Independent Study Guide

In LALS, there are four distinct and non-overlapping ways to undertake independent study, which refers to scholarly work that does not occur in the standard classroom environment.  They are the following: (1) field study, (2) internship, (3) directed reading, and (4) research lab/practicum. 
In LALS, there is a limit of two independent studies that can be used as electives required for the major, or a maximum of 10 units from independent studies that can count toward the LALS degree (that limit includes EAP courses, if any).

1 - FIELD STUDY

Purpose and Academic Requirements for Field Study

Field study in LALS refers to the undertaking of independent research by a student either domestically or internationally, working closely with faculty. Typically, field study contributes to fulfilling the LALS Senior Exit Requirement, whether in the form of a senior thesis, an expanded paper or a creative project.  Note: the successful completion of a senior thesis, expanded paper, or creative project does not require field study.  Field study is not synonymous with taking a course through the Education Abroad Program (or other study abroad program), although students taking EAP can add a field study component during their time abroad.  Before engaging in field study, you must meet with your faculty advisor in LALS, discuss your plans, and fully develop a research proposal with a clear research design.  It is highly advisable that you start planning for field study a year in advance or earlier; two quarters lead-time is the minimum time required to undertake field study.

LALS students are eligible to participate in field study if they are in good to excellent academic standing. Students should show evidence of preparation for field study (e.g. good to excellent performance in relevant coursework, appropriate language skills for the field site, prior work/practical experience).

As a pre-requisite for field study, students must enroll in the pre-field preparation course LALS 196 (5 units, graded or equivalent) to assure readiness to make the most of the field study experience.  Ideally, you should take this course during your junior year, especially if you intend to do field study during the summer before your senior year.  The preparation course is designed for LALS majors/combined majors with approved research projects (i.e. who have discussed their research project with their advisor and agreed that field study is essential to their project).  The course will provide the framework within which you will develop your individual project in preparation for successful completion of fieldwork.  Through class discussions, reading materials, and relevant assignments the class will address the different aspects of research, helping you to finalize your research plans.  Students who possess equivalent experience and training (e.g., a similar Sociology or Anthropology course) can petition to waive LALS 196.

When you fulfill the pre-requisite(s) and are ready to enroll in field study, you must meet with your advisor and complete the “Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course” form.  After you met with your sponsor, you bring that form to the Undergraduate Advisor to obtain the call number for the course (make sure all the fields are complete – including your sponsor’s signature). Academic credit for field study can be for a minimum of 5 units and maximum of 15 (if doing a full-time FS during the summer), for a letter grade or P/NP depending on instructor’s approval. As you complete this form, you and your advisor should discuss the work that is to be submitted (e.g. field notes, data, journal, final report when you return from study site) based on your plans and the research proposal developed during the pre-field preparation course.  It is your responsibility to present the required coursework when you return from field study and/or on the date specified by your faculty advisor.

2 - INTERNSHIP

Purpose and Academic Requirements for Internships

An internship is an excellent opportunity to apply the concepts learned in LALS classes, to learn more about a career or field of study, and to develop valuable work experience.  Because you need to apply and make arrangements with a sponsoring organization off-campus, you should plan your internship ahead of time—ideally, at least one quarter before you begin the internship program. It is never too early to search for and apply to an internship program.

Students can find information for internships in the LALS Department bulletin board and the UCSC Career Center. You might also want to contact other departments in the Social Sciences (for example, Anthropology and Environmental Studies) and the Humanities.

LALS students are eligible to participate in an internship(s) if they are in good to excellent academic standing. Students should show evidence of preparation for the internship (e.g. good to excellent performance in relevant coursework, appropriate language skills if required at the internship site, prior work/practical experience).

When you are ready to enroll in your internship, you must meet with your faculty advisor (or faculty sponsor) to discuss your plans and goals for the internship, and to complete the “Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course” form. After you meet with your sponsor, you bring that form to the Undergraduate Advisor to obtain the call number for the course (make sure all the fields are complete – including your sponsor’s signature).

Academic credit for internships can be for a minimum of 2 units (and maximum of 5) for P/NP.  As you complete the “Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course” form, you and your advisor should discuss the work that is to be submitted (e.g. journal, final report/analytical paper when you complete your internship) based on your plans. It is your responsibility to present the required coursework when you complete your internship and/or on the date specified by your faculty advisor/faculty sponsor.

