INTL-I 415 Independent Readings
 Instructions for Faculty Supervisors

Overview
The International Studies major draws on almost every department in the College of Arts and Sciences to provide students with an understanding of the international arena. With INTL I415 Independent Readings, students may conduct individually designed research projects on an international issue or problem under the direction of a faculty member.  With consultation of the advisor and approval of the director of International Studies, students can fulfill a requirement in the major if the topic is relevant to their academic plan and fits with remaining requirements.    

INTL department’s process for approval

• The student identifies a tentative topic and an appropriate faculty member to supervise.
• The student meets with the faculty member to discuss the practicality of the plan and if the faculty member is available to supervise.
• The student meets with the International Studies advisor to discuss how the independent readings course fits into his/her academic plan.
• The student submits the I415 application with a proposal for the independent readings and the signature of the supervising faculty member for review by the director of International Studies.

Student’s responsibilities

• The student is an active participant in the design of the independent readings course.
• The student comes prepared to meetings and provides the supervisor with a reasonable amount of time to review the materials before each meeting.
• The student fulfills the expectations established in initial conversation with the supervisor and documented on the I415 application.

Supervisor’s responsibilities

• The supervisor has some expertise related to the student’s proposed thesis topic.
• The supervisor oversees a semester of I415 Independent Readings in International Studies.
• The result of I415 course could be an annotated bibliography, a series of reading responses, a major paper or two to four shorter papers or some combination of these options.
• The grade should be reported to the International Studies Program, intl@indiana.edu, before grades are due.