Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

Summer StudyAn undergraduate seven-week summer term on campus enables a student to completeas many as two course credit units. Additional course opportunities are availableoff-campus throughout the summer. Students also may pursue field study projectsby securing approval in advance for individual projects off campus. A maximum ofthree course credit units per year may be completed during the summer study. Thesummer term is coordinated with the other terms so that by careful planning a studentcan graduate at the end of three calendar years.Graduate courses are offered in a seven-week summer term and occasionally in asubsequent four-week session.Other Learning OpportunitiesIndividual StudyDirected and independent study courses are available in most disciplines. They offerproperly qualified students the opportunity during any term to carry out individualwork that is unique and intensive on a topic not offered as a regular course. Thestudent works on campus under the general supervision of a faculty member in theappropriate program in a one-to-one relationship.For either type of course, a detailed description of the project must be submitted onthe proper form by the beginning of the term during which the work will be done.The student prepares this statement after consulting with an appropriate facultymember who is willing to supervise the student’s work. Approval by the appropriatedepartment chair or program director and the divisional dean is required. Directedand independent study courses may be taken using the standard letter grade systemor using the S/D/U system. The proposal form for approval must be submitted to theOffice of the Registrar no later than the end of the first week of a fall or spring termor prior to the start of a January or summer term.Directed Study courses are offered at the intermediate (numbered 260) and advanced(numbered 460) level for variable credit ranging from 0.25 to 1.00. To be eligiblefor a directed study course, a student must have demonstrated a capacity to doindividual work and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00. Astudent may register for only one such course in individualized study (either onedirected study course or one independent study course) in any one term.Directed study at the intermediate level is open to sophomore students or higherduring the long term, but freshmen also are eligible during the January term.Advanced directed study is ordinarily limited to a topic falling within the student’smajor or minor, and taken only after successfully completing the basic courses inthat field. However, by special permission of the department chair, a directed studycourse also may be taken in another discipline provided the student has completedthe basic course work in that discipline plus all necessary prerequisites for thedirected study topic.The topic chosen by the student and approved by the faculty member must besufficiently delimited to permit significant oral and written reports. A directed studyACADEMIC PROGRAM| 55