The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Butler University

used to constitute a general studies option. The
IMP may also appeal to non-traditional and
returning students as well as to students who
have completed an associate degree and wish to
return to complete a BA degree with a different
focus than that of their associate degree. As
examples of IMP programs, recent IMP students
have graduated in Chinese language and
culture, ancient Egyptian language and culture
(Egyptology), music business, and medical
illustration.
Requirements
The IMP consists of at least 36 hours of
course work, which must form a coherent
whole. This may include work taken at other
colleges including work taken through the
Consortium for Urban Education (CUE)
interchange in Indianapolis. All normal core
and LAS college requirements must be met.
In LAS, the same course cannot be counted
toward two different majors. The proposed
program should include an experience beyond
the normal classroom-based course such as
an internship, a semester of study abroad, an
honors or departmental thesis, a senior seminar
in a relevant department, or a service-learning
project in the junior or senior year. Because
each IMP is unique, there is no fixed list or
sequence of courses for the major.
Admission to the IMP
A student should submit to the IMP
committee through its chairperson a proposal
for an IMP anytime between the beginning
of the sophomore year and the end of the fall
semester of the junior year. In general, this
application will include a general statement
which describes the nature of the proposed
IMP, how this IMP relates to the student’s goals
and why these goals can better be pursued as
an IMP rather than within a traditional major
or double major. The proposal also should
demonstrate the coherence and integrity of the
proposed IMP, show that course resources are
available to support the IMP (including courses
to be taken outside of Butler) and provide
evidence that the student has the motivation
and initiative to carry out the IMP. The student
should also recruit an advisor for the IMP and
provide a detailed list of courses, which will
constitute the major (subject to revision each
year due to changes in available courses relevant
to the IMP). The IMP committee will evaluate
the proposal and decide whether to approve
163 Butler University
it. More information and the application form
to be used in submitting a proposal can be
found by going to the Academics page of the
Butler Web site and selecting the Individualized
Majors Program (IMP) from the drop-down list
of programs and majors.
Courses
IM401, 402, 403, Independent Study: Offers
the qualified student in the Individualized
Majors program the opportunity to pursue a
topic of individual interest, which is related
to the Individualized Major program. Open
only to students in the Individualized Majors
Program with permission of the instructor and
approval by the Individualized Majors
Committee. (U)(1, 2, 3). As needed.
IM405, 406, Internship: Offers the qualified
student the opportunity for supervised work
experience in a setting pertinent to the area of
study of his/her individualized major. Requires
junior or senior standing and approval by the
student’s individualized major advisor and by
the individualized majors committee. (U)(3, 6).
As needed.
IM499, Honors Thesis: (U)(3). As needed.
International Studies Program
Administration
Antonio V. Menéndez Alarcón, Ph.D., Director
The major cuts across traditional barriers
between intellectual disciplines and draws on
the resources of the Department of English,
History, Geography and Anthropology, Modern
Foreign Languages, Philosophy and Religion,
Political Science and Sociology in the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Departments
of Economics, Finances and Management in
the College of Business, and the College of
Communications. Faculties most directly
affiliated with the program are:
Professors
Kwado Anowka, Ph.D., Journalism, International
Communication, Africa; Robert B.
Bennett, Jr., J.D., Business in the European
Union; Bruce Bigelow, Ph.D., Geography,
Globalization; Terri Carney, Ph.D., Spain;
Roberto Curci, Ph.D. International Finance,
Latin America; Peter Grossman, Ph.D.,
International Economics, Comparative
Economic Systems; Paul Hanson, Ph.D.,
History, France and China; Bill Neher, Ph.D.,
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences