Individual Study Information

African Diaspora Studies

The Individual Study Course (IS) option within the African Diaspora Studies Program is a flexible concept to be negotiated between students, faculty members, and the current program chair. IS courses will typically be prompted by student initiative combined with faculty interest and availability. IS courses will, less often, be offered when students need to take a particular course within one of our faculty members' expertise in order to fulfill the requirements of the Concentration. Even in this circumstance, however, the option for an IS depends upon faculty availability. While we expect that students will broach the possibility of doing individual study, faculty will have the ultimate authority in determining how any individual study course is to be conducted during the course of the semester. We view this as an exceptional opportunity that we provide our students and, as such, we emphasize that this option is never to be expected as an ordinary course of events. As a matter of expedience and given the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of the AFDS Program from one year to the next, the Program Chair reserves the right to decline requests for individual study.

Individual Study courses in the AFDS Program will typically be one semester in duration and constitute 0.50 credit hours. In those very rare cases where the IS has to be halted mid-semester for any number of reasons, the course will be worth .25 credit hours.

American Studies

Independent Study in American Studies

Normally students who wish to create and independent study opportunity in American Studies should be aware of the following procedures.

Independent Study is an unusual and unique experience available to Junior or Senior majors who find that the ordinary course of study at Kenyon does not meet their needs for the major. Independent Study may be taken ONLY for .5 units of credit.
Students must have the prior approval of the chair in order to apply.
They will present a detailed syllabus/reading list/due date schedule to the faculty member with whom they choose to work.
The American Studies faculty member will confirm the syllabus and schedule in writing to the Chair of the program.
The student project must culminate in a public presentation
Evaluation is a combination of student self-evaluation and faculty evaluation both of which will be reported to the chair with a recommendation for a final grade.

Anthropology

The anthropology department reserves independent studies courses to those students who are unusually motivated in an area of anthropological study and who we believe are responsible enough to handle the task of working independently. Such courses might be research oriented (e.g., students returning from Honduras with data), but are more commonly readings-oriented courses allowing students to explore in greater depth topics that are of interest/utility to them or which overlap their major course of study.

Students should consult with faculty members in the semester prior to the coursework to arrange the independent study. The courses may be designed exclusively by the faculty or it may be designed in consultation with the student. In readings courses, a bibliography is built, and students read the works on the bibliography, meeting periodically (weekly or bi-weekly) with the faculty member to discuss the works. Terms of course evaluation are left to the faculty directing the independent study, but typically involve either a research paper based on the material in the bibliography or an extensive annotated bibliography with a short explanatory essay tying the entries together and situating the debates which they represent. Another option involves students writing 1-2 page assessments of each book/reading at intervals throughout the semester. The assessments are commented on by the faculty member and periodic reassessments may be requested. The independent study culminates with a synthetic paper that pulls together all the readings.

Art History

Students must seek the permission of the instructor before enrolling. Individual Study is undertaken at the discretion of the instructor, as schedules may not permit such an addition in a particular semester. All Individual Study proposals must be approved by the department.
Normally, students may enroll in an Individual Study only if they have taken all the courses offered by the department in that particular area of the curriculum. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the instructor with the support of the department.
Individual Study is considered an advanced course, and, as such, the work produced should be the equivalent of a seminar or high-level intermediate class. A grade point average of 3.0 minimum in Art History courses is required. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the instructor with the consent of the department.
The professor and the student should establish and agree on the extent and nature of the work required for the Individual Study. This may take several forms: several short papers, one long paper, one in-depth project (small exhibition or assisting in doing research for an exhibition), a large (and lengthy) generalized outline and annotated bibliography, public presentations, etc. Individual Studies may be taken for either .5 or .25 credits. This decision must be made in conjunction with the professor.
The student and the professor should meet on a regular basis. The frequency is to be determined by the professor in consultation with the student.

Biology

Independent Study in Biology provides the student with the opportunity to pursue an independent investigation of a topic of special interest not covered, or not covered in depth, in the current curriculum. The investigation, designed in consultations with the chosen faculty mentor, may be designed to earn 0.25 or 0.5 unit of credit in a semester and may be continued in the second semester. BIOL 393 is ordinarily literature-oriented investigations. (For laboratory-oriented independent research see BIOL 385 and 386). Normally, students receive credit for no more than two semesters of independent study. Because Independent Study is intended to supplement, not take the place of, coursework within the department, it cannot be used to fulfill either the natural science diversification requirement or the requirements for the major. Independent Study in Biology is typically pursued by juniors or seniors.

