Special Approaches to Study

Tutorial Study
Independent Study and Research
Student/Faculty Collaborative Research
Honors in the Major
Integrated Independent Study/Research
Foreign Language Integration Option
Special Majors

Independent research and study, internships, special majors, and tutorial study encourage Dickinson students to pursue individual academic interests and allow students with the requisite ability and motivation to undertake more self-directed programs of study under faculty guidance.

Tutorial Study, Independent Study and Research

The following options describe programs of tutorial study, independent study, and research possible in any academic area in which faculty have training and in which the student has the approval of the appropriate department or coordinating faculty committee. These general guidelines may vary among individual programs.

Tutorial Study Tutorial study is occasionally approved for students who, by agreement with the instructor, need to take a course listed in the bulletin on a one-to-one or limited enrollment basis. Such a need might be justified in the case of a course which is offered only on an alternate year basis or at some other frequency which would not allow for the completion of the student's program. Approved tutorial studies are added during the schedule adjustment period in the Registrar's Office.

Independent Study and Research for First-year Students First-year students who, on the basis of advanced placement, have qualified for credit in an introductory course (except foreign language courses below 230 and such other courses as may be designated by the departments) and desire to work more extensively at the survey or principles level of a discipline may enroll for a tutorially-directed course or half-course in independent study within the same body of knowledge.

A first-year student who wishes to take a second independent study, or a course of independent study or research on terms available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, must petition the Committee on Academic Program and Standards, with supporting statements from the academic adviser and proposed supervisory instructor.

Independent Study for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Independent studies allow a student to pursue an academic interest outside the listed course offerings. The study may include experimental work and reading and may culminate in several short papers, a single paper, or any other project acceptable to the supervising faculty member and the student. The work may be supervised by one or several instructors from one or several departments. Such interdepartmental studies must be approved beforehand by the Committee on Academic Program and Standards. Sophomores may undertake one independent study or research course and may, with the support of the student's academic advisor, petition the Committee on Academic Program and Standards for permission to take two independent studies or independent research courses in one semester. Juniors and seniors may undertake two such courses without special approval and may petition the Committee on Academic Program and Standards for additional independent study or research courses. In addition, the student must have a cumulative average of 2.00 or the permission of the Committee on Academic Program and Standards.

Independent Research for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors Independent research allows a student to pursue an academic interest beyond the listed course offerings. The project should be designed as original research and practice in presenting the results of an investigation. This pursuit must culminate in the student's own contribution to a discipline, whether in the form of fully-supported conclusions or in the form of a creative effort. Students may initiate a research project independently or in consultation with supervising faculty from one or several departments. The final project must be presented to the advising faculty no later than two weeks prior to the end of the evaluation period. The program may be elected for a maximum credit of four full courses. Programs of independent research involving more than two such courses per semester must be approved by the Committee on Academic Program and Standards.

Student/Faculty Collaborative Research Student/Faculty Collaborative Research allows a student to conduct original research in close partnership with faculty collaborator(s). The project should be designed as an investigation yielding novel results that contribute to the area of study. With the faculty collaborator(s), students will develop the project and participate in all aspects of the research. It is expected that the faculty member will work closely with the student for at least half of the time the student is pursuing the research. The final project must be presented to the faculty collaborator(s) no later than one week prior to the end of the evaluation period. The course will typically earn one half or one full course credit per semester.

Honors in the Major Honors in the major are conferred at graduation upon students who meet the departmental standards for graduation with honors. Students conducting independent research described above shall be eligible to be voted honors in the major upon completion of the research. In assessing each candidate, the departments may conduct comprehensive examinations or may invite outside examiners. If, in the judgment of the department, a candidate meets the standards for graduation with honors, the designation will appear on the student's record. Honors are achieved through independent research described above unless another procedure for pursuing honors in that particular major has been approved. Consult the web page of the academic program and/or program contact person to clarify the procedure. For specifications regarding format for the honors thesis see the::Library Services web pages.

Integrated Independent Study and/or Independent Research for Juniors and Seniors This provision allows a student, with the guidance of his or her major department and any supporting departments, to plan an entire program either for the last two years of study or for the senior year. The program, which must be approved by the Committee on Academic Program and Standards, may combine independent study, independent research, and course participation. Work under the program normally proceeds without grade, but, upon the student's completing the plan, the supervising department will prepare a precise description of the work accomplished and an evaluation of its quality which will become part of the student's permanent record.

