Independent Study Requirements

Undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing an independent study shall submit a study proposal on the departmental form to the relevant faculty member for review. The following represent minimum expectations regarding the amount of work required:

A. Directed Readings

For each credit of proposed study, a student should expect, as a minimum, to read three books and to submit critical book reviews that are each at least four pages in length, or to read seven articles and to submit an annotated bibliography or composite literature review of at least ten pages in length. Reading requirements will depend on whether the proposed project involves essentially library or applied research, but would ordinarily entail reading at least three books or seven articles per credit. More exact expectations should be established in consultation with the faculty adviser.

B. Research Projects

For each credit of proposed study, a student should expect, at a minimum, to submit a research paper of at least ten pages in length per credit hour. Reading requirements will depend on whether the proposed project involves library or applied research, but would ordinarily entail reading at least three books or seven articles per credit. More exact expectations should be established in consultation with the faculty adviser.

Note: No more than 7 credits of independent study (PSCI 492) and internship (PSCI 498; 6 credit maximum) combined may count towards the 37 credits required of political science majors. Additional credits may count toward the 120 credits needed for graduation as long as total credits in Political Science do not exceed 60.