To enroll in Independent Study, a student must identify a member of the Biology Department willing to mentor the project and, in consultation with him or her, the student must draft a syllabus, including readings, schedule, and assignments, which must be approved by the department chair. The chair's approval is required prior to enrollment in order to ensure that no single faculty member becomes overburdened by directing too many IS courses. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor for at least one hour per week, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor. At a minimum, the amount of work submitted for a grade in an IS should approximate that required, on average, in 300-level Biology courses. In the case of group Individual Studies, a single course syllabus may be submitted, assuming that all group members will follow the same syllabus.

Because students must enroll for Independent Study by the seventh day of classes in a given semester, they are urged to begin discussion of their proposed Independent Study well in advance, preferably the semester before, so that they can devise a syllabus and seek departmental approval before the Registrar's deadline.

Chemistry

Individual Study in Chemistry is intended to supplement, not take the place of, coursework. For that reason, Individual Study cannot normally be used to fulfill requirements for the major. Typically an IS will count as 0.25 unit of credit, yet it may be designated 0.50 unit in special cases.

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must identify a member of the Chemistry Department willing to direct the project and obtain the approval of the department chair. At a minimum, the department expects a student to meet regularly with his or her instructor for at least one hour per week.

Classics

Individual study in classics allows students to explore aspects of Greco-Roman literature, history, or archaeology not covered or minimally covered in courses regularly offered by the department.

Eligibility

The following requirements for eligibility articulate the department's belief that individual study is meant to supplement, not replace, its standard course offerings.

To be eligible for an individual study in GREK or LATN, a student must also concurrently enroll in the appropriate intermediate or advanced language course offered during the semester in which the independent study is to take place. If this is impossible (e.g., because of an insurmountable scheduling conflict), the student must petition for an exemption to this requirement in his or her proposal to the department regarding the individual study (see further below).

To be eligible for an individual study in CLAS, a student must have completed two courses germane to the study's topic. One of these must be the core course in translation-the six core courses are CLAS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122-that provides the essential background for the project. E.g., a student seeking an individual study on some aspect of Greek archaeology must have taken CLAS 131. The student should present his or her case for the approval of the second course in the proposal to the department.

Procedure for enrollment

The procedure for a student seeking to enroll in an individual study is as follows. First, the student should meet in person with an appropriate faculty member in order to discuss in detail the individual study. If the faculty member is willing to supervise the project, then the student must submit a proposal for the individual study by email to all members of the department currently on campus. The department's approval of the project is required (1) to confirm that the project is appropriate and (2) to ensure that faculty members, especially junior faculty, are not overburdened, which is a special concern for classics, a small department. If the department gives its approval, the supervisor of the individual study, at his or her discretion, may require the student to draft a syllabus, which would outline a schedule of readings, bibliography, and the criteria of evaluation. The precise criteria of evaluation and the nature of the assignments are left to the student and instructor to negotiate. The student in an individual study, albeit in consultation with his or her supervisor, should take the initiative in designing the course.

It is expected that the student and instructor meet at least one hour each week, or more frequently as required by the latter. For an individual study worth 0.5 units, the typical value, the work load must be equivalent, at minimum, to that encountered in an intermediate or advanced language course or one of the core courses in translation. For individual studies worth 0.25 units, the work should be approximately half that encountered in the courses just described.

Dance, Drama and Film

Individual Study in Dance and Drama is reserved for students studying a topic not regularly offered in the Department's curriculum. Typically, an IS will earn the student .5 units of credit.

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must identify a member of the Department willing to direct the project and, in consultation with him or her, write a proposal for the IS. The chair must approve the proposal, to ensure that no single faculty member is assigned too many IS courses. The 1-2 page proposal should include a preliminary bibliography and/or set of specific problems, goals, and tasks for the course, outline a schedule of reading and/or writing assignments or creative undertakings, and describe the methods of assessment (e.g. a journal to be submitted for evaluation weekly; a one-act play due at semester's end, with drafts due at given intervals, etc.). The student should also briefly describe prior course work which qualifies him or her for this independent project. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with the instructor one hour per week, and to submit an amount of work equivalent to that required in 300-level Dance and Drama courses.

