The Biology Department encourages students to engage in some form of independent study. The nature of these projects can vary depending upon a student's interests and the expertise of the faculty. For example, a student could work on a project in a faculty member's research laboratory. If a student has an interest in a topic outside the specific expertise areas of department faculty members, the project might take the form of an extensive review of the scientific literature on that topic. It might even be possible for a student to work on a project at a local health care facility, such as the Salem Veterans Administration Hospital.

Whatever form the study takes, the idea is to give students the opportunity to formulate a problem, to determine the best way to attack the problem, and to work toward bringing the project to some reasonable conclusion.

Independent study requires self-sufficiency and self-motivation and demands serious commitment from a student. A student enrolling in independent study is expected to budget ample time for work on the project. A study schedule should be made in consultation with the advisor, and steady progress throughout the term must be demonstrated. This research work should be treated as a regular course (with the associated requisite time) and should not be taken as part of a schedule overload

Generally, a student will carry out independent study during her/his 3rd and/or 4th years. Roanoke College has a summer student research program, and a student may engage in an independent project under the support of a summer stipend. Academic credit may also be obtained for summer research work.

Before a student begins work on a project, (s)he must prepare a proposal describing the project and submit it to the faculty member in the Biology Department under whose direction the study will be carried out. The proposal must be prepared the semester before the work is to be carried out. An independent study project will culminate in an extensive written summary of the work and usually requires that the student make a public, oral presentation of the work.

Students may obtain academic credit for independent study work in three ways: 1) by enrolling in either Biology 350 (1 unit of course credit) and/or Biology 355 (1/2 unit of course credit); or 2) by completing Biology 460 (Senior Research) and Biology 470 (Senior Thesis) during their 4th year; or by enrolling in the Department Honors sequence (Biology 495, 496, and 497). More specific information on these options can be obtained from any Biology faculty member.

A maximum of three course units of independent study may be attempted. Continued enrollment, following the first term of study, is contingent upon the quality and quantity of work accomplished during the first term. Independent research may be counted as elective credit in Biology and will be incorporated into a student's departmental and College grade point averages. Enrollment on a pass-fail basis is not allowed.

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