Whatever you call it,
you enroll for it as ENGS 197 (fall) or 198 (spring). Students design
their own independent study projects, with the advice and eventually the
approval of a faculty sponsor. The project may not duplicate any of the
department's regular course offerings (thus you could study J. M. Synge, but
not Modern Irish Literature). With a faculty member's help, a student
draws up a reading list (if appropriate) and creates a detailed plan for
accomplishing the work (how much writing is to be done, how often to meet with
sponsor, deadlines, etc.)
The department has a
form obtainable in 400 Old Mill or click here; the form requires the signature of the
student's academic advisor, his or her faculty sponsor, and the chair of the
department or a designate (e.g., the chair of the Undergraduate Studies
Committee). The plan should be worked out, and needed approvals obtained,
by the end of the add/drop period (in practical terms, this should be done
before the end of the add/drop period, so that if something goes wrong, the
student can add another course). Ideally, the groundwork for an
independent study project should be done in the semester before undertaking it.
Internship Procedurally,
this form of study is much like independent study. But an intern is, of course,
at a work site. The department has a slightly different form for this
enterprise; it requires the signature of the on-site supervisor of your work,
as well as those of advisor, sponsor, and chair. Credit can vary from 3
to 6 credit hours per semester (rule of thumb: 10 to 12 hours a week equals 3
credits; 20-25 equals 6 credits). Since this is a work experience rather than
an academic one, the additional injunction is laid on the student to
"reflect on the experience in language," which usually means keeping
a journal which the faculty sponsor can look over from time to time, and
(usually) submitting a more finished piece of writing at the end of the
term. In other words, even if the internship itself involves writing, the
intern is also asked to write about it. Common internships for English
majors in the Burlington area include radio and TV stations, publishers, magazines
and newspapers, and even some on-campus venues such as the Public Relations
Office.
Please be aware
that an internship can count toward total hours in the major, but cannot count
as fulfilling the specific requirements of the major. Before enrolling
in either an internship or an independent study, students must secure a faculty
member in the English department to sponsor their work. Then, the student
must complete forms available in the English department that will require
several signatures before the internship or independent study can be
approved. Students enroll for an internship sponsored by the English
department under the rubric English 191/192, and independent study under the
course numbering 197/198.
Study Abroad
Besides the Buckham
program described above, many opportunities are available for English majors
who wish to study overseas. You may apply directly to the institution of
your choice or, as is more common, apply to some U.S.-based program such as
that of Beaver College. The Office of International Educational Services
in B161 Living/Learning Center has a great deal of information on a variety of
programs; that office maintains the UVM Recommended Study Abroad Programs List,
which you should consult and follow. You must complete the Study Abroad
Approval form and pay the appropriate Study Abroad fee in order to transfer any
overseas credits. You must also meet the admissions criteria of the program you
are interested in and have a GPA of 2.5 or more, or between 2.0 and 2.5 with a
minimum GPA of 2.5 for each of the last two semesters prior to studying abroad.
As you plan to
study overseas, you should be aware of several things: (1) no more than 16
hours of credit for a semester abroad, or 32 for a year, will be applied to
degree credit; (2) at least 30 of your last 45 hours of college work must be
done in residence at UVM; (3) at least half your major (practically, 18 hours)
must be done in residence at UVM; (4) courses in English or American literature
taught in non-English speaking countries undergo exceptionally close scrutiny
before credit is given; (5) you cannot study abroad if you are on trial.
In sum, it is
important to plan ahead both before you go and while you are abroad.
Consult your adviser or a member of the Undergraduate Studies Committee before
you leave to ensure that the courses you plan to take are appropriate.
While studying overseas, keep all your syllabi, course outlines, papers, and
other material to ensure that the courses you took can be properly evaluated
when you return. The Office of Transfer Affairs (327 Waterman) is
the administrative link for transfer of course credits.
