Sample Proposals
The
proposals collected here can provide some ideas for developing and
structuring your program proposal as well as offer a sense of the many
different ways to approach this task These samples are not strict
models to which you have to adhere; rather, refer to them as you get
started on writing a program proposal that is uniquely yours.
PLEASE NOTE: These proposals are single spaced in order to make
the files smaller. Students should submit proposals that are
DOUBLE SPACED.
BIS: Political Science, English, and Psychology
The areas of concentration in this BIS proposal are linked by the
author's career goals. Note in the introduction her clear explanation
of the ways in which each area fits her interests.
BIS: Sociology, Psychology, and Women's Studies
This is a clearly written and well organized statement. The author
includes in her narrative discussions she had with advisers and
practitioners in the field she hopes to enter. In addition, this
statement shows how three departmental areas of concentration can be
linked thematically.
BIS: Human Sexuality, Cultural and Identity Politics, and Sexuality in the Family: Practice and Education
This proposal is exceptionally well thought-out and presented in a
clear yet sophisticated style. It also demonstrates how a BIS can have
an overall theme and include an area outside of CLA. For example, this
student's "Sexuality in the Family" concentration includes courses from
the curriculum and instruction department (CI) within the College of
Education and Human Development as well as the family social science
department (FSOS) within the College of Human Ecology. The student has
also shown that she understands the different methodological concerns
of the different disciplines she will study.
BIS: Communication Studies, Cultural Diversity, and Management
This student does an excellent job explaining how her professional and
personal goals intersect. Her Cultural Diversity concentration is
a rigorous collection of courses that explore this theme from a variety
of disciplinary perspectives. This program also illustrates how
BIS students can develop management concentrations that focus on a
particular subfield of management: in this case, human resources.
IDIM: Power and Society
This proposal successfully demonstrates the intersection of two broad
and complex themes: power and society. The author provides
concrete examples to help clarify the aspects of power and society he
is most interested in examining. Each concentration area, in turn,
provides a different precisely-defined lens through which he is able to
explore these issues.
IDIM: Race, Identity and Social Change in the United States
This author of this proposal provides a rich and insightful definition
of her primary area of interest - race. She then connects this
definition to her three concentration areas. Each area considers
the importance of race in systems of power, cultural identity, and
struggles for social change.
IDIM: Art As Oppositional Discourse
Here is an example of a student who has taken a more creative route
toward formulating the goals of her program of study. As long as
creativity doesn't draw attention too far away from the theme or the
purpose of your course selections, feel free to choose a format and
voice you feel works well with your proposal goals. This student also
decided to list coursework rather than embed course descriptions in a
paragraph. If you choose to do something like this, you may. However,
you must not simply reproduce bulletin copy. Each course description
should describe the concentration in your own words and tell your
reader why the course fits into your individualized major.
IDIM: Cultural Philosophies
Notice how this statement opens with a discussion of the key term of
the theme. Definitions are a good way to begin to situate your theme
because they can help clarify your academic focus and organize your
discussion. This student sustains his interest in defining "culture"
throughout the statement.
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