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Individual Study
The College encourages students to work closely with their academic adviser(s) and to develop initiative and take responsibility for their own education through a variety of means: Plus-2, Foreign Language Option (FLO), Guided Reading, Individual Reading, Independent Study, Directed Research, and Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs.) .
Plus-2
A “Plus-2” is course-related independent individual study option that permits a student to add 2 credits to a regular course by choosing an independent study component of that course. The Plus-2 provides opportunities for more extensive work in some aspect of a course: more substantial exploration of the general literature of a course, additional studio or laboratory activity, or other corollary work. The Plus-2 option may also provide the opportunity to extend the use of foreign language into other disciplinary areas via the Foreign Language Option (FLO).
The Plus-2 option is available, with the approval of the instructor, only in some courses above the introductory (100) level. Courses with the Plus-2 option are indicated in this Catalog by a note following the course description.
Foreign Language Option (FLO)
Students are encouraged to study a foreign language at Grinnell and to extend the use of foreign languages into other disciplinary areas. Students may apply their foreign language skills to the discovery of content in a variety of disciplines which make use of translated material. There are a number of opportunities regularly available for students who wish to use their language skills in non-foreign language classes across the curriculum. Courses designated as having a Foreign Language Option make it possible for students to do some of the readings for those courses in the original language rather than in translation. Students may earn academic credit by registering for FLO as a Plus-2. Courses with the Foreign Language Option are indicated in this Catalog by a note in the course description. They may also be found by filtering online course schedule according to the FLO course type.
Guided Reading, Individual Reading, and Independent Study
Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), and Independent Study (397) provide an opportunity for a student to explore an academic area not part of the present College offerings. Either might include reading of a body of literature, reproducing published scientific experiments, learning advanced techniques, or exploring an art. The design of an independent project is very much in the hands of the student, with advice from the faculty director. Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), and Independent Study (397), in comparison to projects conducted under the rubric of a Mentored Advanced Project (499), have less formal application procedures, require significantly less faculty direction, and do not have the expectation of producing results intended for dissemination to the wider scholarly community. See the Student Handbook for Guided Reading, Individual Reading, and Independent Study registration instructions and deadlines.
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297 Guided Reading
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2 credits
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Guided Reading focuses on the reading of a body of literature under the direction of a faculty director and may culminate in a paper, examination(s), or other gradable product. A student is expected to meet once a week with the faculty director for discussion and analysis of the readings. Guided Reading is offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisites: at least second semester of first-year standing; proposals must be approved by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the Dean of the College.
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387 Individual Reading
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2 or 4 credits |
Individual Reading is only available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Greek, Japanese, and Latin. Reading focuses on a body of literature under the direction of a faculty director and may culminate in a paper, examination(s), or other gradable product. A student is expected to meet once a week with the faculty director for discussion and analysis of the readings. Individual Reading is offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisites: at least second-year standing; proposals must be approved by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the Dean of the College.
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397 Independent Study
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2 or 4 credits
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Independent Study is intended for select students who are competent to participate in a program of study under faculty supervision. Independent Study culminates in at least one product (a paper, laboratory report, work of art, etc.). A student is expected to meet at least once a week with the faculty director. Independent Study is offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisites: at least second-year standing; proposals must be approved by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the Dean of the College.
Directed Research
The College also encourages students to engage in faculty directed research projects. Directed Research (299 or 399) is an opportunity for a student to work under the continuous direction of a faculty member on a research project, often of the faculty director’s design. Directed Research, in comparison to projects conducted under the rubric of a Mentored Advanced Project (499), has less formal application procedures and does not necessarily have the expectation of producing results intended for dissemination to the wider scholarly community. See the Student Handbook for Directed Research registration instructions and deadlines.
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299 Directed Research
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2 or 4 credits |
Directed Research at the 200-level is intended for select students who have the appropriate academic preparation to benefit from an early research experience. The research project may be pursued in Grinnell or on a field excursion, always under the direct and continuous supervision of a Grinnell faculty member. Directed research will involve a search of the necessary literature and result in a written report. Directed Research (299) is offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisites: completion of the first year and coursework related to the topic of the research project; proposals must be approved by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the Dean of the College.
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399 Directed Research
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2 or 4 credits |
Directed Research at the 300-level is intended for select students who are competent to participate in an advanced research program. The research project may be pursued in Grinnell or on a field excursion, always under the direct and continuous supervision of a Grinnell faculty member. Directed research will involve a search of the necessary literature and result in a written report. Directed Research (399) is offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisites: completion of second year and coursework related to the topic of the research project; proposals must be approved by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the Dean of the College.
Mentored Advanced Projects
At the time of declaring a major, students submit a comprehensive plan that lists the coursework they have completed and outlines a plan for the remaining semesters of study. At this time, it is appropriate for interested students to discuss with their advisers how a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) might help shape their program by culminating a sequence of academic work.