Students are urged to begin discussion of their proposed Individual Study the semester before they hope to enroll, so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the 7^th class day.

English

Individual Study in English is a privilege reserved for senior majors who want to pursue a course of reading or complete a writing project of their own design on a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Because Individual Study is one option in a rich and varied English curriculum, it is intended to supplement, not take the place of, coursework. For that reason, Individual Study cannot normally be used to fulfill requirements for the major. Typically, an IS will earn the student .5 units of credit, although in special cases it may be designed to earn as little as .25.

To qualify to enroll in an Individual Study, a student must identify a member of the English Department willing to direct the project and, in consultation with him or her, the student must write a proposal for the IS which must be approved by the department chair before the Individual Study can go forward. The chair's approval is required to ensure that no single faculty member becomes overburdened by directing too many IS courses. In the 1-2 page proposal, the student should describe a preliminary bibliography (and/or set of specific problems, goals and tasks) for the course, outline a specific schedule of reading and/or writing assignments, describe in some detail the methods of assessment (e.g. a short story to be submitted for evaluation biweekly; a thirty-page research paper submitted at course's end, with rough drafts due at given intervals, etc.) The student should also briefly describe any prior coursework that particularly qualifies him or her for this independent project. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor for at least one hour per week, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor. At a minimum, the amount of work submitted for a grade in an IS should approximate that required, on average, in 400-level English courses. In the case of group Individual Studies, a single proposal may be submitted, assuming that all group members will follow the same protocols.

Because students must enroll for Individual Studies by the seventh day of classes in a given semester, they are urged to begin discussion of their proposed Individual Study well in advance, preferably the semester before, so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the Registrar's deadline.

Environmental Studies

Because the Environmental Studies Concentration has no faculty of its own, the nature of an Individual Study will necessarily vary dramatically depending on the home discipline of the faculty member guiding the course. Details regarding the expected number of contact hours per week, workload, and assessment will be left to the discretion of the faculty member guiding the Individual Study.

There are no formal restrictions on who can pursue an Individual Study in ENVS.

Individual Studies are not intended to replace an elective course in fulfilling the requirements of the Environmental Studies Concentration.

History

Individual Study in History is available to students who want to pursue a course of reading or complete a focused research project on a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Because Individual Study is one option in a varied History curriculum, Individual Study in History is restricted to History majors and cannot normally be used to fulfill distribution requirements within the major.

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must prepare a proposal in consultation with a member of the History faculty who has suitable expertise and is willing to work with the student over the course of a semester. The proposal of roughly 2-3 pages should include: a statement of the particular questions the student plans to explore, a preliminary bibliography, a schedule of reading and writing assignments, a schedule of meetings with the supervising faculty member, and a description of grading criteria. In other words, the proposal should look something like a syllabus. The student should also briefly describe prior coursework that particularly qualifies him or her to pursue the project independently.

The department chair must approve the proposal. The chair will ensure that proposals meet departmental guidelines and that individual faculty members are not overburdened by directing multiple IS projects.

At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor at least the equivalent of one hour per week. At a minimum, the amount of work submitted for a grade in an IS should approximate that required, on average, in 300- or 400-level History courses. Individual projects will vary, but students pursuing an IS in History should probably plan to read 200 pages or more a week and to write at least 30 pages over the course of the semester.

Because students must enroll for Individual Studies by the seventh day of classes in a given semester, they are urged to begin discussion of their proposed Individual Study with the supervising faculty member and the department chair the semester before they hope to undertake the project. The department chair must receive IS proposals by the third day of classes.

Integrated Program of Humane Studies

Individual study in the Integrated Program in Humane Studies is reserved for juniors and seniors who have completed at least one course in the Program. Independent study projects are designed to offer the opportunity for directed reading and research in areas not generally covered by the regular offerings of the Program, or by the regular offerings of other programs or departments. Alternatively, independent studies may offer the opportunity for more advanced research in areas already addressed in program offerings. Or, in some instances, independent studies may offer the possibility of studying languages not otherwise available, or available at an advanced level, in the College curriculum (e.g. Old Icelandic, Old English). Typically, independent study projects will earn .5 units of credit.

Students undertaking an independent study project will be expected to meet with their advisors on a regular basis, ordinarily at least once a week. Independent study projects are expected to embody a substantial commitment of time and effort which, at the discretion of the project advisor, may result in a major essay or research report.

