Independent Studies courses permit qualified matriculated undergraduates to pursue supervised teaching experiences and areas of reading and research not included or treated in sufficient depth in regularly offered classes. The following course numbers correspond to the different types of Independent Studies courses offered for students in The College:
| 390 Supervised Teaching | 394 Internship | |
| 391 Independent Study | 395 Independent Research | |
| 392 Practicum | 396 Research (Engineering Courses only) | |
| 393 Senior Project |
GUIDELINES FOR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COURSES
- Begin planning early. A faculty member may decline to supervise a student if the request comes too late after the beginning of classes. Similarly, any request for an exception to the policies noted below may be denied, leaving you with an incomplete program.
- How to find a sponsor
- Complete the independent studies form with the instructor with whom you have arranged the Independent Studies course. You and the supervising instructor should agree upon the content. Students and faculty should communicate clearly about the content of the course and the criteria for evaluation, such as the readings required, the frequency of meeting, and the explicit basis for evaluating the work, which normally includes a written component. For 390, include the course you are TAing.
- You and your instructor may decide on an individualized course title for your Independent studies course. The title is limited to 28 spaces and should be entered in the appropriate area on the form. The title will appear on your transcript. If you do not submit an individualized title, the default title will appear as noted above.
- Submit completed form to the UPBM Office. If any questions are raised in the Dean's review of your proposed course, you will be contacted promptly. Otherwise, upon approval, a copy of this form will be mailed to you.
- If you are an Engineering student , you also need the signature of the department chair.
- Do not include registration for this course on your registration form or on a drop/add form. This form will be reviewed and, when it is approved, the course will be added to your schedule.
- Four Credit Limitations. Faculty rules restrict students to one four-credit Independent Studies course per semester.
Students are limited to no more than four credits of Supervised Teaching (390) in the same course.
Note: The faculty is within its rights to decline to supervise students if registration comes too late after the beginning of classes. Similarly, any request for an exception to the policies noted above may be denied. Therefore, students should begin their planning early.
Special further policies regarding internships (394):
- Students proposing 4-credit internships are expected to be on site for 10-16 hours a week. (For all 394 courses, please note the number of hours per week that the on-site component requires, the name of the firm or agency and location of the internship, and a description of the academic component in the "Course Description" on the form.
- Internships must be unpaid in order to be eligible for academic credit.
- Internship courses may be graded Pass/Fail with the additional consent of the departmental chair.
- A maximum of eight hours of local, and 16 hours of non-local, internship credit may be applied towards the 128 credits required for the degree.
- Requests for eight hours or more of internship credit must be received prior to the first day of the semester, for presentation to the Internship Committee.
If you believe your situation warrants and exception to any of the above faculty policies, a petition explaining the rationale for your proposal should be submitted to Academic Support along with this form. If your petition is approved, a copy of the form will be sent to you and will serve as your notification.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING INDEPENDENT STUDIES
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Independent studies must be approved by the end of the third week of the semester. A student may earn no more than 4 credit hours from independent study courses each semester.
An independent research project is usually an exciting learning experience. However, it requires considerable time in order to have any chance for success. It is expected that students will devote a minimum of 10 hours per week (on the average) to their project.
In order to receive a grade and get credit for the effort, it is required that a student write a term paper describing the work. This paper will be evaluated by the sponsor; a copy is to be submitted to the UPBM office by the student by the last day of exams for the semester.
DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION
4-credit course: end of 3rd week; 3-credit course: end of 5th week; 2-credit course: end of 7th week. Forms submitted after the third week of class must have the start date installed to verify the course has already begun.INSTRUCTOR ELIGIBILITY
The person who consents to supervise an independent study project must be a full-time member of the teaching faculty at the University of Rochester. A visiting faculty member is eligible to supervise an independent research project.
Faculty rules allow students to take no more than 8 credits of independent study with the same instructor; however, it is possible to petition the Dean of the College of Arts and Science to have that rule waived in order to have time to finish a project.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FORMS (395 COURSES)
Forms are available from the UPBM office (402F Hutchison Hall) or from Academic Support. Forms are to be completed by the student and her/his research advisor. In the course description clearly state the objectives of the research, the criteria for evaluation the faculty will be using to grade the course, and that a final report will be submitted at the end of the semester. When the form is completely filled out, it should be turned in to the UPBM office. The signature of the UPBM Director is required for registration to be completed. (The UPBM office will send the signed forms to Academic Support.)
MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY MAJORS
Microbiology majors must have their independent research forms signed by Dr. Bob Marquis. Biochemistry majors must have their independent research forms signed by Dr. Elizabeth Grayhack.COURSE DESIGNATION AND TITLE
The 395 number is to be used only for hands-on wet lab work done in a biological science laboratory on River Campus or at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. The 395 number is not to be used for a clinical study nor for a reading course. The three-letter designation before 395 indicates the department in which the research is being done.
The student and the instructor should determine an appropriate course title. This title will appear on the student's transcript as the official title of the course.