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NON-TRADITIONAL MODES OF LEARNING
No more than 32 credit hours may be counted toward graduation requirements for any combination of credit by examination, internships, practica, military coursework, instructional television or online courses. Credit for courses offered through non-traditional modes of learning will be granted only for courses offered by accredited institutions and, before credit is granted, each course will be evaluated to insure it meets requirements of Maryville College course work.
SPECIALIZED AND INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS OF INSTRUCTION
Maryville College offers many opportunities for students to tailor their learning experiences to their own needs and interests. The regulations governing these opportunities are set out below.
SENIOR STUDY
The Senior Study: The Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression Program at Maryville College is described under Degree Requirements in this catalog. In addition to prerequisites specified for the major, a student must hold at least junior standing and have passed First Year Seminar 140 and the English Proficiency Examination before beginning the Senior Study. The full project receives 6 credit hours, 3 hours in each of two semester-long courses, 351 and 352. Failure in the 351 or 352 course requires that the course be repeated. A second failure in 352 requires that both 351 and 352 be repeated with a new project; the original 351 becomes an elective.
INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY COURSES
If a student wishes to pursue a topic in his/her major that is not available through a regular catalog course, he/she may request a program of individualized reading or experimental work. The academic division chair will consider that request on the basis of the appropriateness of the topic and availability of faculty for supervision. Such a course may be an additional course in the major or, when appropriate, may substitute for a major course. Such coursework carries a 350 number, and students may not earn more than three credit hours through individualized study courses. The student must have at least junior standing. Such a program is pursued under the guidance of a faculty member, who confers regularly with the student and assesses the program. Approval by the academic division chair is required, and an additional fee is charged.
LIFE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The Maryville College Life Enrichment Program (MCLEP or “portfolio”) is a means to enrich and diversify the student’s educational experience through a combination of curricular and co-curricular activities. In the program each student works closely with a faculty or staff mentor to identify or design projects appropriate for his or her personal growth. The projects must fall into the categories of wellness, leadership, creative/aesthetic works, cross-cultural experience, or citizenship (e.g., service and community involvement). A Special portfolio project in self-management is required of first year-in-college students placed on academic probation following the first fall semester. Expected outcomes include some of the following: an enriched life, an integration of experiences, discovery, deeper development, and transformation. Only one credit hour may be earned in any category, and no more than three credit hours may be earned in the program. One project may be taken for credit in a semester. The program is available only during the fall and spring semesters. A central feature of each project is the maintenance of a personal journal, the purposes of which are to encourage careful observation and reflection and to deepen knowledge of oneself. Through completion of an individually designed project, the student earns one credit hour.
Written descriptions of completed projects may be used to create a portfolio of experiences.
INTERNSHIPS AND PRACTICA
Many academic departments offer opportunities for students to learn through practical experience, usually related to the major field, through an internship or practicum. These supervised experiences provide a chance to apply knowledge and skills in an operational setting, while testing one’s interest in a particular career or profession. Possibilities range from individual work with exceptional children in the Maryville College Denso Learning Center to editorial duties in a publishing house to service as an aide to a public official. Academic departments and the Center for Calling and Career occasionally assist students in arranging post-graduate or other non-credit internships.
Credit earned for practica and internships is in proportion to the scope and duration of the experience. Practicum experiences are allotted two to six credit hours. Practica may be pursued while the student is enrolled in other coursework, and in some cases the work may be done on campus and be related to the College program. Departmental guidelines for practica vary, but for each credit hour granted students are expected to be involved the equivalent of at least three hours of activity per week for a semester. Internships are allotted 7 to 15 credit hours and are intended to give students a more complete immersion in a work or service setting. Other coursework is normally not taken during an internship, though the Senior Study (351 or 352) is sometimes completed during a fall or spring internship. Internships take place off-campus and require a time commitment equivalent to full-time employment, with credit allotted on the basis of one credit hour for each week of full-time involvement.
While some major fields generally restrict enrollment in internships and practica to students majoring in the field, special qualifications or circumstances may warrant application to the appropriate academic division chair for a waiver permitting enrollment by a non-major.
All academic divisions are required to have written guidelines for internships and practica. The guidelines are available in each division and in the Registrar’s office. Guidelines include application and approval procedures, the range of accepted experiences, methods of reporting and verifying experiences, and the duties of the faculty supervisor and the off-campus supervisor.
Departmental guidelines may restrict or prohibit remuneration. Remuneration may be permitted insofar as guidelines for the learning experience are followed and faculty supervisors work closely with organizations and off-campus supervisors to protect the student and to ensure the quality of the experience as an extension of the College curriculum. Internships (numbered 337) and Practica (343) are available in any major. Internships and Practica are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis; letter grades are not assigned except in Education 343 and 401 (Student Teaching).
INDIVIDUALIZED MAJORS
Students pursuing the B.A. degree may design an Individualized Major. A formal application and approval of the Committee on Individualized Instruction are required. Individualized majors must include 18 hours in one subject area, 12 hours in a related subject, and 6 Senior Study hours. An individualized major must be approved by the second semester of the sophomore year. A faculty sponsor in each subject area is required. Application forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.
STUDENT LITERACY CORPS
A description of the Student Literacy Corps may be found under Learning By Experience in this catalog. There are two credit options. For two credit hours, the student completes one campus-based class hour per week (orientation and training) and three hours of community-based tutoring. For three credit hours, the student completes one class hour and six tutoring hours.