Independent Study Program

The Independent Study Program (ISP) is designed for students who want to pursue extended scholarly studies in an area not represented within established departments or schools.

Students working for a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in IPS are usually juniors or seniors.  Students must complete basic University B.A. requirements, including group requirements, the UO language requirement, writing, etc., and maintain a 3.5 grade point average.  Courses that count toward the major must be graded.

Student should normally complete a seminar (courses with a 407 number) in an appropriate department, and have specific coherent plans for independent work.  A proposal outlining these plans, and demonstrating that this program of study is not available through any other department or school, must be presented first to Professor John Nicols, and then to a faculty committee.  In consultation with the committee, each student sets individual goals and designs a schedule of courses and research that will culminate in a senior thesis or project.

For more information, please contact John Nicols at: nic@darkwing.uoregon.edu, or call 541.346.4069

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Procedural Check List

I. Admission Procedure:

· Student receives ISP flyer and this checklist to determine if her/his project will meet the criteria.

· Student makes appointment with the ISP director, John Nicols, for approval or disapproval of project. .

· If the project is approved by the director, student contacts three faculty members who read the proposal, write letters to ISP, approving the project and agree to serve on an advisory committee.  One agrees to serve as primary advisor.

_____________________________, primary advisor

______________________________

______________________________

· Student submits transcripts and four copies of proposal to ISP.   One is for the student's file, the others will go to a second group of evaluators described below.

· The program director asks three faculty members from the same departments as the advisory committee to review the proposal and to give a "second opinion".  This is a confidential process.

· The program director sends letter to candidate and advisory committee regarding  the decision of the evaluators.  If positive, go to next step.

· Student and advisory committee reply to any recommendations contained in letters from evaluators.

· ISP sends letter of provisional acceptance to candidate.

· ISP sends letter to dean of CAS requesting final approval of admission.

II. Once admitted:

· Student's advisory committee submits quarterly reports to ISP.  We recommend that reports be limited to one page.

III. Final steps:

· Student, advisory committee, and program director schedule oral examination:  __________________.

· Program director assigns ISP representative to oral exam:   ______________________.

· ISP prepares certificates to record decision of thesis committee.   Committee submits two copies of signed certificates to ISP office after oral defense.

· Student submits two copies of thesis to ISP, and receives a copy of the certificate (other copy for ISP files).

· ISP sends letter to Dean of CAS for final approval of degree

· ISP informs Registrar that student qualifies for graduation in ISP.