CHSS 790 Registration Information
CHSS 790: 3 Credits
Provides opportunities for students to synthesize research methods and apply approaches in the field to professional research practice through a supervised practicum/internship, service-learning project, consultancy, or fieldwork placement that the student brokers with a third party. Students will engage in 2 credits of experiential learning and 90 hours of supervised research. May not be repeated for credit.
Overview
Students registering for CHSS 790 are responsible for brokering their own research experience opportunity and identifying a GMU faculty member willing to serve as instructor of record for the course that will deliver their credits, and determining the learning outcomes and portfolio they hope to achieve. Students planning for summer registration do not need to identify a faculty member or syllabus and can skip step 2 and 3. Summer enrollment will be a seminar class with an instructor of record and syllabus already assigned.
It is recommended that you begin this process at least 1-2 months before you apply.
Registration, Step by Step
Below are detailed instructions for moving through the process. Students should execute these steps carefully to ensure registration and the awarding of course credit for their work. Please contact the CHSS 780/790 coordinator (mais@gmu.edu) if you have any questions about the process.
1: Broker an Experiential Learning opportunity.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences does not place students in internships; students must find their own research site. Otherwise approved, your experiential learning start date cannot be earlier than the first day of classes for the semester in which you are enrolled. You must complete your research experience by the last day of classes for the same semester. Please visit Mason's on-line academic calendar to determine the correct dates for each semester.
2: Identify an Instructor of Record.
In order to get credit for the research experience, students must register for the CHSS 790 course and every course must have an instructor of record. The instructor must be a Mason faculty member who agrees to assist you through the registration process, assess your work for course credit, and assist you in between. When discussing this role with faculty, you can emphasize that it will involve a nominal amount of time. Direct them to Serving as EL Instructor of Record for more information.
3. Identify Your Syllabus/Learning Objectives
It is important to consider carefully what you hope to get out of your research experience. Clearly articulated learning objectives will also assist your instructor of record in evaluating your performance. The application process requires that students submit a syllabus in writing. Students and instructors can either agree to use the CHSS 780 syllabus that has already been created, or they can create one together that must be approved by the faculty member and submitted with the application materials.
4. Submit the CHSS 790 Applied Research Experience Application.
Please read carefully and complete the entire Applied Research Experience Application and the University Council Experiential Learning Agreement. Students planning for Summer registration only need to fill out part 1 of the application. Submit the completed application, the University Counsel Experiential Learning Agreement, and a syllabus containing your responsibilities and learning objective(s) (if not using the CHSS 790 syllabus) to at least 5 business days prior to the start of the semester in which you plan to register. All documentation should be submitted electronically to mais@gmu.edu.
Application review and processing takes approximately 5-7 working days. Please plan accordingly. Students may not begin working at a site for credit until the application has been approved.
5. Register for the CHSS 790 Course.
Registration is a controlled process. Once the student's application has been approved, the CHSS 780/790 Coordinator will send the student an email with specific registration information.