Students wishing to undertake such a project should first gain, if possible a semester in advance, the permission of a potential advisor or mentor and then submit a written prospectus of the project for the approval of both the prospective advisor and the program director.

International Studies

Individual Study in Political Science is available to students who want to pursue a course of reading or complete a focused research project on a topic not regularly offered in the Kenyon's curriculum. Because Individual Study is one option in a varied International Studies curriculum, Individual Study in International Studies is restricted to International Studies . Individual Study in International Studies should only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances; in many cases, Individual Study would be more appropriately done in specific academic departments (Political Science, Sociology, and so forth).

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must prepare a proposal in consultation with a member of the International Studies faculty who has suitable expertise and is willing to work with the student over the course of a semester. The proposal of roughly 2-3 pages should include: a statement of the particular questions the student plans to explore, a preliminary bibliography, a schedule of reading and writing assignments, a schedule of meetings with the supervising faculty member, and a description of the elements that will be factored into the course grade. In other words, the proposal should look something like a syllabus. The student should also briefly describe prior coursework that particularly qualifies him or her to pursue the project independently.

The director of International Studies must approve the proposal. The director will ensure that proposals meet program guidelines and that the chairs of the departments in which individual faculty members who are involved approve.

At a minimum, the program expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor at least the equivalent of one hour per week. At a minimum, the amount of work submitted for a grade in an IS should approximate that required, on average, in 300- or 400-level social science or humanities courses. Individual projects will vary, but students pursuing an IS in International Studies should probably plan to read 200 pages or more a week and to write at least 30 pages over the course of the semester.

Because students must enroll for Individual Studies by the seventh day of classes in a given semester, they are urged to begin discussion of their proposed Individual Study with the supervising faculty member and the program director the semester before they hope to undertake the project. The program director must receive IS proposals by the third day of classes.

Law and Society

Law & Society Program's Policy on Individual Study Courses

The Law & Society Program's approach to the Individual Study Course (IS) option is to emphasize flexibility while maintaining the academic integrity of the program's curriculum. The specific details of an IS course plan are to be negotiated between and among the students, faculty members, and the program chair. IS courses may be offered within the Law & Society Program upon the request of a qualified student, depending primarily upon faculty interest and availability to supervise the student applying to take such a course. While we expect that a few highly motivated students will broach the possibility of doing individual study, faculty will bring to bear their concept of how any individual study course is to be conducted during the course of the semester. We view this as an exceptional opportunity that we provide our students and, as such, we emphasize that this option is never to be expected as an ordinary course of events. Because we believe that such courses are likely to and should require more than the customary amount of work, student time, initiative and commitment, students must think seriously about whether they have sufficient time within their schedules to pursue such a rigorous under-taking. Faculty considering supervising such a course should consider whether the student's prior academic performance and reasons for wanting to do an individual study suggest that the student is adequately prepared and motivated to succeed in its pursuit. Thus, IS course approval should be seen as the exception rather than the rule. While we do not wish to dampen the tenor of our students' enthusiasm to investigate novel approaches or subjects that are not ordinarily part of our curriculum in any given academic year, we do reserve the right to decline requests for individual study.

Individual Study courses take one of a few forms in the Law & Society Program. For the majority of the program's faculty, an individual study is a chance for both faculty development and, in some cases, a test run of a course that may turn into a permanent curricular offering intended for a larger body of students. On other occasions, the IS course will explore a topic of interest to both the faculty member and the student(s). For these models of an IS course, the faculty member ideally knows something about the topic to be explored, but s/he need not be an expert on the topic. Thus, the individual study can become an opportunity for both the student(s) and the faculty member to become more familiar with the literature, prevailing theories, and methods on the topic at issue. The student will customarily submit discussion papers prior to each meeting with the faculty member guiding the individual course of study. In some cases, this may obviate the need for a final paper at the end of the semester.

For a few of us, the IS is a type of mini-honors course wherein the faculty guides one or two students through a focused and narrow subset of questions and issues on a given topic within that faculty member's teaching and/or research expertise. At the end of the semester, a substantial paper of 30-40 pages is to be handed in to fulfill the requirements of the course.

