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Capstone Experiences

Independent Study Projects

As an alternative to taking a course at Brown, some students develop a business plan as an Independent Study Project, ISP.  In some cases, ISPs lead to successful ventures after graduation.  In other cases, students learn an enormous amount about forming a business even though the ISP does not become a business undertaking. Students bear the major responsibility for both the planning and conduct of their ISPs.  They are asked to follow these guidelines: 

(1) Faculty Sponsorship:

Students must find a faculty member to advise and monitor the ISP.  Typically, an ISP is closely aligned with the research interests of the faculty advisor. However, because students often seek to design business plans as their ISP, it is especially difficult to find faculty with expertise in both business planning and the student’s particular field of interest. Some ISP plans, therefore, might go unfulfilled. 

(2) Curriculum:

ISPs are an alternative to course work but are not a requirement for the COE concentration. ISPs do not substitute for the required “Independent Practicum” of the Entrepreneurship and Technology Management track of COE.  The “Independent Practicum” provides opportunities for students to design/test business ideas.  

(3) Submission of Proposals: 

All students must (a) find a faculty advisor and (b) write a proposal by the deadlines assigned by the Dean of the College. Click here to download the independent study proposal form.

(4) ISP content and format:

The supervising faculty will decide on the acceptable content and format of an ISP.