Office of Academic Services
Adviser Guide

CPO Box 2205
110 Lincoln Hall
Berea, Kentucky 40404
Phone: 859-985-3208
Fax: 859-985-3918 or 3921

Office Hours:
M–F, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Contact:

Independent Study and Team Initiated Study
 

The purpose of Independent Study and Team Initiated Study courses is to provide students with the opportunity to study topics not ordinarily covered in regular College course offerings, to follow up on previous research, or to undertake projects not otherwise available through regular courses. These studies also may be concerned with more narrowly defined or more advanced material than that offered in regular courses. They must increase knowledge beyond that already gained, enhance analytical ability, and/or lead to higher skills acquisition. They may not duplicate courses listed in the current College Catalog and cannot be used to meet any Perspective Area in the General Education Program. Independent Studies are carried out by one student; Team Initiated Studies are carried out by two or more students. Although Independent Studies and Team Initiated Studies are initiated by the student, faculty sponsors should be consulted during the thinking and planning stages of the study. An Independent Study or Team Initiated Study need not be in the student’s major field of study, but both require sufficient background knowledge for analysis or description within a conceptual framework, i.e., aesthetic, ethical, historical, literary, scientific, sociological, etc.

Students may wish to propose an Independent or Team Initiated Study that also will meet the Active Learning Experience (ALE) requirement in the General Education Program. Proposals seeking ALE credit must be reviewed by the ALE Coordinator (Linda Strong-Leek), who will be looking for these components:

  1. How well does the study explore the connections between theory and practice?
  2. Does the study include an ongoing reflection component (e.g., journal, blog, photo journal, or extensive interaction with onsite resource)?
  3. Does the study include a synthesizing project (performance, play, presentation, composition, or exhibition, including interaction with the on-site adviser or other on-site audiences).

Independent Studies and Team Initiated Studies may be proposed for one (1) academic credit with ALE credit (designated as GST or DEPT 390/490A for Independent Study and 397/497A for Team Initiated Study) or for one (1) academic credit without ALE credit (390/490B for Independent Study and 397/497B for Team Initiated Study). Independent and Team Initiated Studies also may be proposed as non-credit for Short and Summer terms (which carry only a Short Term credit and do not count in the minimum of 33 earned credits needed to graduate). Non-credit studies also are eligible for ALE credit. On-campus, non-credit Independent Studies are designated as GST or DEPT 091A with ALE credit OR 091B without ALE credit and 092A and 092B, respectively, for Team Initiated Studies. Off-campus, non-credit Independent Studies are designated as GST or DEPT 090A with ALE credit OR 090B without ALE credit and 097A or 097B, respectively, for Team Initiated Studies.

Studies proposed under the General Studies rubric (GST) must demonstrate clearly the interdisciplinary nature of the project. Otherwise, the student(s) should determine which department or academic program best fits the goals and scope of the study. Independent and Team Initiated Studies also may be used for studies in disciplines not offered at Berea, if a qualified Berea faculty member is available to sponsor them.

The faculty sponsor must be from the Department or Interdisciplinary Program in which the study is to be conducted. Faculty members are limited to involvement with a maximum of two (2) Independent Studies or Team Initiated Studies in any one (1) term. Second readers are secured by the student and the faculty sponsor. 

All studies must have the approval of the Academic Adviser and of the Chairperson/Director of the Department/Program in which the study is to be conducted. GST studies require the signature of the Director of General Education. Studies involving international travel require the signature of the Education Abroad Adviser. Off-campus studies require the support of an off-campus sponsor, either with a signature on the proposal or an e-mail stating that he or she will provide on-site support to the student or students, if needed. The off-campus sponsor also should submit contact information (mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address) to the Office of Academic Services before the course can be registered.

Independent Studies and Team Initiated Studies may be proposed only by sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are not on any type of probation (academic, social, or labor). At the time a for-earned-credit proposal is submitted, sophomores must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00; juniors or seniors, 2.50. Non-credit proposals (Short and Summer terms only) may be submitted by sophomores, juniors, or seniors with a minimum 2.00 overall GPA.

Proposal forms are available from the Student Service Center’s Self Serve Room (101 Lincoln Hall), or on the MS Outlook public folder called #Academics. The guidelines contain complete information about policies as well as guidelines for the successful preparation of a proposal. All proposals must be word processed and contain all required signatures before being submitted to the office of the Coordinator of Advising in the Office of Academic Services for review.