Contents
Tutorial Study
Independent Study and Research
Candidacy for 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.
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.
Candidacy for Honors in the Major Students participating in the independent research program described above shall be eligible to be voted honors in the major on the completion of the program. 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 project shall be so designated.
Honors in the Major Honors in the major are conferred at graduation upon students who meet the departmental standards for graduation with honors. Honors are achieved through independent research and study in the department.
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.
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.
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 The Dickinson College faculty represents in its members a diverse set of interests and perspectives that provides a considerable resource for those students who would like to develop a major around concerns that do not fall into traditional disciplinary areas. The option of a self-developed major is available to students who desire a somewhat different field of concentration which, although a recognized field of learning and relevant to the liberal arts, is not substantially addressed by any one department. Recent self-developed majors have included sustainable resource management, Latin American cultural and literary studies, and black studies.
A student contemplating a self-developed major should prepare a proposal which includes those courses relevant to the topic and seek the written endorsement of four faculty members for the proposed major which consists of ten or more courses. The supporting faculty secure the advice of chairmen of those departments in which the student contemplates course work for concentration.
The student must present this validated proposal to the Committee on Academic Program and Standards for approval. The student in this program works closely with an appointed advisor. Changes desired in this program are submitted with the approval of the advisor in written form to the subcommittee for final approval. 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).
