IMP Courses/Tutorials


What are tutorials?

Tutorials are independent-study courses. IMP students pursue independent work through tutorials in order to supplement their course work and complete the final project. Typically more than three-fourths of the total credit hours for graduation are in regular classroom courses and 10 to 15 credit hours are in tutorials. Tutorials can range from a private course on campus to off-campus experiences including fieldwork and internships. IMP students register for tutorials under the course numbers I360, I450, and I460. To determine which course number is appropriate in a given situation, consult the descriptions below or e-mail imp@indiana.edu.

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I450 Readings and Research (internships)

I450 is the course number for internships (except in cases when the internship serves as the final project; these should be registered as I460). The IMP encourages its students to avail themselves of opportunities for relevant work experience; the primary value of internships is for the experience they provide. Because many employers insist that students receive academic credit for internships, the IMP does offer such credit. However, the following restrictions apply:

  • The maximum allowable credit for a single internship under IMP I450 is 3 hours; under special circumstances, a student may petition the IMP director to be allowed more than 3 hours’ credit. (In cases where an internship is part of the student's final project, additional credits can be added under IMP I460). The number of credit hours allowable relates to hours worked in the following way: 50 work hours equals 1 credit hour; 51-100 work hours equals 2 credit hours; 101-150 work hours equals 3 credit hours.
  • In order to obtain permission to enroll in IMP I450, students must submit a tutorial contract (available in the box at right) that explains how the internship fits in with the subject of the student’s major and provides contact information for the internship employer. The employer will then be asked to supply a description of the internship, including duties, hours assigned, and duration of the work assignment, before permission will be granted.
  • Students are required to submit weekly reflection papers by e-mail to their sponsors and to the IMP office.
  • An evaluation must be received from your on-site supervisor by your sponsor and the IMP office before a grade will be assigned. (I450 is graded on an S/F basis.)

Upon completion of the internship, students should submit an Internship Evaluation Form to their sponsors and to the IMP office.

Before you decide that you want credit for your internship through the IMP, please consider the following: Your internship is valuable for the experience it gives you, regardless of whether you receive college credit. The credit hours that the IMP awards for internships cost money; this is something to keep in mind particularly if you intend to register during the summer when your enrollment won’t be covered under the flat fee. Internship credit does not count toward the requirement that 15 hours in your major be at the 300-400 level.

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I460 Readings and Research

I460 is the course number for final projects and other independent reading or research tutorials. Students receive letter grades for I460. The number of credit hours received for each tutorial is equivalent to the work undertaken with students typically earning 1-4 credit hours per tutorial. Students can take tutorials with their sponsors or with other individuals their sponsor recommends.

To obtain authorization for I460, submit a signed tutorial contract (available in the box at right) to the IMP office. Students who wish to take two non-internship tutorials in the same semester should register for I460 and I360 (because the registration system does not permit students to register for I460 twice in one semester).

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I360 Readings and Research

I360 is the same as I460. Students who wish to take two non-internship tutorials in the same semester should register for I360 and I460 (because the registration system does not permit students to register for I460 twice in one semester). Students who are only taking one tutorial in a given semester should register for I460.

To obtain authorization for I360, submit a signed tutorial contract (available in the box at right) to the IMP office.

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I470 Senior Writing Workshop

The Senior Writing Workshop, I470, is intended for seniors who are working on their IMP final projects. It is a one-credit, first-eight-weeks course conducted as a writing workshop. Students share information about their majors, peer-edit drafts of written documents such as the analytic essay and retrospective statement, and receive feedback on their writing from the course instructor.

To obtain authorization for I470, e-mail imp@indiana.edu. No tutorial contract is necessary.

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