Neuroscience 3996F/G and 3997G (Independent Study Course)

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT STUDY?

A variety of faculty-supervised research projects are eligible for academic credit in the Independent Study courses. These could include empirical research projects or literature reviews. Some students use an independent study to research a topic of interest that is not covered in the standard course curriculum (in which case the Independent Study Form should propose learning objectives and appropriate assignments). The workload of such a project should be comparable to a regular 0.5 course. Independent Study courses requires a minimum of 2500 words of written work, but the nature of the project is otherwise flexible and determined in consultation with a faculty supervisor. For students that register in both Neuroscience 3996F and 3997G, this means a minimum of 2500 words of written work for each class (5000 total)

Note: Independent Study courses are exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least one week before the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty. Instead, the breakdown of the final course grade, with weighting and deadlines will be set by the supervisor, in consultation with the student.

WHO CAN SERVE AS AN INDEPENDENT STUDY SUPERVISOR?

Neuroscience students can have any full-time faculty member in the general area of Neuroscience supervise them. View our website for a complete Faculty listing that are members of the Neuroscience program. You can approach any Faculty member at Western doing reserach within the area of neuroscience (even if not a program member).  If you have any questions about eligibility, please email the Neuroscience Program Coordinator, Susan Simpson, at susan.simpson@schulich.uwo.ca.

Senior graduate students or postdoctoral fellows may act as a co-supervisor under the direct supervision of a full-time Faculty member. The Independent Study Form (see below) should have the name, e-mail address and signature of BOTH the co-supervisor and the full-time Faculty member supervisor.

ELIGIBILITY

To enroll in a Neuroscience Independent Study (I.S.) course, the student must be enrolled in the third year of the Honours Specialization in Neuroscience at Western. The student must also have an “A” average from the previous year and have permission of the Director of the Neuroscience Program.  The student and supervisor must complete the Independent Study Form, which involves describing the content of the Independent Study, the anticipated frequency of meetings between student and supervisor, the work required of the student, and the grade breakdown. This form must be returned to the Neuroscience Program Coordinator, Susan Simpson, at susan.simpson@schulich.uwo.ca.

SAMPLE FORM

Note that Independent Study written work MUST be submitted to Turnitin on the relevant course website (3996F, 3996G, 3997G) at the end of term before a final mark will be recorded.

WHAT COURSE DO I ENROLL IN?

A student that wants to enroll in only one I.S. course will enroll in either 3996F (fall term) or 3996G (winter term).

A student that wants to enroll in two I.S. courses will enroll in 3996F (fall term) and 3997G (winter term).  Students that register in both Neuroscience 3996F and 3997G, this means a minimum of 2500 words of written work for each class (5000 total)

PROCEDURE TO ENROL IN NEUROSCIENCE 3996F, 3996G and 3997G

1. Complete the Independent Study Form with your supervising professor (including due date(s) and listing your average from the previous year) and ensure you both sign it.
2. Submit the Independent Study Form to the Neuroscience Program Coordinator, Susan Simpson, at susan.simpson@schulich.uwo.ca for approval a minimum of two weeks prior to the add deadline for that term (earlier is better). 
3. You will be emailed once permission has been granted and you can then register for the course via Student Centre

INFORMATION FOR SUPERVISORS

As noted above, various faculty-supervised research projects are eligible (empirical research projects, literature reviews, or faculty-advised student readings and assignments on a topic not covered in the curriculum). Workload should be comparable to a regular 0.5 course and must have a minimum of 2500 words of written work. Students are required to have 4 or more graded elements. These must be outlined in the section entitled ‘Specify BREAKDOWN of marks’ on the independent study form.

To be included in the minimum word count, a written component must be connected prose such as a literature review, introduction, research proposal or final report. Items such as posters or infographics would not count towards the minimum word count but can be one of the graded components of the course.

A student must ensure that all graded elements are outlined in the on the Independent Study Form submitted prior to enrollment in the course.

Example of grading for a Research Project:
Research Proposal
Research Talk and Discussion
Laboratory Grade
Final Report

Example of grading for a Literature Review:
Review Outline
Participation/Attendance
Review Presentation and Discussion
Final Paper

The course instructor will assign a second, independent marker for the final essay.  All other marks will be assessed by the supervisor (i.e. laboratory grade).  Each supervisor will be expected to serve as a second marker for the same number of essays as the number of I.S. students they supervise each term. The independent marker will receive a copy of Page 2 of the students Independent Study Form.

Minimum suggested contact with supervisor or designate: once every two weeks.

Research results, literature reviews etc. may not be reused for credit in the Neuroscience 4000E research thesis project. However, the feasibility of a study (i.e. research methods) or preliminary results may be tested/obtained in Neuroscience 3996F/G or 3997G and used as a proof of principle or provide rationale for conducting a future Neuroscience 4000E project. Projects completed in this course will be monitored by the Neuroscience 4000E course coordinator to ensure students do not receive credit in two courses for one project.