Individualized Curriculum Program

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University General Education Requirements

Program Offerings: Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science Degrees

The Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) was developed for mature, well-motivated students 19 years or older who wish to depart from traditional patterns of formal education by planning their own academic programs. Students develop, with the assistance of an academic advisor and the dean, curricula that are consistent with their individual lives and career goals. The essential principle underlying the program is the placing of considerably more responsibility for course selections and course sequences upon the student.

Students must present to the dean of the program a written curriculum proposal and a statement explaining the curriculum in general and describing the courses requested, including any plans for a concentration or focus area. Once the proposal has been approved and signed by the dean, the academic advisor, and the student, a copy will be placed in the student’s file in Continuing Education, as well as the Office of the Registrar.

A proposal will be accepted only if it follows logically from the statement of explanation offered for the individualized curriculum. All submitted proposals are linked to Chicago State University’s existing curricula. Within the Individualized Curriculum Program, a concentration of study refers to a focused in- depth study of an approved discipline or disciplines, of a theme or problem pursued from an interdisciplinary perspective, or of academic subjects that will prepare the student for a particular profession or vocation.

Students may pursue a single discipline available in a departmental major only if they wish to work in greater depth than the departmental major would normally allow. Students may not develop an abbreviated disciplinary major unless their interests are interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary.

The Individualized Curriculum Program is not an appropriate program for licensure in a professional field such as teaching or health services. Persons desiring such credentials should apply for admission to the appropriate department or college within the University.

Application Procedures

A student may apply for admission to the Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) with a minimum of 24 credit hours from an accredited university or college. Grades of A, B, C, D, and P are accepted in transfer. Transfer credit applied to meet the University General Education Requirements will be accepted with a “D” grade. It is recommended that the student notify the Dean of Nontraditional Degree Programs at the time of application. Students who wish to change their majors to the Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) must have a minimum CSU cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Applicants to the program must fulfill the following requirements:

Make an appointment for a counseling session.
Complete the statement of objectives and curriculum plan.
Gain approval for the course of study from the academic advisor.
Obtain final program approval by the dean of the program.

Curriculum Requirements

Students in the IC program will be eligible for graduation upon the successful completion of the following requirements:

6 hours Composition

ENG 1230 - Writers’ Workshop I Credit Hours: 3
or
ENG 1270 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 1240 - Writers’ Workshop II Credit Hours: 3
or
ENG 1280 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3

3 hours Mathematics

One Math course from the approved list of General Education mathematics courses

3 hours Oral Communication

9 hours Humanities and Fine Arts

3 credit hours must be from Humanities, chosen from the following: English, philosophy, or foreign language
3 credit hours must be in the area of Fine Arts, chosen from the following: art; communication, media arts and theatre; or music.

6 hours Natural Sciences

3 semester hours of physical science (chemistry, geography, physical science, or physics) and 3 semester hours of biology; one course must be a lab

9 hours Social Sciences

At least two disciplines, chosen from the following: African American studies; anthropology; economics; geography; history; political science; psychology; sociology; or women’s studies.

Completion of ICP 4500 Individualized Curriculum Program Capstone
Completion of 30 upper division semester hours. At least 12 credit hours of the 30 upper division hours must be at the 4000 level.
Completion of the last 30 semester hours at Chicago State University. Credit earned through proficiency examinations, with the exception of university proficiency examinations and/or military training, may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of college level credits.

Additional Requirements:

All CSU students must complete the following University requirements for graduation:

Formal admission into the University
Formal admission into the college and department of their choice
Completion of all curriculum requirements as specified in their required program
Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of college-level credits
Completion of 54 hours from a four-year accredited college or university
Completion of the last 30 semester hours at Chicago State University
Completion of a capstone class (3 credits hours) as defined by the student’s program of study;**
Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) at the time of graduation.

**ICP 4500 fulfills the senior thesis/capstone course for ICP majors.

Graduation Requirements:

Students must meet all university requirements for graduation.

Students in the program will be eligible for graduation upon the successful completion of the following requirements:

Completion of 120 hours of college-level course work
Completion of the following general education requirements:
Composition (ENG 1230 or ENG 1270 and ENG 1280 ) 6 credit hours
Mathematics/Critical Thinking 6 credit hours
Humanities 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences 9 credit hours
Social Sciences 9 credit hours
Minimum of 30 hours as a student within the program.
Successful completion of university examinations in English and reading, federal, state and other examinations as required. Math placement examinations are necessary for students who wish to take courses for which passing the Math examination is a prerequisite.
Payment of graduation fee.
Completion of ICP 4500 (Individualized Curriculum Capstone) **
The degree to be awarded, whether a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) will be determined at the time of the evaluation of credits for graduation. The Dean will make this determination in consultation with the Registrar.

Please note that academic skills/developmental courses may not be used toward graduation.

** ICP 4500 fulfills the senior thesis/capstone course for ICP majors.