HF371 and HF372

Rationale:

Currently, Honors students may do independent study work at the 200-level, but we have provided no opportunity for junior and senior Honors Forum and other highly qualified students to work independently above and beyond what is typical in 300-level independent studies. Junior and senior members of the student body who are exceptionally qualified to do independent research with a faculty member at a very high level of investigation would do so in HF371/372 and receive Honors Forum credit for the completed work.

Notes:

This independent study carries variable (typically one) credit. The student matriculating in the independent study with the consent of the faculty member overseeing the independent study will include in the proposal to the Honors Council the number of credits and the rationale (typically, one hour/week = one credit except in studio art and laboratory science, where two hours/week = one credit).

• This 300-level opportunity open to junior and senior students will provide an advanced experience in research in any academic discipline at the College. The Honors Council will require the following from students proposing such an experience:

• The project proposal must describe the project coherently and in detail, especially indicating the ways in which the undertaking exercises sophisticated abilities and methodologies.

• The proposal must also make clear why the available honors courses are not suitable for the student proposing HF371/372. The Council does not want students using this special opportunity as a substitute for enrolling in Honors Forum courses. Students will need to demonstrate how the HF Independent Study fits programmatically into their liberal arts education.

• The proposal must include the proposed contact time/week and number of credits, together with a rationale.

• The HF371/372 option may be repeated for credit with a new topic, but only 3 hrs. of HF371/372 may be counted toward the student’s seven hours of honors course work required by the end of the junior year.

• Approval authority for honors credit rests solely with the Honors Council.

• This course option is only for juniors and seniors; first and second-year students may pursue the established HF271/272 independent study route.