Nontraditional Study (NTST)

Recognizing that there may be meaningful educational endeavors outside of the scheduled course or conventional independent study (which usually emphasizes library, laboratory, or fieldwork), individual Nontraditional Study projects may be proposed. While such projects may be related to work experiences or internships, whether on or off campus, the student also must propose goals and procedures, and ultimately produce materials for faculty evaluation, which give evidence of significant learning and advancement in an academic discipline at Bucknell University (and thus justify degree credit).

Nontraditional Study projects may be arranged with any instructor; they must be approved by the department or program chair and by the academic dean. Approved projects are normally for 1.0 course credit; it is possible to propose 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 credits. Projects are numbered according to level as follows:

• elementary (1NT),
• intermediate (2NT), and
• advanced (3NT).

The means of evaluation must be determined before the project is begun; grading may be either conventional (A-F) or pass/fail. Additional information and proposal forms are available on the website of the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office.

The Nontraditional Study program and the University Course program include a quarter-credit option for nonpaid internships. The course designated for the partial credit is UNIV 1NT Internship Credit. The UNIV 1NT Internship Credit program recognizes that the University has a strong interest in and commitment to facilitating more opportunities for students in the liberal arts interested in exploring opportunities in a variety of fields. Such internships round out formal academic experiences, particularly when completed within a structure that emphasizes self-reflection.

The number of UNIV 1NT Internship Credit opportunities is limited to two per student, or one-half credit toward the degree. Students may complete additional UNIV 1NT Internship Credit experiences and have those recorded on the transcript, but those additional experiences will not earn degree credit. Students may earn only pass/fail grades for UNIV 1NT Internship Credit. Students may not receive UNIV 1NT Internship Credit for participation in an internship for which they receive financial remuneration.

Additional information and proposal forms are available in the dean’s office of the College of Arts & Sciences.