Whatever form the IS course is to take, individual study is to be based primarily upon the concept of independent work to be performed by the student. The IS is not meant to be a mini-tutorial wherein the faculty is expected to lecture each week on the topic at issue. Each meeting between the faculty member and the student(s) is to be a discussion based upon the material that has been assigned for the time period in question, whether the course meets weekly or bi-weekly during the course of a semester. In some cases, the students will be responsible for taking the preliminary steps toward determining the course of study for the semester because s/he will do the necessary research to determine which books and articles are most relevant to a comprehensive study of the topic at issue. The faculty member will, however, be responsible for the final determination of the substantive material to be covered for the IS and the pace of the work to be completed.

Individual Study courses taken within the Law & Society Program will typically be no more than one semester in duration and will constitute 0.50 credit hours. As such, there is a general expectation that students will devote to the individual study, at a minimum, a number of hours substantially equivalent to that one would spend attending and preparing for a regular course. In those very rare cases where the IS has to be halted mid-semester for any number of reasons, the course will be worth .25 credit hours.

Mathematics

Individual Study in Mathematics is a privilege reserved for students who want to pursue a course of reading or complete a research project on a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Because Individual Study is one option in a rich and varied Mathematics curriculum, it is intended to supplement, not take the place of, coursework. For that reason, Individual Study cannot normally be used to fulfill requirements for the major. Typically, an IS will earn the student .5 units or .25 units of credit.

To qualify to enroll in an Individual Study, a student must identify a member of the Mathematics Department willing to direct the project. The professor directing the Independent Study, in consultation with the student, will then determine a tentative syllabus (including a list of readings, and/or problems, goals, and tasks) for the course and describe in some detail the methods of assessment (e.g. problem sets to be submitted for evaluation biweekly; a twenty-page research paper submitted at the course's end, with rough drafts due at given intervals, etc.) Only after these goals and methods of assessment have been determined will the instructor sign off on the course. Additionally, Independent Studies require the approval of the Department Chair. At a minimum, the Department expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor for at least one hour per week, or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor.

Because students must enroll for Individual Studies by the seventh day of classes in a given semester, students are typically required to begin discussion of their proposed Individual Study well in advance, preferably the semester before, so that they can devise a plan and seek departmental approval before the Registrar's deadline. Prerequisites: permission of instructor and department chair.

Modern Languages and Literatures

This course offers an opportunity to study on an individual basis an area of special interest - literary, cultural, or linguistic - under the regular supervision of a faculty member. It is offered primarily to candidates for honors, to majors and, under special circumstances, to potential majors and minors. Individual study is intended to supplement, not to take place of, regular courses in the curriculum of each language program. Staff limitations restrict this offering to a very few students.

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must identify a member of the MLL department willing to direct the project, and in consultation with them, write up a one page proposal for the IS which must be approved by the department chair before the Individual Study can go forward. The proposal should specify the schedule of reading and /or writing assignments and the schedule of meeting periods. The amount of work in IS should approximate that required on average in regular courses of corresponding levels. It is suggested that students begin their planning of an IS well in advance, so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the Registrar's deadline, the seventh day of classes in a given semester.

Typically, an IS will earn the student .5 or .25 units of credit. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet with the instructor one hour per week.

Music

Individual Study in Music is an option available to junior or senior music majors wishing to pursue a course of study with a music department faculty member not normally offered in the department's curriculum. The individual study topic is one that is normally proposed by the student to a member of the department faculty, who then brings the proposal before the department. The department will discuss the feasibility of any proposal, but in all but rare circumstances faculty will not take on more than two individual studies per semester. Individual studies in music typically supplement the music department curriculum and may not usually be used to satisfy major requirements. As supplements, the department views most individual studies to be worth 0.25 units of credit, though studies worth 0.5 units may certainly be possible.

Once an interested department faculty member is identified, the student should work with that professor to develop a short (1 page) proposal that will be shared with the department for approval. The proposal should articulate the nature of the proposed study, present planned readings, assignments, projects, etc., and describe how or what in the proposed study will be assessed at the end of the semester. Meetings schedules may vary, but at minimum the department expects that students will meet once per week with the faculty member leading the project.

Physical Education

Physical Education Independent Study Guidelines

Due to the nature of physical education courses at Kenyon, Independent Studies approved rarely and only under extenuating circumstances. They will only be approved on formal petition to the Dean of Academic Advising, the Director of Athletics, and the Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness. Documentation of the circumstances justifying a proposed independent study must be included with the petition. Petitions without documentable need will be declined.

