Overview Form

College And Department

Course Action

Other Course Change

• Prerequisite(s)
*From Course Number
*To Course Number
• Co-requisite(s)
*From Course Number
*To Course Number
• Number of Credits
*From
*To
• Title of Course
*From
*To
• Course Number
*From
*To
• Other
*Explain

Course Details

Cross Listing Course Name/Number

N/A

Current

Add

Remove

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Is this course repeatable for credit?

Yes

No

Are there any restrictions to repeatability? (# of credits, # of completions, different topics, etc.)

Up to 6 credits.

Are there any course equivalencies for this course?

Yes

No

What restrictions apply?

Is this course part of academic program assessment?

Yes

No

Specify how the Course Objectives for this course align with the academic program assessment plan.

Specify how the Student Learning Outcomes for this course align with the academic program assessment plan.

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Current catalog description

MALS 699 - Independent Study (3 credits) (Prereq: Permission of program coordinator or instructor) Guided by a faculty mentor, a student conducts an intense study of an issue salient to one’s scholarly interests. This course may be repeated under different topics for up to 6 credit hours. F, S, Su.

Proposed catalog description, in the present tense, including prefix, number, title, (credits), (prerequisites), (co-requisites), course description, and semesters offered. Catalog description should be exactly as it is to appear in the catalog.

MALS 699 - Independent Study (1-6 credits) (Prereq: Permission of program coordinator and instructor) Guided by a faculty mentor, a student conducts an intense study of an issue salient to one’s scholarly interests. This course may be repeated for up to 6 credit hours. F, S, Su.

Justification For Request

What research has led to this request?

The MALS Coordinator, in consultation with the MALS Faculty Advisory Committee, wishes to create more flexibility for student scheduling by adding the variable credit option to the independent study. Students may choose to work on a research project that extends over more than one semester, spreading their time commitment to the project across multiple semesters based on work, family, and other academic commitments. To ensure both appropriate consultation with the instructor and appropriate progress towards degree completion, we wish to change the "or" in the prerequisite to and "and" to require approval by both the instructor and the program coordinator, who also serves as the advisor to students in the program.

What impact will this request have on existing academic programs?

It creates greater flexibility for both faculty and students. The MALS program is dependent on faculty from multiple departments to offer independent study options to students. Allowing variable credits for these also may serve as an incentive to instructors who may be more willing to commit themselves to a lower credit offering (rather than the full 3 credits) in a given semester.

What financial costs are associated with this request?

None.

If NO change in cost is anticipated, how is this possible?

Independent studies are already offered regularly in the program.

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Any additional information