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Faculty Mentors

Faculty Mentor Guide



IVSP Major Requirements

In order to be accepted into the program, a student must prepare a written study proposal/prospectus with the assistance of a faculty mentor and the IVSP staff, obtain the written approval of the faculty mentor, and defend the prospectus before the IVSP Faculty Board.

IVSP Admission Requirements:

  • Minimum of 30 (at least 12-15 UMCP) college credits
  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and two previous semesters with a GPA of at least 2.5
  • Selection of a faculty mentor who agrees to sponsor the degree
  • Creation of a detailed proposal of the intended course of study in conjunction with the faculty mentor
  • Approval of proposal by the IVSP Faculty Review Board
  • A plan to complete at least 30 final credits as an IVSP major.


Mentor and Student Funny

IVSP317: Progress Monitoring

Each semester, the student must submit a 4-5 page self-reflective report to his or her Faculty Mentor as well as to the IVSP office. This progress report is intended to provide a context for advising and mentoring. In the final semester before graduation, students register for IVSP317 for one credit with the IVSP office. The IVSP staff submits a grade based on the accumulated progress reports. The grading method for IVSP317 is Satisfactory/Fail.


IVSP318 (Optional): Independent Learning Activities

The Faculty Mentor assists the student in planning independent study projects or internships using the IVSP318 course designation. Faculty Mentors help design the experience, determine credit level, and grade the project when it is completed. The Faculty Mentor must approve if someone else will be supervising the experience. During the experience, the students enrolled in IVSP are required to complete written assignments and/or other reflective activities designed to assist them in integrating their out-of-class learning with broader learning goals for the individually designed major. The Faculty Mentor works with the student to design appropriate reflective activities.

Internship Credits:

  • 1 credit: 45 total internship hours (~3 hours per week)
  • 2 credits: 90 total internship hours (~6 hours per week
  • 3 credits: 135 total internship hours (~10 hours per week)
  • 4 credits: 180 total internship hours (~13 hours per week)
  • 5 credits: 225 total internship hours (~17 hours per week)
  • 6 credits: 270 total internship hours (~20 hours per week)


IVSP 420: Senior Thesis/Capstone Project

All Individual Studies majors are required to complete IVSP 420, Senior Thesis/Capstone Project, for 3 credits, during the semester they will graduate. The IVSP Senior Thesis is a significant project, synthesizing the student’s interdisciplinary course of study and should be conceptualized and completed under the guidance of the Faculty Mentor. In most cases the project takes the form of a significant written work on a topic that mirrors the overall purpose of the student’s degree program. In some cases, a performance, exhibition, or other activity may be the focus of the project if prior arrangements are made with the Faculty Mentor; however, a significant written component must also be submitted in this case. The student’s IVSP Senior Thesis/Capstone Project must be evaluated by the IVSP Faculty Mentor and two additional faculty members (selected by the student with the advice of the Faculty Mentor); but the grade will be submitted by the Faculty Mentor.