Special Studies Form and Continued Mentorship
Special Studies Form: Choosing the Research Paper Topic
As a special studies course, AIP 197 requires a description of the research paper as a condition of enrollment. Upon securing a faculty advisor for the course, students must meet with, discuss, and identify a research topic. The research topic must be integrative; it must demonstrate a relationship between academic knowledge (theories, concepts, principles, methodologies, etc) and an aspect of the internship experience. The research does not have to focus directly on the internship itself but can focus indirectly on an aspect of the field the internship is situated in. The faculty advisor is also required to help a student chose a relevant and appropriate bibliography.
A description of the research topic and sample bibliography is required on the special studies form. The required faculty advisor signature indicates AIP also requires faculty advisors to approve and sign off on the Learning Agreement. The FA signature on this document indicates that the faculty advisor approves of the internship and its relevancy to the research paper topic.
When the special studies form is submitted to AIP, the topic will be reviewed and pre-approved by the AIP Director with final approval by the AIP Faculty Director. The special studies form serves as a contract for the research portion of the AIP experience. Changes to the research topic must be approved by the faculty advisor and confirmed/communicated to AIP via email. The final paper must reflect the research paper topic on the Special Studies form.
Beyond the Special Studies Form: Continued Engagement with AIP interms
After the special studies form has been signed and submitted, faculty advisors must be available to consult with students through the end of the quarter. Since the research paper topic on the special studies form is usually broad, and somewhat vague, students must revisit the topic once the internship begins in order to narrow it to a specific set of research questions, hypothesis, or thesis.
Students should begin researching, reading, and writing at the start of the quarter and must submit copies of the draft to their faculty advisor for feedback. If for any reason, a student fails to meet the faculty advisor’s expectations, he/she will receive a NO PASS for the paper, and therefore, for the course. It is not possible to pass the course without receiving a PASS on the paper. The final paper must be turned in on time (Thursday of week 10) as AIP does not issue incompletes.