3 - DIRECTED READING

Purpose and Academic Requirements for Directed Readings

A directed reading enables  students to work more closely (usually one-on-one) with a faculty member of their choice on a clearly defined effort or project.  Directed reading can entail delving into a body of literature, developing a research proposal, working on a creative project, etc.  While there is a diversity of possibilities entailed under the directed reading option, the common denominator is a clear agreement, commitment, and set of expectations between student and faculty member.

LALS students are eligible to participate in directed reading if they are in good to excellent academic standing and have permission from the faculty member with whom they will undertake the directed reading.  Students should show evidence of preparation for the directed reading (e.g. good to excellent performance in relevant coursework, appropriate language or other skills).

When you are ready to enroll in your directed reading, you must meet with your faculty advisor (or faculty sponsor) to discuss your plans and goals for the directed reading, and to complete the “Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course” form. After you meet with your sponsor, you bring that form to the Undergraduate Advisor to obtain the call number for the course (make sure all the fields are complete – including your sponsor’s signature).

Academic credit for directed reading can be for a minimum of 2 units (and maximum of 5) for a letter grade or P/NP depending on instructors approval.  As you complete the “Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course” form, you and your advisor should discuss the work that is to be submitted (e.g. journal, final report/analytical paper when you complete your directed reading) based on your plans.  For the 2-unit option, a weekly response paper or equivalent assignment is standard, and does not require original research.  For the 5-unit option, a 10-12 page final paper or equivalent product is required.

It is your responsibility to present the required coursework when you complete your directed reading and/or on the date specified by your faculty advisor/faculty sponsor.

4 - RESEARCH LAB/PRACTICUM

Purpose and Academic Requirements for Research Lab/Practicum

Research labs/practicums in LALS refer to a student's participation on a particular faculty member's research team. Students are invited at the discretion of the sponsoring professor to join their research project to undertake data collection or analysis under that faculty memeber's supervision. Labs/Practicums contribute to students overall research expertise by allowing them to gain experience in particular methods of data collection (content analysis, survey collection, ethnographic interviews, archival, etc) and/or procedures to facilitate analysis of data (coding, transcription, translation, etc)

Typically, research labs/practicums contribute to the sponsoring faculty member's ongoing research, whether in the form of published academic journal articles, professional reports, policy briefs, book chapters, grant proposals, news article, editorials, edited volumes, and /or scholarly monographs. Research labs/practicums can sometimes lead to co-authored publication for the student(s) involved in the team. Before engaging in a research lab/practicum, you must meet with an LALS faculty sponsor, understand their plans and expectations, commit to conducting research and meeting all requirements independently in a satisfactory and timely manner. It is highly advisable that you start talking with your faculty sponsor two quarters in advance to gain permission to be part of their research team; one quarter lead-time is the minimum time required.

Research labs/practicums are faculty-initiated. Therefore student participation in them are at the invitation and discretion of the faculty sponsor. Some professors may require multi-quarter or multi-year commitments of their lab/ practicum participants. LALS students are eligible to participate in research labs/practicums if they are in good to excellent academic standing. Students must demonstrate evidence of preparation for research labs/practicums to the sponsoring professor (e.g. good to excellent performance in relevant coursework, preferably with the sponsoring faculty member, appropriate language skills for the field site, prior work/practical experience.

There are no pre requisites for the research lab/practicum. However, it is generally recommended that you have minimally initiated and preferably completed the LALS core sequence (LALS 1, 100, 100A, 100B). These courses will provide the framework within which you will collect and/or analyze data. Students can also demonstrate evidence of preparation for participation in a research lab/practicum if they posses equivalent experience and training (e.g., similar Sociology or Anthropology courses).

When you have been invited by a faculty member to participate in their lab and are ready to enroll in the practicum, you must meet with your sponsor and complete the "Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course" form. After you meet with your sponsor, you bring that form to the Undergraduate Advisor to obtain the call number for the course (make sure all the fields are complete - including your sponsor's signature). Academic credit for research labs/practicums can be for a minimum of 2 units and maximum of 15 (if doing full time research lab/ practicum during the summer), for a letter grade or P/NP depending on instructor's approval. As you complete this form, you and your faculty sponsor should discuss the work that is to be submitted (e.g. qualitative data, quantitative dataset, translations, transcriptions, report, coding) based on the faculty members' research requirements. It is your responsibility to present the required coursework on the date specified by your faculty advisor.

Important: For further information about these policies on independent studies, meet with your faculty advisor. The Petition for Undergraduate Individual Studies Course form is available from the plastic dispensers outside of the LALS office (Merrill 32), or downloadable from the LALS’ website.

July 2016