Foreign Language Integration Option

A number of courses are designated each semester as carrying the foreign language integration option. These are courses in which students who wish to try their language skills in courses outside the language departments can choose to do some work in the designated foreign language. The amount and type of language work involved (readings from articles, newspapers or books and/or some paper writing) is determined by the professor in conjunction with the student. Foreign language work is tailored to meet the needs and language level of the individual student. Typically, work in a foreign language is substituted for English language materials, so as not to constitute an added responsibility. Successful completion of the foreign language integration option is noted on a student's transcript, thus certifying the student has had extra training in the language. This option is entirely voluntary. Students who register for courses with this option are not required to do work in a foreign language and may take the courses on the regular basis. Evaluation of the foreign language integration work does not affect the student's grade in the course.

Special Majors

Tutorial Departmental Major Some departments may approve superior students as tutorial majors. Such a program differs from independent studies and research in several ways. For one, the student is guided in a program in the component areas of an entire discipline for approximately two years. That program's balance is ensured by prior departmental approval. Secondly, the student is free to take regular courses in the student's major discipline with the approval of the tutor. Normally, the student will receive a letter grade for a 600 series course, but the Pass/Fail option is also available under the same restrictions as in standard courses.

The student meets on a regular basis with a tutor to discuss essays and readings dealing with particular problems posed by the tutor. Finally, the student sits for a comprehensive examination, both written and oral, administered by a committee composed of the department and one person outside the department. Normally, at least one-quarter of the student's final semester is given over to preparation for these examinations. One reexamination may be permitted within the calendar year. Students will be graded on the examination as having passed, failed, or passed with honors in the major. Approved students may register for up to four courses per semester under the tutorial rubric.

The Self-Developed Interdisciplinary Major Students, after completion of three semesters of study at Dickinson (2nd semester Sophomore year), who believe their academic goals cannot be met by the current 22 disciplinary and 20 interdisciplinary majors, 8 stand-alone minors, 3 certificates and use of electives, may make a proposal for a self-developed major.

A proposal for a self-developed major must be
1)in a recognized field of learning;
2)relevant to the liberal arts; and
3)not substantially addressed by any one academic program at the college.

A student contemplating a self-developed major must prepare a written proposal (see below for details of what must be included) and submit a draft to the Associate Provost for Curriculum in advance of a meeting to discuss the proposal.

The written proposal must include:
1) an articulation of the student's academic interest/goals;
2) a description of the proposed academic program including the intellectual foundation for such a study and how this fits within the liberal arts (as contrasted with a professional school, vocational school or employment);
3) clearly stated learning goals for this proposed academic study as well as how they will be assessed;
4) a listing of the courses to be taken for the major;
5)an annotation of each of the courses to include:
a)how the courses will contribute to meeting the learning goals of the program; b)how the courses complement one another; c) how the courses contribute to the depth and breadth of the proposed academic study;
6) a description of existing programs at other comparable liberal arts colleges and the way in which the proposed program is similar to or different from those;
7) an explanation of how the College's current academic majors/programs preclude the student from pursuing the above-stated goals.

The student will identify four (4) faculty members who serve as the core faculty members for the major, one of which will serve as the primary advisory. The student will meet with and share the draft proposal with the faculty committee as well the Career Center and request the following:
1) a statement from the faculty members who will be serving as the committee for the self-developed major (this may be in the form of a group or individual responses) that provides programmatic context for their support of the proposal, to include: a)placing this proposal within the broader academic field within which this proposal fits; b)outlining the limitations of the College's programs that preclude the student from pursuing academic goals; c) role the advisor and committee will play as the student pursues this program.
2) a statement from the Career Center specifically addressing why this approach is necessary (in contrast to the alternative of completing an academic program already offered by the College) in order for the student to be positioned for his/her post-graduation aspirations.

Once the proposal is finalized, the student will submit the completed self-developed major proposal form, the statement from the faculty committee, and the statement from the Career Center via email to the Subcommittee on Academic Standards for approval.

If approved by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards, the student will work closely with an appointed advisor. The student will be expected to complete the program as proposed and approved. Should changes be necessary, the student must submit a request for change of the approved program, along with written support from the advisor and to the Subcommittee on Academic Standards for final approval. NOTE: under ordinary circumstances, a student accepted in a self-developed major may not apply any of the approved courses toward the completion of a departmental major or minor.

Upon the completion of every semester, each student involved in the self-developed major submits to the subcommittee (with a copy to the advisor) an evaluation statement of progress and commitment to the major as a whole, experience in individual courses, and work with the advisor. The advisor submits to the subcommittee, and to the student, an evaluation describing the student's progress, achievement, and commitment.

At the conclusion of the student's work, the transcript describes the major as follows: Self-Developed Major: (Title).