Other Special Study Opportunities

Guilford offers numerous special study opportunities, including internships, independent study, senior thesis, special topic courses, the honors program, departmental honors work, off-campus seminars and course work, and summer school.

Internships

Internships, designated by the course numbers 290 and 390 in the curriculum and carrying one to four credits, provide students with part-time involvement in public and private agencies while they are enrolled at Guilford. Internships are open to students who have accumulated 24 or more credits and who have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.50. Applications are available in the Career and Community Learning (CACL) office or on CACL's webpage.  The development of a learning plan and approval by the student's faculty advisor, faculty sponsor, site supervisor, and internship coordinator are required.

Summer internship credit is also available. Students wishing to complete internship hours during the summer with credit applied to fall semester must have their internship application approved prior to beginning their on-site work hours. Regular contact with the faculty sponsor is expected throughout the duration of the internship.

Deadlines for registering for an internship with the registrar’s office are posted in the Academic Calendar. Retroactive credit will not be awarded.

Students may enroll in 1-4 credit hours half-semester internships.  Fast Track deadlines apply to all half-semester internships. A student may apply a maximum of 12 credits obtained through internships to her/his degree requirements. Internships cannot, however, be used to satisfy general education requirements.

 

Independent Study

Academic departments offer independent study opportunities under the 260, 360 and 460 course numbers. The success of such independent work depends in large measure on the student’s initiative in shaping the terms of the investigation and her/his reliability in carrying out commitments.

A descriptive proposal of the project must be approved by the supervising instructor and the chairperson of the department: it is understood that the subject of the independent study must be supervised by someone in the department most relevant for that subject. The proposal must set forth the subject, scope, method and materials to be used during the project. It also must indicate the evaluation procedures agreed upon by the student and the supervisor. When the instructor and the chairperson have indicated their approval by signing the proposal, the student should take a copy of the proposal to the registrar’s office. The instructor agreeing to supervise an independent study is expected to be available for consultation while the project continues.

First-year students are not allowed to do independent studies. Further, no student may enroll for more than two independent studies or more than eight credits of such work in a single semester; also, independent studies cannot be used to satisfy general education requirements.

Independent studies normally carry from one to four credits. Students may enroll in 1-4 credit hours half-semester independent studies.  Fast Track deadlines apply to all half-semester independent studies.

Because each credit corresponds to three hours of dedicated work per week, the associate academic dean must approve independent studies of five or more credits. To request such approval, students must first obtain the approval of the student’s academic advisor, instructor and department chairperson and then submit a written petition request that explains why such a large time commitment is appropriate for this work.

Senior Thesis

A written senior thesis (470 course number) may be undertaken as a separate project or as the culmination of a program of independent study. The academic department determines the format of the final work. The thesis should represent both independent research and thought. In most departments, the student submits a written thesis and defends the thesis in an oral presentation to a committee.

Special Topics Courses

Under the 150, 250, 350 and 450 designations, most academic departments offer upper-level courses exploring topics according to special interests and capabilities of groups of students and instructors. These courses may take an interdisciplinary approach and may be taught by faculty members from different departments working together as a team. Special topics courses are not scheduled on a regular basis, but as student interest warrants or as a department desires to make them available. Courses on the same topic normally are not offered more than twice.

Departmental Honors Work

Some academic departments offer an honors option (490 course number) consisting of extensive reading, independent study and perhaps a research paper. Detailed requirements are defined in each department’s course descriptions. Students successfully completing this program are awarded departmental honors at graduation.

Honors Program

Director of the Honors Program:

Vance Ricks

The Guilford Honors Program provides a sequence of classes andindependent study options for studentsdesigned to reward and intellectually challenge students seeking superior educational opportunities. Honors classes are small and usually taught as discussion-style seminars, which allow intensive learning in a close and supportive instructionalrelationship.

Students must take a minimum of five Honors courses during their academic career.Students choose from a variety of courses (including co-disciplinary ones and specially designed departmental offerings). Under the individual supervision of a faculty advisor, each student completes a senior thesis or project. The program is open to students majoring in all departments of the college. Successful completion of the Honors Program requirements is noted at graduation and on the student’s transcript.

