Registration for Research Independent Study

Enrolling in First Semester of Independent Study

When you have found a research director, view the independent study requirements linked below. To request enrollment, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies at dus@chem.duke.edu providing your name, email address and your PI's name and email address. A form similar to what is linked below will be sent to both you and your PI via AdobeSign. Once the AdobeSign document is completed and signed by both you and your PI, it will route to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. After review and approval, a permission number will be issued. PLEASE BEGIN PROCESS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO WHEN DROP|ADD ENDS.

View Independent Study Requirements here

If your independent study is in the chemistry department, the DUS will give you a permission number for the appropriate section of CHEM 393. You can then register for independent study in DukeHub.

If your independent study is outside the chemistry department, the DUS will review your form to determine if the project is sufficiently chemical/molecular oriented to count toward chemistry major requirements and requirements for Graduation with Distinction in Chemistry. When the project has been approved, you need to obtain a permission number in order to register. If your research director has an independent study section listed in DukeHub, you must obtain from your research director the course number, section number, and a permission number for his/her independent study. You can then register for independent study using DukeHub. If your research director does not have an independent study section listed in DukeHub, your approved research will need to be sponsored by the DUS. The DUS will give you a permission number for a section of CHEM 393. You can then register for independent study using DukeHub.

CHEM 295; Introduction to Independent Study, is open to all Chemistry majors but is strongly recommended for majors who are enrolling in their first semester of Independent Study; CHEM 393.

Requesting Writing Credit for Independent Study

Policy

One Research Independent Study (1.0 course credit coded R) may be submitted for approval for the Writing in the Disciplines designation if the student and research independent study advisor petition for such a designation before the end of the drop/add period in the semester in which the course is taken. (Research Independent Study courses cannot carry curriculum codes other than R and W.)

Procedure

Before beginning this process, please confirm that you still need a W code to complete your T-reqs. Once confirmed, inquire as to whether your research advisor is willing to sponsor a Research Independent Study that would involve a significant writing component. If you and your advisor agree to the writing criteria requirements as described below, you must jointly complete the Request for Writing Code (W) for Research Independent Study Course (below) and submit it to the Committee on Courses, courserequests@duke.edu or faxed to 684-8494, 011 Allen Bldg, before the end of the drop/add period.  

Writing Criteria

A W-designated Research Independent Study should, as much as possible, follow these guidelines for W-designated courses:

  • the student should write frequently throughout the term—periodically submitting either several discrete writing projects or drafts or sections of a longer project;
  • the faculty member should comment on these writings with advice toward revision;
  • the student and faculty member should meet regularly to discuss the student's writings;
  • the uses of writing in the discipline should be one of the focuses of the Research Independent Study; and
  • a significant percentage of the grade awarded for a W-designated Research Independent Study should reflect the growth and quality of the student's work as a writer.

FORM:

Download Request for Writing Code for Research Independent Study Course (docx - 33.24 KB)