Independent Study

2009-2010 Independent Study List

Independent study (CHEM 4091), provides an opportunity for a student to work on a research project with an individual faculty member outside of the regular class structure. This generally provides an experience much more like real-life chemistry or biochemistry, where new results are being sought and the outcome of the research is not known in advance. The student may have a totally independent project or may become part of a research team working at the forefront of science. In favorable cases the project may result in publication of the results of the independent study in the scientific literature. As part of the research team in a particular group the student will usually participate in group seminars and informal discussions with other members of the group.

Occasionally, a student may propose to a faculty member a project of mutual interest for the independent study. More commonly, since scientific research usually requires money for equipment and supplies, a student will talk to a faculty member working in an area of interest, and the faculty member will propose a project which fits in with the research funding available in his or her group. If the student finds the project of interest it can form the basis of the independent study. It is expected that the student will already have the requisite background in course work to understand the project and be able to gain the most from the research. For this reason, independent study is most commonly undertaken by juniors and seniors, though occasionally a student may be prepared to start research earlier. Independent study is usually most appropriate for students with grade point averages above 3.0. The student, in consultation with the faculty member, is usually expected to survey the relevant literature to understand the background of the project during the planning and execution of the research. The amount of time to be spent on the research must be agreed upon by the student and the faculty sponsor before registering for the class. The minimum standard of the department is that a student should spend an average of at least three hours per week on the research per credit hour; this corresponds to the usual credit for laboratory courses. However, many faculty members feel that this capstone experience of an undergraduate career deserves greater effort than the departmental minimum. At the end of the semester, it is commonly expected that the student will write a report or give an oral presentation on the research completed.

Independent study is intended to involve the student in research in appropriate scientific areas, and not as a way to take a course that happens not to be offered in a particular semester. (There is another mechanism for that.) It is not required for a B.A. degree in chemistry or biochemistry, and does not satisfy any of the requirements for the core curriculum or college list. It can, of course, count towards the total and the upper division hours required for graduation and is recommended as an elective class for many majors in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The maximum number of hours of credit in independent study during one semester is six, but students more commonly register for two or three hours during a semester. A common experience is that independent study is most meaningful when continued for more than one semester. College rules allow a maximum of 8 credits of independent study in any one department (and 16 credits total) to be counted towards the 120 hours required for graduation. That does not preclude doing additional research, but it will not count towards the graduation requirement. Independent study credit is not granted for work for which a student is paid or for internship work. Research outside of the department will not be granted independent study credit unless arrangements are made in advance for a faculty member to act as sponsor and maintain direct and regular supervision of the work.

Independent study may also make possible graduation with honors in chemistry or biochemistry. Independent research, whether for credit or not, is an essential part of the departmental honors program. Students with excellent scholastic records may wish to consult with the departmental honors advisor about other requirements and about whether their independent study could lead to graduation cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. This should be done during the junior year or, at the latest, at the very beginning of the senior year. Further information may be obtained from the Honors Program office in Norlin Library.

If you are interested in pursuing independent study, you should probably start by obtaining from the undergraduate chemistry office, Ekeley M199, a list of faculty who have indicated a willingness to have undergraduates working in their groups this year. With each name is a two- or three-line description of research interests. Additional and more detailed information about the research areas of faculty members can be found on the faculty section of the graduate study portion of this web page. Choose one or a few areas of interest to you, and go to talk with those faculty members to find out if they would have room for you in a given semester, and if so what project they would suggest to you. If you decide to work with a particular faculty member, you need to obtain an Independent Study Agreement form from the undergraduate chemistry office, write a brief outline of the proposed research, agree with the faculty sponsor on the expectations for the semester, get the form signed by the faculty member approving your registration for the course and your outline, and turn in the form to the departmental secretary in the main chemistry and biochemistry office, who will obtain the signature of the independent study coordinator and register you for the class. This must be done before the add deadline for the semester. Independent study credit cannot be awarded retroactively.

Many students rate independent study as the best experience of their undergraduate study. Undergraduates in chemistry and biochemistry are encouraged to undertake it and to enjoy it.

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Independent Study