Independent Study
Guidelines for Independent Studies
Independent Studies provide for in-depth individual projects under the guidance of a professor. Students and faculty members considering such proposals should keep in mind the following criteria on which they will be assessed:
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Course of study must not be part of regular department offerings (except for creative writing).
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Quantity of reading, research, and writing should be at least equal what would be required in a regular English Department upper level course i.e. 6-10 books and 15-25 pages of writing for a 3 credit course. Those expectations would be doubled for a 6 credit course.
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Student must submit evidence of capacity for independent research (e.g. through past experience with supervising faculty, recommendation of other faculty, papers from other Independent Study projects, etc.).
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Student must submit the Independent Study Approval Form along with a detailed proposal according to the guidelines specified on the form and the topics requested under 5. below.
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The proposal should have a clear and precise formulation of purpose and show evidence of preliminary research, for example a working bibliography, if applicable. It should also provide an outline of activities for the semester, including order of readings and projected writing assignments -- in other words, a syllabus.
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The proposal should be submitted well in advance of pre-registration to allow time for revision and additional preliminary research if necessary. Students should retain a copy of the proposal, give a copy to sponsoring professor, and turn one in to English Department Curriculum chair.
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All Independent Study requests shall be brought before the Department Curriculum Committee at a regular meeting before being approved by the Chair.
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Files of Independent Study applications will be available for review by English Department faculty.
- The deadline for submitting approval forms is three (3) weeks after the first day of class.