Procedures and Guidelines for Undergraduate Individual Studies Courses

Please note that these procedures and guidelines apply to those doing an Individual Studies with me (Tellez).  Other professors may have different requirements and purposes.

The Individual Studies (IS) course offers students and faculty the opportunity to investigate deeply topics and ideas not normally covered in organized classes.  This wide range of options is limited only by existing course offerings.  For instance, an IS course focused on a general review of bilingual education would not be approved because at least two courses in the education minor address bilingual education directly.  Nor should an IS be used as "fill" (i.e., when students can't find a course to fit their schedule).  In addition, purely "experiential" ISs are not generally accepted.  The successful IS will include a set of experiences and readings, each serving to increase knowledge of the topic at hand.  

With these thoughts in mind, students pursuing an IS course with me must follow the following procedures:

Step 1. Contact me at least three weeks before the quarter begins to discuss your IS course.  The earlier you contact me regarding your IS course, the more likely I am to approve it.  

Step 2: Complete the form, "Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course," available in the Education Advising Center (Soc Sci I 217) and other sites on campus.   

Step 3: In addition to the form, please complete a two-three page proposal addressing the following:

Objective: What do you hope to accomplish with your work?

Process: How will you meet your objective… literature review, experiment, curriculum demonstration?

Implication: How will you integrate your new knowledge into a teaching context?

Estimated Total Time to Complete the Project:  The time you devote to your Individual Studies should be commensurate with a regular 5 credit class.  A regular, organized 5 credit hour class requires at least 30 hours in class meeting time. Additional time spent outside of class studying or working on assignments is generally equal to 40-60 hours.   Therefore, a  5 credit Individual Studies course should require roughly 70-90 hours of work during the entire quarter. Naturally, a 2 credit Individual Studies course will require less time, a 10 Individual Studies course more. The "Petition for Undergraduate IS Course" asks you to estimate the number of hours per week you will spend on your work independently and with the faculty sponsor.  In most cases (for a 5 credit Individual Studies Course), you will spend an average of 30 min per week with me and 6-7 hours per week independently on the project. 

Step 4: Place both the form and proposal in my mailbox at Crown Faculty Services Office.  I will provide you with feedback and any changes.  If there are no changes, I will sign and send the form to the department chair for signature.  You will receive a copy of the form (in goldenrod) in about a week. 

Step 5: Make at least five appointments with me during the quarter to discuss your progress (We'll need about an hour for each meeting.) 

Step 6: Turn in your project at least one week before the end of the quarter. Include a postal and email address on your title page so that your work can be returned.

Step 7 (if necessary):  If you want your IS to replace an upper division elective in the Education Minor, your work must contain a significant theoretical or foundational dimension.  In addition, you must have approval for the IS replacement from the Education Minor Committee.  The Education Advisor in Soc Sci 217 will guide you through the paperwork needed to replace an IS for a minor course.  I recommend that you submit a proposal to the Minor committee ASAP, seeking their advice on your IS's potential to replace an upper division Education minor course.  You must also submit a copy of your final paper to the committee for approval.   

I hope that these guidelines help you in your IS course.  I look forward to working with you!