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Individual Study

Applications Due:

FALL SEMESTER: October 5 (faculty sponsor); October 12 (final to Chair)
SPRING SEMESTER: February 8 (faculty sponsor); March 18 (final to Chair)

An Individual Study (ARTH/ARTS 491 or 492) allows a student to pursue faculty-guided independent research or work in art history or studio art. Applicants must be declared majors in art history or studio art. See course descriptions for prerequisites. Students must attain faculty sponsorship and then submit an application proposal the semester before they plan to pursue an individual study. In art history, an individual study must come from work initiated or completed for an upper-level course in art history or a related descipline.

Procedure for Application

Application requires 2 copies of a completed Individual Study cover sheet (see section "Cover Sheets") and essay. Hard copies of both are due to the faculty sponsor and the department Chair by the given deadline.

Note

Due to the time required to sponsor a student, a
faculty member may accept no more than four
individual studies per semester.

Essay

The essay must be typed using Times font, double-spaced, on white paper, and a minimum of two pages. Reviewers will focus on clear prose and statement of intention, accuracy of information, and good writing skills.

In the essay, applicant must address the following:

  • if individual study is in art history, state the course number and name from which this project develops, provide a brief description of the project, and the grade received
    (if project is completed);
  • statement of intent/purpose (what you plan to do)
  • project(s) you plan to complete
  • materials required to complete the project(s)
  • statement of outcome / results (what you hope to achieve or learn from the Individual Study )

If the individual study is in art history, attach the paper from which your project develops.

Application Cover Sheet
Applicants must also submit a completed application cover sheet in either art history or studio art.

Undergraduate Research Grant Proposal - Optional
If you plan to apply for an Undergraduate Research Grant (to support the individual study), you may submit the proposal along with your application. Application for both requires a solid project proposal and teasing out of the details.

Review & Notification

The Individual Study Committee will review all applications. Applicants must demonstrate above-average competency in their major and in a specific area of concentration. Applicants will be notified, through e-mail at their UMW address, of the committee's decision.

Registering

Registration requires an "Individual Study Enrollment" form, signed by the faculty sponsor and the department Chair. This form is available from the Office of the Registrar only.