Academic Credit for Research Experience
The Biochemistry faculty encourages undergraduates to be involved in research. Participation in research provides real experience in potential careers, develops mentoring relationships with faculty and other members of research groups, and is the best way to learn science.
Students are allowed to sign up for credit for working in research laboratories at any stage of their academic career. Approval for credit for independent study, 299(H), 399(H), or 499(H)], directed research (392, 492), requires approval by a Biochemistry faculty advisor.
Students are responsible for making their own arrangements. These must be completed prior to the semester in which the research will be performed. Signing up for credit for independent study requires the student to prepare a description of the proposed project and have a signed agreement by a sponsor. The proposal must be approved by a member of the undergraduate committee. Students must submit a description of the research completed at the end of the course to a member of the undergraduate committee.
Policies for Independent Study
Updated with policies & guidelines approved by Faculty Senate, 5/5/08
199, 299, 399, 499, 599, 699, 799* Independent Study: (Credit varies) Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Grades available: S, P, F, I, W 199H, 299H, 399H, 499H Independent Study - Honors: (Credit varies) Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Grades available: A, B C, D, E, I, W 392, 492 Directed Research: (Credit varies) Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Students may register for a maximum of 12 directed research units. Grades available A, B, C, D, E, I * Graduate students doing independent work that cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799 |
- Determination of credit: The University and Board of Regents require a minimum of 45 hours of course work for each unit of credit awarded.
- The number of credits of Independent Study must lie within the approved credit range listed in the catalog course description.
- Students should not serve as simply another pair of hands for another lab member. Specific learning outcomes should be discussed. The instructor or project advisor must provide either a course syllabus or a project plan detailing: (1) learning outcomes, (2) expected reading, or lab or field work, (3) expected meetings, (4) expected work products, and (5) criteria to be used for evaluation and grading.
- It is CBC departmental policy that students enrolled in an Independent Study course cannot be paid for the same hours as lab work. Therefore academic credit can be awarded only for faculty-approved academic work as defined by department policy, whereas, paid laboratory work must follow university or programmatic policies for student employment.
- Students should enroll within the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring Semesters or immediately after the beginning of Winter or Summer Sessions. Students must complete the required 45 hours of course work per credit unit before the last day of the term. The last day to register for Independent Study in Fall and Spring Semesters without incurring a late charge is the same as for all other courses; see http://www.bursar.arizona.edu/students/fees/census and http://www.bursar.arizona.edu/students/fees/late_charge.asp.
- If registration for an Independent Study course occurs after the twenty-first day of the regular semester, after the first two days of Winter Session or Pre-session, or after the first week of a Summer Session, the department head (or designee) must sign the Change of Schedule form, in addition to the instructor.
- If a grade of Incomplete is awarded for an Independent Study course at the end of the term, another Project Advisor must be identified who agrees to evaluate the student’s work, should the original Project Advisor become unavailable.
a. All proposal forms and project plans must be signed by the instructor and the student and filed in the department or program office within a week after the term commences.
b. At the end of the term, or whenever the student completes the project, the instructor or project advisor must complete a record of the outcome that explains the grade submitted. The record of outcome form with the instructor’s signature should be filed in the department or program office when the course grade is submitted.