Judaic Studies Independent Study Opportunities
When a particular area of Judaic Studies is not covered by a regular course offering, students may pursue an independent study course to gain knowledge and experience in that area. Course content, assignments, meeting times and grade requirements are arranged with a JS faculty member.
An independent study provides an opportunity for students to receive course credit for the academic component of their work when they are:
· Working in a research lab
· Conducting their own research
· Performing an in-depth study on a Judaic Studies topic
· Participating in an internship or volunteer opportunity
Independent studies are contingent upon professor availability and department approval. Please reach out to Kristina Riemer at js-student-services@umich.edu with any questions.
Determining Credit Hours
During a full term (Fall, Winter, or Spring/Summer semesters), this averages to at least 3 hours working on the project/research each week for each credit hour (i.e. 3 credits = 9 hours a week and 4 credits = 12 hours a week). For Spring or Summer half-terms, this averages to at least 6 hours of work per week for each credit hour.
It is up to your mentor/lab to keep track of your hours and make sure you are fulfilling this requirement. You may work more hours some weeks and fewer others, as long as it balances out. Another way to view this requirement is that you must complete 45 hours over the course of the semester per credit earned, regardless of whether it is a full or half-term.
Research Assistance
In the Judaic Studies department, students seeking 1-2 credit hours can partner with a graduate student on their research. Working as an undergraduate research assistant provides useful skills, including:
· creating annotated bibliographies,
· abstracting (i.e. summarizing) journal articles,
· learning how sociology research is conducted,
· searching library databases relevant to the research topic,
· becoming familiar with data collection and analysis procedures.
If you have interest in working with a graduate student, please contact Kristina Riemer at js-student-services@umich.edu.
Required Training:
All students engaged in research are required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) training. This certification is valid for 3 years. If you've already completed the training, please ensure that your certification is still valid. If your certification expires before the end of the current semester, you will need to retake the RCRS training. Students who do not complete the required training within 30 days of beginning research may be dropped from their independent study credit. For more information about the RCRS requirement, visit the Research Ethics and Compliance website.
