Guidelines for Independent Study Projects (BC 3999)
(except those in connection with the Writing Concentration)
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1. A student must seek the tentative approval of a sponsor no later than November 15th for spring-term projects and, for fall-term projects, no later than the second week in April. At this time she must

A. provide a plausible case for the impossibility of realizing her project in the frame work of an existing senior seminar* and

B. supply evidence of prior work in the area of the independent study project.

2. Approval is contingent on the sponsor's discussion of the project with the Chair of the Department or the Departmental Representative.

3. After receiving the sponsor's tentative approval and the concurrence of the Department Chair or Representative, the student must submit a 500-word prospectus and a 10-item, briefly annotated preliminary bibliography of secondary sources no later than the last day of either term. (She should leave a mailing address or the like with the sponsor for communications during the recess.) Te sponsor will at this point call for a discussion of the project with another member of the English Department faculty before definitive approval is granted.

* Another option open to a student is to audit a course (seminar or lecture) related to her topic while enrolling in BC3999 under the sponsorship of the instructor of that course. Courses audited do not appear on transcripts, but BC3999 will.

As these are guide-lines only, they may be modified at the sponsor's discretion.

continue to the Independent Study Application