Independent Study (HIST 197)

This course number is designated for students who wish to pursue independent readings or research under faculty supervision. Arrangements must be made with a faculty member willing to direct your study. He or she will need to sign a Registration Transaction Form.

Folger Undergraduate Research Seminar

Through a special arrangement with the Folger Research Library in Washington, DC, students have the opportunity to deepen their study of the early modern period (Renaissance and Reformation) through hands-on investigation of books from that era. Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare by taking courses that cover this period, such as HIST 39, 123, 141,149, 151, 153-154, as well as related Special Topics Courses (101). Juniors apply for admission during the Spring Semester in order to enroll in the following Fall, but they may be permitted if space permits. This course can serve as a reading preparation for HIST 199W.

Internships (HIST 192)

Many GW students take advantage of their time in Washington, DC to do off-campus internships. Students whose internships involve historical research may be eligible to earn three credits for their work. Ideal locations for these projects include GW-affiliated centers such as the First Federal Congress Project, the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, and the National Security Archive. Announcements from these and other research institutes are posted on the wall outside the department office.

Requirements: Once you find an internship, you need to identify a faculty supervisor that is willing to work with you to formulate an individual plan of study and to meet with you regularly throughout the semester. The academic assignments you agree upon will take into account the subject matter of your internship and the research interests of your supervisor. These assignments may be related, but not identical, to reports or papers required by your internship. You might, for example, be required to master a bibliography, write a paper and maintain a journal.

Minimum Hours: Students must work at least 8-10 hours per week during the Fall or Spring semester, and 16-20 hours per week during the Summer Session.

Registering for HIST 192: Fill out a Registration Transaction Form and have it signed the faculty member who agrees to supervise your project.

Grades: Students may take HIST 192 for a letter grade or Pass/No Pass. Your faculty supervisor will determine your final grade based upon the academic work you complete. Make sure the internship supervisor submits a formal letter or email at the end of the semester stating that you have satisfactorily completed the internship.