Independent Studies in Physical Education are intended to provide the student with the opportunity to pursue an independent investigation of a topic of special interest not covered, or not covered in depth, in the current curriculum. The investigation, which is designed in close collaboration with a current physical education instructor, may be designed to earn 0.13 or 0.25 unit of credit in a semester. Students may receive credit for no more than one independent study within the department, which counts toward the total of .50 PHSD credits allowable toward graduation.

Enrollment and Completion Procedures

To enroll in a PHSD Independent Study, the student must:

•1. Complete the petition process through documentation of need and present petition to the Dean of Academic Advising, the Director of Athletics, and the Coordinator for Lifetime Fitness. After approval, the student must complete the following no later than the 7^th day of the semester:

•2. Identify a member of the Physical Education department willing to mentor the project. If the student is a varsity athlete, the student's coach or coaches may not serve as mentor.

•3. Working closely with the mentor, a detailed course syllabus must be drafted, including the following:

•a. Independent Study title

•b. Topic background information

•c. Desired course outcomes

•d. Specific objectives necessary to achieve outcomes

•e. Weekly topic schedule

•f. Readings: at least one assigned reading per week for the duration of the independent study. Reading must have direct bearing on the topic of the study. The specific reading must be included in the syllabus, and include an electronic link to the text in question.

•g. Meeting schedule: At least one, hour-long meeting with the mentor per week for the duration of the independent study

•h. Required Assignment Set 1: At least one detailed paper of 10-12 pages on the assigned topic per .13 of credit desired for the Independent Study. Two papers of this length are required for .25 credit Independent Studies. Papers must be fully cited using APA or CSE formatting, and each must include at least 8 references from accredited sources.

•i. Assignment Set 2: For IS courses that involve physical activity or internship/coaching/sport management-style activities as well as academic components, a complete journal of all daily and/or weekly activities must be included, and must contain, at a minimum:

•1. Date

•2. Activity completed

•3. Specifics of activity

•4. Course objectives and/or outcomes met by completion of activity

•4. Upon completion of the course syllabus, the syllabus must be turned in to the Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness for final topic approval.

•5. Upon completion of certain units of the study (at set intervals during the semester) and at the final completion of all Independent Study courses, the requirements as presented in the course syllabus, copies of all assignments and journals must be presented to the IS mentor and the Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness. A timetable of review and submission of these documents will be set by the Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness.

•6. The IS mentor is to forward attendance records and recommended course grades to the Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness.

•7. Final course grade will be the result of successful completion of all course requirements as reviewed by both the IS mentor and Coordinator for Physical Education and Lifetime Fitness. Grading will follow standard College procedures.

Physics

The nature of an Individual Study (IS) in the Physics Department will vary considerably depending on the topic addressed, the type of inquiry (reading/problem solving, experimentation, computation, etc.), and recommendations of the faculty member guiding the study. Responsibility for developing a description or syllabus for the IS -- one acceptable to both the supervising faculty member and the department -- rests with the student proposing the IS. The student also has responsibility for meeting the proposed schedule of work, completing the proposed assignments, and maintaining motivation throughout the study.

Approval to pursue an Individual Study is not to be taken for granted. It is based on student initiative combined with faculty interest and availability. IS courses are intended to supplement, not replace, courses that the Physics Department regularly offers. Only in unusual and exigent circumstances will the department approve an IS in which the content substantially overlaps that of a regularly offered course in the curriculum.

The Physics Department usually discourages junior faculty members from offering Individual Studies other than those aimed at collaborative research contributing to the faculty member's research program. This policy is designed to protect junior faculty members' time to focus on their teaching and scholarship as they prepare for reappointment and tenure reviews.

To enroll in an Individual Study (IS), a student must:

1. Identify a Physics Department faculty member willing to guide the IS.

2. Work with that faculty member to develop a description of the IS addressing:

a. Topics or content areas to be included;

b. Learning goals for the IS course;

c. Prior coursework (if any) particularly qualifying the student to pursue this IS;

d. Specific resources to be used (titles of texts, specialized instrumentation, etc.);

e. Assignments to be completed, including the weight of each in the final grade; and

f. Schedule for meeting with the supervising faculty member, completing stages of project, and submitting completed assignments (as applicable).

3. Submit that description to the Physics Department Chair for approval.

4. Submit an Add-Drop form signed by the Physics Chair to the Registrar's office.

In the case of a small group IS, a single description/syllabus may be submitted; all students in the group must follow that syllabus.