In addition to class work and independent study, students in the Honors Program are encouraged to attend professional and undergraduate research conferences. The Honors Program offers travel support to students who present papers, research or creative projects.

In keeping with the college’s Quaker heritage, honors students at Guilford participate fully in the larger campus community. They live in residence halls and take most of their courses with the full student body.Honors students are active in a full range of campus activities, including athletics, student government, campus publications, choir, theater, community service projects and special interest clubs.

Guilford, a founding member of the North Carolina Honors Association, participates in the National Collegiate Honors Council and Southern Regional Honors Council. Students, faculty members and administrators from the college attend the conferences of all threeorganizations.

Admission Process. Most students are admitted to the Honors Program as entering first-year students, and approximately 8-10 percent of the first-year class is accepted into this program.Based on standardized test scores, high school achievement, writing samples and recommendations, students are invited to apply to the program. In addition, first-year and sophomore students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to join theprogram.

Scholarship Availability. Guilford has allocated funds for honors scholarships, which are awarded without regard to financial need and are currently held by two-thirds of the students in the program.Scholarships are normally awarded when students are admitted to thecollege.

LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (LSC) 

Director of Interdisciplinary Leadership for Social Change:

Judy Harvey

LSC supports students who want to become effective leaders of social change through integrating academic majors, experiential learning and spiritual vision. Using a plan-act-reflect model, LSC’s developmental program provides skills instruction, experience, guidance and support that precipitate transformational learning and an understanding for students of their most effective proficiencies and their deepest wishes for their own work in the world.

The program focuses on helping students integrate learning from their own life experiences, academic work, internships, volunteer work and participation in campus clubs and activities. Through the development of an intentional reflective practice, students can approach Greensboro and Guilford College as testing grounds for future work, both professional and volunteer.

LSC offers one- to two-credit seminars and independent studies that foster integration between majors and fields, between curricular and co-curricular activities and between knowledge and practice. Topics include: defining and working for change; community organizing; leadership issues in working for change; Greensboro change work; and Mexico/U.S. border issues. Opportunities to connect current students with alumni working for social change are offered each semester.

The Early College at Guilford

Liaison for Early College at Guilford:

Kathy Adams

Early College is a collaborative venture of Guilford College and the Guilford County Schools (GCS) for academically talented high school students (9th through 12th graders). The Early College at Guilford is North Carolina’s first early college high school and the only Guilford County high school to achieve Honor School of Excellence status. It is situated on the Guilford campus.

The 9th and 10th graders take honors or AP classes each semester on a block schedule. These students are taught by certified high school teachers and advised by a high school guidance counselor. Their classes are located in the ECG classroom building and in Bauman Telecommunications Center. They have access to the college’s library, information technology and services and the cafeteria. By the end of 10th grade, students complete most requirements for high school graduation.

The 11th and 12th graders are dually enrolled in Guilford and GCS. These students take a full-time college load and graduate at the end of their senior year with a high school diploma and two years of college course credits from Guilford. The 11th and 12th grade students are dispersed in courses across the campus, enrolling in a pattern of classes similar to Guilford’s first- and second-year students. These students are assigned to a Guilford faculty advisor and also work with a high school guidance counselor.  The library, ITS services, computer labs, Learning Commons and cafeteria are available for use by these students. Upon completing Early College (finishing 12th grade), students may apply to Guilford for their final two years of college or apply to another college.

Students accepted by Early College must have qualifications similar to those who are invited to participate in Guilford’s Honors Program. All applicants are required to complete an application for GCS that includes an essay, transcript and test information. Rising 11th and 12th graders also complete an application for Guilford College. Representatives from GCS and the Guilford Office of Admission review the materials submitted. Both Guilford and GCS are committed to attracting a diverse pool of applicants and to making Early College available to all qualified students.

