay will use to analyze it. Write clear topic sentences and include transitions that keep the reader oriented to the direction of your discussion. End with a conclusion that reasserts the importance of your project and explores its implications for future research or practice.
Any tips for a successful writing component?
Please take care to prepare a polished essay that includes page numbers and is free of grammatical and spelling errors. If you choose to cite outside sources, use whichever citation method is standard in your field of study.
What is the retrospective statement?
A 3- to 5-page reflection paper about your overall experience in the IMP. It is intended to help you articulate what your individualized major was about and what you learned from it, and is a useful thought exercise as you prepare for employment or graduate school interviews.
How can I write a strong retrospective statement?
This is an opportunity to tell the story of your individualized major. Don't simply compile a list of your experiences; instead, work to make meaning of your experiences, identify connections among them, and connect them to the theme of your major. Discuss how the various elements of your curriculum — such as courses, independent study, internships, extracurricular activities, and your final project — combined to form an integrated whole. Consider what originally drew you to your individualized major and how your thinking on the subject has evolved over the course of your studies. You might also recount challenges that arose during your IMP career and ways you adapted in response. Close the essay with a brief discussion of your future plans and their relationship to your major.
What are some additional tips?
Please take care to prepare a polished essay that includes page numbers and is free of grammatical and spelling errors.
Why do I need to submit a final list of courses?
Because IMP students often make changes to their curriculum plans between admission and graduation, you are required to submit a finalized list of the courses included in your IMP major.
How do I submit a final list of courses?
Please see the form below for instructions. Do NOT submit a revised Curriculum Planning Form in place of a Final Course List. You should also submit a Course Change Form in support of any changes to major courses if you have not previously done so. Changes to non-major courses do not require documentation. (For more information about course substitutions, please see the Advising page.)
After you have completed final drafts of all your other final project documents and your sponsor(s) have reviewed them, please ask each of your sponsor(s) to sign a Final Project Approval Form. By doing so, they indicate that they have read and approved your documents and believe you are ready to move on to the final project review.
- Final Project Approval Form (submit one from each sponsor)
Finally, you and your sponsor(s) must fill out a schedule sheet with your availability for your final project review. You will receive a link to complete this step via email. Because final project reviews coordinate the schedules of at least 5 (and often more!) people, please be prompt and flexible with your availability.