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Forms: Internship, Study, Research, Thesis and Course Overload

On this webpage you will find information related to expressing interest in a course overload in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and also submitting applications for our independent courses (study, research, and internships) taken at TCNJ or at one of our TCNJ Study Centers away from campus.

Please note: We do not process overload requests and independent courses when TCNJ is officially closed.

Course overload process in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Did you know that students can take 5 classes a semester if they meet eligibility criteria?  Common reasons for applying for an overload are needing to fulfill major or minor requirements, wanting to take a course that is not offered regularly, to take an intensive-language, or to complete an independent course (study, research, thesis, or internship).

Learn more and submit an interest form:  Humanities and Social Sciences Course Overload

Independent Courses in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

One of the best experiences you can have as a student at TCNJ is to work closely with a faculty member on independent study or research, or as part of a mentored internship. This webpage describes the process of proposing these courses.

As these are courses taken for academic credit, paperwork needs to be submitted prior to or during add/drop week at the beginning of the semester to the Dean’s Office.

Please see the deadlines below:

  • Summer 2024: dates flexible with a final deadline of July 3 by 4:30 pm.  Students must submit prior to starting hours and with sufficient time to meet the contact hour requirement for the course.
  • Fall 2024: Tuesday, September 3 by 4:30 p.m.
  • Spring 2024: Monday, February 3 by 4:30 p.m.

If you have a hold in PAWS, please resolve this prior to submitting paperwork.

The normal course load for HSS majors is 4 units but students may take up to 4.5 units without permission. For overload permission to take 4.75 or 5 units, please read about the process and submit an interest form: Humanities and Social Sciences Course Overload. You do not need departmental approval to submit an interest form.

TCNJ Policy distinguishes between Independent Study courses and Independent Research courses.

For Independent Study, the assumption is that there will be minimal faculty direction and, as such, the College requires significantly more detail in the course proposal. For Independent Research, faculty involvement will be significant and, thus, the course proposal is minimal. Please consult with your faculty sponsor to determine which course type best meets your goals. Students interested in Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC) should consult with the LAC Supervisor about this wonderful program that allows students to use their skills in languages other than English in non-language courses. The LAC courses are independent study courses for .25 units.

*Note: if you are interested in completing independent work related to a course that is in the Course Catalog but not currently offered, this is not an independent course. You should complete a Special Arrangement Course Form.

Learn more about the application process and submit a study or research course application form:

Study and Research Courses in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Independent Internship and Class-Based Internship Courses

For course-based mentored internships, you will work with a faculty member to propose an academic course that complements your internship experience. These experiences are either independent or class-based. Class-based internships are scheduled in PAWS and enrolled students meet as a group with the instructor. Currently, class-based internships are offered by Psychology, Sociology, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (PSY398, SOC398, WGS398). All departments sponsor independent internships (399 or 487).

Unpaid Internship Scholarship for Public Service and Social Justice Internships

The Fund for Students in Unpaid Internships in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, established in 2019 with donations from 139 friends and members of the TCNJ community, provides a stipend of at least $750 for a 1 unit/4 credit HSS internship, for HSS students with financial need who undertake an unpaid mentored internship for academic credit at a site focused on public service and social justice. The eligible course numbers are 398, 399, 487 and 488. Please see the linked call for applications to find the application requirements: Unpaid Internships Fund

We cannot fund retroactive applications.

You must apply by the deadlines listed below to be eligible:

  • Applications for Fall are due August 15.
  • Applications for Spring are due January 15.
  • Applications for Summer are due May 15 and June 15.

Learn more about the application process and submit an internship application form:

Internship Courses in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

HSS Global or Away Experiences: Independent Research and Internships

For those students who wish to participate in independent research or internships abroad, we do have approved courses at several TCNJ Study Centers. Students submit course proposals for review, but enrollment occurs in partnership with the Arlotto Family Center for Global Engagement. Please see below for more information:

Global Internships

If you are an HSS major or minor and have a planned internship abroad (or at The Washington Center, in Washington, DC) for that major or minor, you need to submit an internship proposal prior to starting your internship. You do not submit the Records & Registration enrollment form and you should follow the deadlines below (not the deadlines listed at the top of this page).

Students interested in completing an internship for academic credit need to work with a faculty sponsor to write an internship course proposal that contains:

  1. “The proposal should state the number of credit hours from any previous internship, as well as the semester taken and the firm, institution, or agency where the internship was completed.
  2. The proposal must explain exactly how credits are to be earned, what on-the-job activities will be required of the intern, and how these activities relate to program learning goals and objectives.
  3. The proposal must describe the methods of evaluating the internship to be used by the faculty supervisor, which may include evaluation(s) by the on-site supervisor.
  4. The proposal must specify learning goals and objectives. The learning goals may be general to all internships in a department (at a particular course level) and/or be specific to the particular internship experience.”

[Requirements quoted from TCNJ Internships policy (August 3, 2016): Section III.C]

Please follow the steps below to submit your proposal:

  1. Tell The Arlotto Family Center for Global Engagement about your internship in their application
  2. Have the Chair of your department sign for the internship course on your study abroad course approval form
  3. Secure an internship
  4. Complete the on-line proposal.
    1. For students at The Washington Center, your paperwork is due 1 week after you start the program in DC.
    2. For students in London, your paperwork is due at the end of Week 7. You will interview for your internship in Week 6.
    3. For other students, please contact the HSS Dean’s Office for an application deadline.

HSS Global Internship Proposal System

Global Research/Study

If you are an HSS major or minor and have a planned independent research course abroad (or at The Washington Center, in Washington, DC) for that major or minor, you need to submit an independent research proposal prior to starting your course. You do not submit the Records & Registration enrollment form and you should follow the deadlines below.

You should follow the TCNJ guidelines relevant to the independent research proposal:

The student will prepare a written proposal meeting the following requirements:

  • A detailed description of the project
  • The amount of time devoted to each major aspect of the project
  • A description of prior course work or other experience which prepares the student for
    the proposed activity
  • The frequency and duration of meetings with the faculty sponsor
  • Dates for completion of project milestones where applicable.
  • The methods by which the student’s work will be evaluated must be clearly stated in the
    proposal. Some appropriate forms of evaluation include a paper, a performance, and/or a
    presentation.

Please follow the steps below to submit your proposal:

  1. Tell the Arlotto Family Center for Global Engagement about your independent research course in their application
  2. Have the Chair of your department sign for the independent research course on your study abroad course approval form
  3. Complete the on-line application.

HSS Global Independent Research Proposal System

Change of Major or Minor

Forms to Change/Add Majors and minors can be found on the Records & Registration website: https://recreg.tcnj.edu/forms/

The internal change of major requirements were updated in Fall 2018 and so please read the material available on the Records & Registration website before completing the paperwork.

Other TCNJ Forms

Contact

School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Social Sciences Building, Room 302
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628

609.771.3434
hss@tcnj.edu

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