Off-Campus Education

Washington, D.C., Semester. Any Guilford student with second-semester sophomore, junior or senior status and a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 (3.0 for some agencies) is eligible to spend a semester in Washington, D.C. Students may choose from two programs: The Washington Center and The Capital Experience. An internship and a seminar provide 12 credits, and a student may earn four additional credits by registering for an independent study. Housing is provided. Information and application materials are available through the Office of Career and Community Learning.

Off-Campus Seminars. Fall, spring and summer break programs are regularly planned under faculty leadership. For example: in New York City students may study art, drama and urban problems; in Washington, D.C., national government; on the coast and in the mountains of North Carolina, ecology and geology; and in the South, African American experience and culture. One credit is granted for each seminar. The college arranges for lodging, and a minimal charge to the student covers meals and travel.

Two off-campus geology seminars are offered. Natural Science Seminar travels to different locations. Seminar West, a three- to five-week field camp conducted jointly by the biology and geology departments, studies the geology and ecology of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau and the East African Rift. Both of these geology seminars fulfill the natural science and mathematics requirement.

Consortium Arrangements. Guilford students may supplement their course selections by cross-registering for courses at nearby colleges and universities under Greater Greensboro Consortium arrangements. Besides Guilford, the Greater Greensboro Consortium includes Bennett College, Elon University, Greensboro College, Guilford Technical Community College, High Point University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Students enrolled at Guilford may, with the appropriate Guilford department chair’s and registrar’s approval, take fall and spring semester courses for credit and without additional registration at any of seven other consortium institutions.

Cross-registration privileges assume that courses are of a general nature acceptable to Guilford College and are not offered at Guilford during the selected term. There are no additional charges beyond the payment of Guilford tuition unless the selected courses carry special fees.

As much as possible, consortium calendars are synchronized. However, because consortium academic calendars are not the same as Guilford’s, grades from consortium courses may arrive after graduation and thereby delay a student’s graduating and thus prevent him or her from participating in the graduation ceremony. Consortium schools are not required to give exams early to accommodate students. Students should check a consortium school’s academic calendar before registering for classes there.

Library resources are shared by consortia members, with many college libraries’ holdings available on-line through Guilford’s computers.

Students must be signed up for an equal or greater number of credits at Guilford before registering for consortium courses. Dual admission and dual enrollment outside of the cross-registration procedures are prohibited, and any changes to consortium registration must be done at Guilford and the consortium school. It is the right of each college or university to allow consortium students to take on-line courses.

Guilford students attending consortium schools are subject to the rules, regulations and deadlines of the consortium school. Consortium parking stickers are given by the home institution.

Juniors and seniors are not allowed to attend Guilford Technical Community College.

Summer School

Summer School at Guilford. Guilford provides a summer program of two primarily daytime five-week sessions and one 10-week evening session. Students may attend on either a full-time or part-time basis, and it is possible to earn a full semester of credit during the summer. Courses are also open to all visiting students and community residents during the summer. Students may take courses in the summer to accelerate completion of their degree program, to fulfill general education, major and minor requirements or to explore new areas of interest. Summer School is considered to be a third term, and the same academic standards apply to Summer School that exists during the regular academic year. As with all semesters at Guilford, students who are ineligible to enroll because of suspension or dismissal are not permitted to register for summer classes.

Study at Other Institutions. Guilford students with a cumulative 2.00 grade-point average may request permission to take coursework as a visiting student at other accredited colleges and universities. Guilford encourages its students to study for the summer, a semester or a year at other American or international universities when such programs are consistent with the student’s educational goals and interests.

Students who want to attend another institution as a visiting student during the summer must process an “Authorization for Study at Another Institution”. The form is available online and at the registrar’s office. It approves coursework equivalency so that transfer credit applies to Guilford as agreed, and also serves as a letter of good standing to the host institution.

Students planning to take courses during the fall or spring semester must complete a leave of absence with the office of campus life.

Only course credit, not grade points, can be transferred to Guilford from other institutions, and students must pass courses with grades of C- or better if the courses are to apply to the Guilford degree. Students with a cumulative grade-point average lower than 2.00 must attend summer school at Guilford. Juniors and seniors must attend approved accredited four-year institutions.