Independent Study (Economics 199)

Independent Study (Economics 199) courses are available to students who wish to engage in research on topics of their own choosing under the supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Independent Research. At a minimum, students must write a major paper summarizing, unifying, and interpreting the results of their independent research. Econ 199 is a one semester, one c.u. course. Note that at most one independent study (Econ 199) can be used for the major. Independent Studies are done ONLY in the Fall and Spring semesters.

To apply for an Independent Study course, a prospective student must present an outline/description of his/her proposed study to the Director of Undergraduate Independent Research. In addition, students must obtain a permission form from the Undergraduate Coordinator in Rm. 160 McNeil before seeing the Director of Independent Study. Students must have their outline approved and be enrolled by the end of Add Period. No Independent Study will be accepted afterwards . Research may be either applied or theoretical. If applied, the detailed outline must cover, among other things, the following:

- The hypothesis to be tested and the relevance and importance of this hypothesis
- The method to be employed in this test
- The data to be collected and the procedures to be used in the analysis of the data
- Citations from the literature relating to the matter under consideration
- A tentative timetable which indicates the approximate dates for completion of the several stages of the investigation

For theoretical research, the outline must include:

- A clear statement and motivation of the theoretical issue under investigation
- A brief survey of existing relevant theoretical and empirical results related to the issue
- Preliminary thoughts on possible paths of theoretical analysis
- A timetable for completion of the major stages of the investigation.

Upon receipt of the Director's approval of the outline of research, the student should return the signed permission form to the Undergraduate Coordinator, in Room 160 McNeil. The Undergraduate Coordinator will then enroll the student in Econ 199. Note: The Independent Study is done ONLY under the supervision of the Director of the Independent Study.

Prerequisites are Econ 101, 102, and 103.

Among the topics pursued recently by undergraduate students in Econ 199 are the following:

- Currency Exchange Regulation in Uzbekistan
- Income Distribution
- Do We Really Need Professional Forecasters?
- Economic History of Keyna
- The Effects of Domestic Violence on the Economy

Internships: While internships may provide students with data or background that would prove helpful in a subsequent independent
study, work done in an internship cannot by itself count as an independent study.

revised August 2, 2007

Top

160 McNeil Building, 3718 Locust Walk Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6297

Telephone: 1-215-898-7701 Fax: 1-215-573-2057 Webmaster