Mentored Advanced Projects provide a chance to work closely with a faculty member on scholarly research or creative production. A MAP can be the capstone of the academic major or a concentration, or it can culminate a separate sequence not recognized as a formal program. In many fields, MAPs are connected with the faculty member’s scholarship and may contribute to ongoing faculty research. The MAP opportunity is made available by specific programs and individual faculty members at their discretion, so students should not expect to set the terms for a particular MAP. Sound planning and attentiveness to the available opportunities are recommended to students who seek a chance to culminate their undergraduate work in a creative or scholarly way. Products of MAPs are expected to contribute to the original scholarship of the field of study and may be disseminated professionally through a scholarly publication, presentation, or prize submission. See the Student Handbook for MAP registration instructions and deadlines.
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499 Mentored Advanced Project
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2 or 4 credits |
A Mentored Advanced Project is an approved course of faculty-directed scholarly or creative work that is the culmination of significant preparatory work and aims to produce results that merit presentation to the College community and the wider scholarly world. The Mentored Advanced Project takes place under the direct and continuous supervision of a Grinnell faculty member. Since MAPs are advanced and intensive, the first component of a multi-term MAP must earn four credits. Subsequent portions (such as a “follow-up” MAP) may earn two or four credits. Each component of a multi-term MAP must result in an appropriate product and will receive a grade. MAPs (499) are offered during the academic year and summer. Prerequisite: completion of second-year; approval by the faculty director, the academic adviser, and the academic program in which the MAP takes place. Specific MAP offerings are described in greater detail by departments, concentrations, divisions, and non-departmental majors.
Group Projects
Any instructor may permit students to work or meet together if joint work will be advantageous to all the students. Applications for all students in a group project should be submitted together, with the student statement attached to each application.
General Regulations for Plus-2, Independent Study, Directed Research, and MAPs
Eligibility for Individual Study
Guided Reading (297) may be undertaken when a student has attained second-semester of first-year standing. Plus-2, Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), and intermediate Directed Research (299) may be undertaken when a student has attained second-year standing. Advanced Directed Research (399) and a Mentored Advanced Project (499) may be undertaken when a student has attained third-year standing.
Students having less than third-year standing who have satisfied the tutorial requirement (or its equivalent) may take one Plus-2, Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), or intermediate Directed Research course (299) per semester. There is no semester limit for third- and fourth-year students.
Course Substitution
Plus-2, Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), Directed Research (299 or 399), and Mentored Advanced Project (499) may not substitute for a course regularly offered by Grinnell College, even though the course is not offered every year.
Credit Limitations
Although there is no limit to the total number of Individual Study courses (Plus-2, 297, 299, 387, 397, 399, and 499) a student may take, students may apply only 12 of these credits in any one department toward satisfaction of graduation requirements.
Grading
The audit and S/D/F grading option are not available for individual study courses.
General Application Procedures for Independent Study, Directed Research, and MAPs
Applications for Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), Directed Research (299 or 399), and academic year MAPs (499) or summer MAPs (499) are available on the Registrar GrinnellShare page.
An application for Guided Reading (297) requires a description of the topic accompanied by a bibliography. After consultation with the potential faculty director, the student submits an application first to their academic adviser for approval and then to the proposed faculty director. The application is then submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar, who will submit the application for approval from the Dean of the College. If the Dean approves the application, the student will be registered for the Guided Reading course. All Guided Reading applications are subject to the approval of the Dean of the College. Arrangement for a Guided Reading project must be made before the work is done; credit is not given for reading done in the past.
An application for Individual Reading (387) has department-specific requirements. Contact the individual department for a project checklist. After consultation with the potential faculty director, the student submits an application first to their academic adviser for approval, then to the proposed faculty director, and then to the appropriate department chair. The application is then submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar, who will seek approval from the Dean of the College. If the Dean approves the application, the student will be registered for the Individual Reading course. All Individual Reading applications are subject to the approval of the Dean of the College. Arrangement for an Individual Reading project must be made before the work is done; credit is not given for reading done in the past.
An application for Independent Study (397) or Directed Research (299 or 399) requires a thesis statement or equivalent, a bibliography, and an outline of the project—including an indication of academic preparation for this study. After consultation with the potential faculty director, a student submits an application first to his/her/hir academic adviser for approval and then to the proposed faculty director. The application is then submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar, who will seek approval from the Dean of the College. If the Dean approves the application, the student will be registered for the Independent Study or Directed Research course. All Independent Study and Directed Research applications are subject to the approval of the Dean of the College.
A Mentored Advanced Project (499) has the most formal and developed application. In consultation with the potential faculty mentor, a student develops a thorough description of the topic and project, a clear statement of the relation of the project to their previous studies, a bibliography or list of sources, list of graded work and deadlines, a budget for any needed materials and/or travel, and an explanation of the planned product of the project. Products of MAPs are expected to contribute to the original scholarship of the field of study and may be disseminated professionally through a scholarly publication, presentation, or prize submission. After securing approval from the faculty mentor, a student submits an application to their academic adviser for approval and then the appropriate department chair. The application is then submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar, who will seek approval from the Dean of the College. If the Dean approves the application, the student will be registered for the MAP. All MAPs are subject to the approval of the Dean of the College.
