1. Purpose
This guideline serves as a guide for students who meet the requirements to be eligible to design their own Individually Designed Concentration or Minor (IDCM). The purpose is to clarify the process, timeline, requirements, and how their IDCM will be applied.
2. Scope
Applicable to all full-time undergraduate students at VinUniversity.
3. Procedural Principles
This program is intended to foster creativity and allow students to pursue professional goals that the College’s pre-existing concentrations and minors may not serve. Students creating an IDCM will rigorously design an IDC/IDM program consisting of existing VinUni courses. IDCM programs encourage a strong interdisciplinary component. The approved title of the IDCM will appear on the student’s transcript.
Through an IDCM at VinUni, students will:
- Gain multidimensional knowledge by incorporating different areas of study into one concentration or minor
- Take the ownership of their own learning
- Become better prepared for jobs in a certain emerging field
4. Procedural Statements
4.1. Eligible criteria for application
- Must have a GPA of 2.5 or better at the time of the proposal (or any proposal for changes to the program) to apply for an IDC or IDM.
- Must have a faculty advisor (sponsor) in the home College to assist in creating an IDC/IDM proposal. Under exceptional circumstances, a secondary advisor outside of the home College may also serve if the proposed program clearly suggests that such an advisor is a suitable choice for the student.
- Must be enrolled in one of the Colleges and a current full-time student.
4.2. Curriculum requirements
- Must earn a minimum of 15 credits to declare an IDC or IDM.
- An IDC shall consist of courses in home College only, while an IDM can be a mixture and all courses can be from other Faculty/Colleges.
- To accommodate the possibility that selected courses may not be offered at a given time, students should submit one alternate course in the core and two alternate courses in the elective list.
- No more than seven (07) credits in the proposed Concentration or Minor may be completed or begun at the time of application.
- Must fulfil the normal distribution of studies requirements of their academic program (for example requirements of general education, college/disciplinary core courses, internship, thesis etc.) and other rules when pursuing a concentration or a minor.
- Any changes in the concentration/minor program after approval will require written permission of the Program Director or the College’s designee.
4.3. Timeline
- Students declaring an IDC or IDM should generally do so by the end of their sophomore year to avoid delays in degree completion.
- Application deadline:
- December 30 in order to be able to register for Spring classes
- July 30 in order to be able to register for Fall classes
- Review deadline:
- The Registrar Office’s primary check deadline is 3 (three) days after the submission date.
- The College/Faculty’s decision on the IDCM proposal must be obtained no later than 3 (three) weeks from the date of student’s submission. Students must confer with their faculty advisor and reply if the Program Director requests adjustments to the proposal.
- Drop deadline is the last day of the semester’s course Add period.
4.4. Application process
- Step 1: Study the information/requirements and check the availability of IDC/IDM options
- Step 2: Choose a Faculty Advisor (sponsor)
- Step 3: Define the goals/rationale for the proposed IDC/IDM
- Step 4: Design the program and assemble the proposal
- Step 5: Submit the application form to the Office of University Registrar
- Step 6: Registrar checks the requirements and validity of the application
- Step 7: College PD reviews, validates, and makes the decision
- Step 8: Inform the student of the result
- Step 9: Student completes the Declaration Form (if approved)
- Step 10: Registrar updates the status on the SIS system
Please check the detailed workflow HERE.
5. Abbreviations and Definitions:
- Concentration: A major field of study is the core competence area, comprising a structured group of courses that aims to create a broad and deep intellectual experience in an academic discipline. For example, BBA (Finance) (Finance as a concentration). Concentration requires at least 15 credits from the same College.
- Minor: A minor consists of a structured group of courses that focuses on a particular academic discipline, allowing students to develop some depth of understanding in a subject area or topic of professional interest. For example, Computer Science/Robotics as a Minor of BSEE; AI as a Minor of BBA.
- Program Director (PD): A member of the academic staff in a College or a Faculty responsible for administrative matters relating to curriculum development and assurance of learning of majors/concentrations and minors in an academic program.
6. Roles and Responsibilities
6.1. Student
- Must research and investigate carefully to define their own expectation IDC/IDM before applying
- Complete the forms and submit all supporting documents (as necessary) on time
6.2. Faculty advisor
- Must be a faculty member at the College/Faculty where the applied student is currently enrolled.
- Must possess expertise in academic courses pertinent to the concentration/minor for which students wish to design IDCM.
- Assist the students throughout their IDCM application process.
7. Related Documents and Forms
- VinUni Course Catalog
- Template 1: IDC/IDM Application Form (for application)
- Template 2: Learning objectives grid
- Template 3: Undergraduate Declaration of Concentration/Minor Form (submit after approval)
8. Appendices
IMCM student check sheet
Submitting IDC/IDM Application Documents Student Checksheet
Incomplete applications will not be approved
___ Application typewritten (Section A & Section B filled out completely, including advisor’s signature
___ Statement of clear rationale for IDC/IDM
___ List of proposed/alternate courses that meet the criteria for the application
___ Learning objectives grid that include
___ IDC/IDM learning objectives
___ All proposed and alternate courses
___ Each learning objective addressed in at least one course
___ Student-designed objectives
(*) The declaration form will be completed after the approval of IDC/IDM.