An English 199 Independent Studies Course offers qualified students an opportunity to pursue a directed and advanced study of a particular subject in British or American literature. English 199 may not be used for internships, general interest reading, fulfillment of any part of the Option 2 language requirement, the exclusive study of any foreign literature in translation, or subject study normally available in regular classes. In special cases a creative writing project may be accepted usually under the direction of a department creative writing instructor.

An English 199 is likely to be the closest experience to individual, original research at the graduate level an undergraduate can have. Because this is partly a directed-reading course, it is recommended that applicants first complete an upper-division course relevant to the subject to be studied. Before applying students should focus on an area of study, problems to solve within it, and a methodology to solve them. For a 4-unit course, the departmental norm for the writing requirement is 15 pages (approximately 4,000 words) of sustained writing.

1. Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) must be at least 3.0 for the preceding three quarters.
2. At least 84 units must have been completed overall.
3. At least two upper-division English courses must have been completed, one of which should be relevant to the subject to be studied.

Students are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total for all 98/99 and 198/199/199RA courses combined. A maximum of 8 units of 199/199RA may apply toward the English major.

To find regular faculty members' area of specialization, visit Ann Wainwright , the undergraduate advisor, or the information sites on the department pages at www.english.ucsb.edu. Talk to instructors whose interests correspond with the proposed project and, upon agreement, discuss pertinent readings and writing requirements. During the quarter for which the 199 is undertaken, meetings with the instructor will be once a week for 1-2 hours to direct the research, reading, and writing.

To apply, obtain an application in the English Office in South Hall room 2607.

The English 199RA Independent Research Assistance Course gives qualified undergraduates a chance to assist in a faculty research project. The 199RA is designed not only to forward participating instructors' interests, but also to give students significant research experience beyond what would be received in an ordinary undergraduate course.

For each four-unit 199RA course expect to do 10-12 hours of work per week, including a one-hour meeting with the instructor and a significant amount of reading and writing. Professors actively seeking assistants will include a description of their projects with the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) office. Announcements will be made on the English Undergraduate Listserv also.

If there is a faculty member who has not advertised, but whose area of interest corresponds to yours, ask if an assistant is needed. To find regular faculty members' areas of specializations, visit Ann Wainwright , the undergraduate advisor, or the faculty information sites on the department pages at www.english.ucsb.edu.

1. Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) must be at least 3.0 for the preceding three quarters.
2. At least 84 units must have been completed overall.
3. At least two upper-division English courses must have been completed, one of which should be relevant to the subject to be studied.

Students are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total for all 98/99 and 198/1991/99RA courses combined. A maximum of 8 units of 199/199RA may apply toward the English major.

To apply, obtain an application in the English Office in South Hall room 2607.