Leaves of Absence and Summer MAPs
Students who are on a Leave of Absence (Personal or Emergency/Medical Leave) during the spring semester are eligible for summer MAPs, provided the following conditions are in place:
1. The MAP meets Grinnell’s standards for summer MAPS.
2. The student has filed a Leave of Absence (Personal or Emergency/Medical) return letter and has been granted approval to return for the subsequent semester.
3. The student has preregistered (or will be preregistering) for classes in the fall semester.
4. The student must sign a promissory note agreeing to repay the stipend and appropriate tuition for the credits they earned if they do not enroll for the fall semester.
Registration Deadlines for Individual Study
Plus-2
Plus-2 may be added up to 5:00p.m. on the Friday of the fifth full week of classes. (See the current semester calendar for these dates). To register for a Plus-2, a student must complete a Course Change Form; obtain permission from their faculty adviser and the instructor of the course; and return the completed form to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline detailed above. Credit is not granted for a Plus-2 if a student does not successfully complete the related course.
Application Deadlines for Guided Reading, Individual Reading, Independent Study, Directed Research, and Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs)
The deadline to submit a Fall or Spring semester application for Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), Directed Research (299 or 399), or a MAP (499) to the Office of the Registrar is 5:00 p.m. on the Monday following the end of preregistration for the next semester. A completed application for a summer individual study (Plus-2 is not available during the summer) is 5:00 p.m. on the Monday following the end of preregistration for the Fall semester. (See the current semester calendar for these dates).
An application for Guided Reading (297), Individual Reading (387), Independent Study (397), Directed Research (299 or 399), or a MAP (499) must be completed with the required materials (see above) and all faculty signatures before submission to the Office of the Registrar. Upon receipt of a completed application, the Office of the Registrar will seek approval from the Dean of the College. If the Dean approves the application, the student will be registered for the individual study course. All applications for individual study work are subject to the approval of the Dean of the College.
Internships
The internship program provides a field learning experience as part of the liberal arts education. Internship experiences may take place during the fall or spring semesters or over the summer and may be structured as either remote or in-person experiences. An internship during the fall or spring semesters should require no more than 20 hours week (10–12 hours per week is common) over a period of at least 10 weeks. An internship during the summer should require a minimum of 20 hours per week (up to 40 hours per week is common) over a period of at least 6 weeks. These time and duration guidelines are to ensure students have sufficient experience with their internship in order to complete the assignments required in the INT-300 course. The credit and grade for an internship are awarded based solely on the academic work performed outside the work site. (See course syllabus.)
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INT-300 Internships:
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.5 credits
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Grinnell’s credit-bearing internship course—INT-300—is intended to provide students a structured framework in which to reflect upon and draw connections between their course of study at Grinnell and a work-site where they are employed as an intern. Students will conclude this experience with an advanced understanding of the organization and industry in which they interned as well as their strengths, areas for growth, values, and post-graduate goals. Prerequisite: None.
General Regulations for Internships
Eligibility
A student must be in good academic standing at the time of submitting a Request to Register for a Credit-Bearing Internship form. This form must be approved by the student’s advisor, the work site supervisor, the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS) advisor, and the Dean of the College A student suspended for the fall semester may not participate in a summer internship preceding the suspension. Students may not complete an internship for credit during fall, winter, or spring break.
Course Substitution
Internships (INT 300 ) may not substitute for a course regularly offered by Grinnell College, even though the course is not offered every year.
Credit Limitations
Students may earn a maximum of 5 credits through internships (INT 300 ) that can be counted toward graduation requirements. Internships earned through off campus study programs also do not count towards this total.
Grading
Internships taken for academic credit are graded S/D/F. The audit option is not available for internships.
Students must request to register for credit-bearing internships in advance. Information on the request process may be obtained from the Centers for Careers, Life, and Service.
Practica
Some departments offer practica courses or performance courses, including:
General Regulations for Practica
Eligibility for Practica
Eligibility for practica courses varies. Contact the appropriate department or the Office of the Registrar with questions. Practica courses are only offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Credit Limitations
- A total combined maximum of 8 credits of musical group performance (MUS 101 ), physical education activities or varsity sports (PHE 100 and PHE 101 ), and theatrical productions and dance ensemble (THD 100 , THD 101 , THD 200 , THD 201 , and THD 203 ) may count toward a student’s graduation requirements, with no more than 4 of those credits in physical education activities or varsity sports (PHE 100 and PHE 101 ).
- A combined semester maximum of 6 credits in musical group performance (MUS 101 ), studio instruction (MUS 120 , MUS 122 , MUS 220 , and MUS 221 , and recitals (MUS 320 and MUS 420 .)
Grading
Practica, including performance in musical groups (MUS 101 ), physical education activities and varsity sports (PHE 100 and PHE 101 ), and theatrical productions and dance ensemble (THD 100 , THD 101 , THD 200 , THD 201 , and THD 203 are graded S/D/F only. The letter grade option (A-F) is not available for these practica.
The audit option is available for all practica.
General Registration Procedures for Practica
In most cases, students register for practica credits like any other course, however, registration processes for THD 100 , THD 101 , THD 200 , THD 201 , and PHE 101 vary and the department will register the student after they earn credit.
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