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Independent Study Requirement


Students must take one course of 4 credit hours as an independent study.  In addition to the courses in the bulleted list below, pre-approved study abroad courses may also fulfill the requirement.

  • ENVS 491: Environmental Sciences Practicum - Generally offered each spring, this course allows students to combine classroom learning on a topic with community engagement with a local organization. The instructor and class topic vary each year.
  • ENVS 494: Individual Research in Environmental Sciences -Student research projects are developed and completed with one-to-one ENVS faculty guidance. This course is intended for students who have not taken ENVS 299, ENVS 399 or similar individual research classes. Interview with and permission of instructor and completed ENVS Independent Study Contract form, signed by faculty instructor, are required for enrollment. ENVS majors only.
  • ENVS 495R: Honors research - See Honors Program for more information on eligibility and application requirements.
  • ENVS 497R/INTERN 496: Undergraduate Internship - ENVS recommends environmentally-based internships for those students who want to gain hands-on, practical experience in their area of interest. Internships can be paid or unpaid, local or international; they can last just a few weeks in the summer or extend over an entire semester, but must be at least 160 hours.  In order to promote professionalization experiences, internships should be off the Emory campus and unrelated to Emory organizations.  Internship credit is only available to ENVS majors. It is recommended to consult with the Internship Coordinator before applying for the ENVS credit, to ensure that the internship is a good fit for this option. 
    • You must apply for ENVS credit prior to beginning the internship. APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 1
    • Please review all of the application information on the Internship Program page
    • Internship Coordinator: Professor Julie Clennon
    • Internship Administrator: Leah Thomas
  • ENVS 498R: Individual Directed Reading -This course allows students to work individually with a faculty member to explore subjects of mutual interest on specific topics not normally offered in courses at Emory. Students should only consider individual directed reading (ENVS 498) an option when they are highly motivated to study a subject than is not taught in regular classes. A completed ENVS Independent Study Contract form, signed by the faculty instructor, is required for enrollment. With permission of faculty instructor, students may register for a writing intensive section. ENVS Majors only.
  • ENVS 499R: Independent Research -PRE-REQUISITE: ENVS 399 Advanced independent research conducted under the direction of an ENVS faculty member. ENVS Majors only. A completed ENVS Independent Study Contract form, signed by the faculty instructor, is required for enrollment. With approval from faculty instructor, students may register for a writing-intensive section (ENVS 499RWR).