Students are reminded that Individual Studies must be set up within the first seven days of classes, so proposals should be planned well in advance, preferably the semester before the proposed project. The amount of assigned work (reading, problem sets, lab experiments, etc.) in an Individual Study should approximate that typically required in other Physics Department courses of similar types at similar levels, adjusted to the amount of credit to be awarded for the IS. Ordinarily, IS courses in Physics are designed for 0.25 units of credit.

Political Science

To enroll in an Individual Study, a student must prepare a proposal in consultation with a member of the Political Science faculty who has suitable expertise and is willing to work with the student over the course of a semester. The proposal should include: a statement of the particular questions the student plans to explore, a preliminary bibliography, a schedule of reading and writing assignments, a schedule of meetings with the supervising faculty member, and a description of the elements that will be factored into the course grade. The student should also briefly describe any prior coursework that particularly qualifies him or her to pursue the project independently.

At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with his or her instructor at least the equivalent of one hour per week. Reading assignments will vary depending on the topic but should approximate a regular departmental course in that field. Students should expect to write at least 30 pages over the course of the semester (for a 0.5 unit IS).

Psychology

Independent Study (IS) in Psychology allows students the opportunity to pursue research on a topic of special interest. The IS is designed in consultation with a faculty mentor. The level of credit can range from .25 to .5 units of credit, and students can take more than one semester of independent study. IS is typically pursued by juniors or seniors.

To enroll in IS, a student must first identify a member of the Psychology Department who is willing to mentor the project. Then the student needs to provide a written description of the project to the Department Chair which describes the nature of the proposed work and a list of references. It is expected that the project will have a significant academic component including reading and reviewing scientific literature and that it will likely involve conducting a research project in which original data are collected. It is expected that the student and faculty member will meet, on average, once a week during the course of the IS. The final project will likely be a paper written in the style of the American Psychological Association, and additional assignments might be required. For example, some professors might require students to give a public presentation of their work. The amount of work required for an IS should approximate that required of other 300-level psychology courses. It is possible for students to pursue a group project, but more work will be expected for the completed project, and each student will write her or his own individual paper.

Religious Studies

The Religious Studies Department reserves individual studies to those students highly motivated in a specific area of enquiry and who are judged responsible and capable enough to work independently. Such courses might be research oriented, but more usually are readings-oriented, allowing students to delve in greater depth into topics that interest them or which overlap or supplement aspects of the Major.

Students must seek permission of the instructor and department chair before enrolling. They are urged to do this in the semester prior to the one in which they hope to be enrolled. Individual Study is at the discretion of the instructor, and schedules may limit such an addition.

Normally students may be permitted to enroll in an Individual Study only if they have taken all the courses offered by the department in that particular area of the curriculum. An Individual Study cannot duplicate a course or area being concurrently offered. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the instructor and chair.

Individual Study is usually considered an advanced course. Required work should be viewed as on a par with a seminar or a 300- or 400-level course. A GPA of at least 3.0 is required. Exceptions (e.g., for languages not regularly taught at Kenyon) are determined at the discretion of the instructor, with the approval of the chair.

The instructor and student(s) should establish and agree upon the extent and nature of the work expected. The work may take one of the following forms: several short papers, one long paper, one in-depth project, a lengthy general outline and annotated bibliography, public presentation(s), etc.

Individual Studies may be taken for either .5 or .25 credits. This decision must be agreed upon with the instructor.

The student(s) and instructor should meet on a regular basis. The frequency of contact hours is to be determined by the instructor in consultation with the student.

Scientific Computing

"The primary goal of the Scientific Computing Individual Study is to enable students to explore a pedagogically valuable topic in computing applied to the sciences that is not part of a regularly offered SCMP course.

A student who wishes to propose an individual study course must first find a SCMP faculty member willing to supervise the course. The student and faculty member then craft a course syllabus that describes in detail the expected coursework and how a grade will be assigned. The amount of credit to be assigned to the IS course should be measured with respect to the amount of effort and achievement expected in a regular Kenyon class. Under normal circumstances, the amount of credit for an IS course should range between 0.25 units and 0.5 units. The syllabus must be approved by the Director of the SCMP program. In the case of a small group IS, a single syllabus may be submitted and all students must follow the same syllabus.

