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• • Procedures Governing the M.A. Program

    • Master's Thesis
    • Master's Exam

Independent Study

 

Independent Study credit may be earned through advanced research and writing in a particular area of study. Students registering for English 5990 will have completed graduate-level course work or done extensive reading in the selected area of study. In special circumstances, students may apply for Independent Study credit for graduate-level study in an area in which coursework is not offered during the academic year.

Students intending to register for English 5990 should consult with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies as early as possible regarding their plans for the independent study. When the independent study director has been chosen, the student and the director, in consultation, should prepare a proposal containing the following: 1) a general description of the project; 2) justification for the number of credits requested; 3) a detailed weekly study plan/syllabus for the project (assignments and contact hours should be mentioned); 4) a bibliography of primary and secondary sources (for creative writing proposals, a bibliography of texts, if any, considered essential for the project). Independent study projects culminate in a seminar-length paper or creative writing synthesizing and reflecting the student's work.

Because of university registration procedures, Independent Study proposals must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee before the last week of classes in the semester prior to the one in which the student plans to register for English 5990. Independent Study proposals must be signed by the sponsoring faculty member in order to be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee. Since proposals are not routinely approved, the student must submit the Independent Study proposal to the Graduate Studies Committee by the deadlines announced in the Graduate Studies calendar for each semester.

No student shall be allowed to undertake Independent Study projects which duplicate or overlap material being covered simultaneously in a regular graduate class or projects which duplicate or overlap material covered by that student in English 5997 (Study Abroad). Independent Study should not be used to prepare for the Master's examination. The number of Independent Study proposals accepted each semester may be restricted due to financial, administrative, or other factors.

 

Study Abroad

Permission to register for English 5997, Study Abroad, shall be given by the Graduate Studies Committee in the manner specified above for approval of Independent Study projects, except that the deadline for project approval shall coincide with deadlines set by the Program Director for Study Abroad.