A230. Special Studies

(Am. 3.83, 4.84, 4.85, 2.87, 12.87, 11.7.12, 4.22.15, 05.03.17)
  1. Undergraduates
    1. Credit

Subject to conditions in sections 3 and 4, a student may earn credit for supervised independent study of topics of the student’s own selection, or a group of students may earn credit for an organized cooperative study of topics of their own choosing. Such study will receive faculty advice on topics or methods of study.  

    1. Course Numbers (EC. 4.22.15)
      • The number 97 is reserved for Field Studies Courses at the lower-division level.
      • The number 98 is reserved for Organized Group Study at the lower-division level.
      • The number 99 is reserved for Supervised Independent Study at the lower-division level by academically superior undergraduate students, who are to be defined by each department, or equivalent. This definition includes, as a necessary part, a grade-point average of at least 3.3. (Eff. Spring 1985)
      • The number 197 is reserved for Field Studies Courses at the upper-division level. (En. 3.83)
      • The number 198 is reserved for Organized Group Study at the upper-division level.
      • The number 199 is reserved for Supervised Independent Study at the upper-division level.
    1. Approvals
      1. Each student enrolled in a lower-division Independent Study course (99) must have prior consent of the instructor who is to supervise the study.
        • Approval by the Chair of the Department (or equivalent) must be obtained on the basis of a written proposal that specifies nature of the study, number of units to be credited, and the basis for grading. (En. 4.84)
      1. A written proposal for each Field Studies Course (97 or 197), signed by the faculty sponsor, must receive approval by the Chair of the Department.
      2. Each section of an Organized Group Study Course (98 or 198) must receive approval by the Chair of the Department (or equivalent) based on a written proposal submitted by the instructor who is to supervise the course that describes the matter to be studied, the methods of instruction, the number of units to be credited, and methods of evaluation of student performance. (EC. 4.88, 00, 4.22.15)
        • A copy of the approved proposal must be submitted for information to the Committee on Courses of Instruction.
      1. Each student enrolled in an Independent Study course (199) must have prior consent of the instructor who is to supervise the study and of the student's major advisor.
        • Approval by the Chair of the Department (or equivalent) must be obtained on the basis of a written proposal that specifies the nature of the study, the number of units to be credited, and the basis for grading. 
    1. Limitations
      1. The formal description of a 99 Course must explicitly state the qualifications for student admission. (En. 4.84)
      2. Students enrolled in 197, 198, and 199 courses must be in good academic standing (2.00 grade-point average or better).
      3. Credit for 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 courses in a single term may aggregate no more than four units.    
      4. Only a grade of Passed or Not Passed is to be assigned in 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 courses.
      5. Subject to approval by the Committee on Courses of Instruction, a Department may impose additional limitations on 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 courses.
      6. No more than a total of 16 units of courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, and 199 may be used to meet the requirements for a Bachelor's degree.
    2. Exceptions

The Dean of the student’s College or School may authorize exceptions to Limitations 2, 3, 4, and 6.

  1. Graduates
    1. Course Numbers
      • Course number 601 is reserved for Individual Study for Master's Degree students.
      • Course number 602 is reserved for Individual Study for Doctoral students.
    1. Approval

Enrollment in these courses must be approved by the student's graduate adviser.

    1. Credits and Grading

A student may earn 1-8 units per Semester and 1-4 units per Summer Session. These courses must be taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

    1. Limitations
      • Units earned in these courses may not be used to meet academic residence or unit requirements for the Master or Doctor's Degree. (Eff. Fall 1987)