Approval to pursue an IS is not to be taken for granted. There are any number of reasons why a faculty member may not be available to supervise an IS course and the Director of the SCMP program will ensure that all IS courses meet the needs and expectations of students, faculty, and the SCMP program."

Sociology

The Individual Study Course (IS) option in the Sociology Department is a flexible concept to be negotiated between students, faculty members, and the department chair. IS courses will be offered by the Sociology Department based upon student initiative combined with faculty interest and availability. While we expect that students will broach the possibility of doing individual study, faculty will bring to bear their concept of how any individual study course is to be conducted during the course of the semester. We view this as an exceptional opportunity that we provide our students and, as such, we emphasize that this option is never to be expected as an ordinary course of events. While we do not wish to dampen the tenor of our students' enthusiasm to investigate novel approaches or subjects which are not part of our curriculum in any given academic year, we do reserve the right to decline requests for individual study.

Individual Study courses take one of a few forms in the Sociology Department. For the majority of the department, an individual study is a chance for both faculty development and, in some cases, a test run of a course that may turn into a permanent curricular offering intended for a larger body of students. On other occasions the IS course will explore a topic of interest to both the faculty member and the student(s). For these models of an IS course, the faculty member ideally knows something about the topic to be explored, but s/he need not be an expert on the topic. Thus, the individual study can become an opportunity for both the student(s) and the faculty member to become more familiar with the literature, prevailing theories, and methods on the topic at issue. The student will customarily submit discussion papers prior to each meeting with the faculty member guiding the individual course of study. In some cases, this may obviate the need for a final paper at the end of the semester.

Whatever form the IS course is to take, all of the Sociology Department faculty agree that an individual study is to be based primarily upon the concept of independent work to be performed by the student. The IS is not meant to be a mini-tutorial wherein the faculty is expected to lecture each week on the topic at issue. Each meeting between the faculty member and the student(s) is to be a discussion based upon the material that has been assigned for the time period in question, whether the course meets weekly or bi-weekly during the course of a semester. In some cases, the students will be responsible for taking the preliminary steps toward determining the course of study for the semester because s/he will do the necessary research to determine which books and articles are most relevant to a comprehensive study of the topic at issue. The Sociology faculty member will, however, be responsible for the final determination of the substantive material to be covered for the IS and the pace of the work to be completed.

Individual Study courses in the Sociology Department will typically be no more than one semester in duration and will constitute 0.50 credit hours. In those very rare cases where the IS has to be halted mid-semester for any number of reasons, the course will be worth .25 credit hours.

Studio Art

The Studio Art faculty do not recommend independent studies because we feel it is important for students to work in the context of other artists. Nonetheless, we know that occasionally an independent study might be appropriate. The IS must be approved by the department according to the following guidelines:

Independent Studies should be undertaken when a student has exhausted all the options for that media in the regular curriculum.
The subject for an independent study must be in a discipline that the faculty member has expertise.
An Independent Study does not count toward the requirements of the major, it is considered an extra course.
An Independent Study should not overload the faculty member.
When possible the student should connect with a class doing a similar media in the faculty member's field for feedback from other students (critiques).
The responsibility for writing up a contract, maintaining a schedule and motivation belongs with the student, not the faculty member.

Women's and Gender Studies

Individual Study in Women's & Gender Studies is designed for students to examine an area not typically covered by the regularly offered departmental courses. Individual Study can be arranged with a faculty member in any department but must conform to the usual requirements for credit in Women's & Gender Studies: gender is a central focus of the course; the course draws on feminist theory and/or feminist methodologies. Typically, the IS will earn the student .5 units of credit.

Individual Study is typically done by advanced students (junior or senior year) who have sufficient research and writing skills to work very independently. Individual Studies carrying the WMNS designation should conform to the following guidelines and processes. The expectations for the work to be accomplished are similar to any other 400-level course. A student wishing to pursue IS should first contact a faculty with whom they would like to work. In consultation with him or her, the student should develop a proposal which is approved by the Director of Women's & Gender Studies. The proposal should contain a brief description of the course/project (including any previous classes that qualify him/her for this project), a preliminary bibliography or reading list, an assessment component (what will be graded and when), and major topical areas to be covered during the semester. The student and faculty member should plan to meet approximately one hour per week (or the equivalent at the discretion of the instructor).

Students are reminded that Individual Studies must be set up with the first seven days of classes so proposals should be planned well in advance, preferably the semester before the proposed project.