Advising Forms and Resources for Students - Liberal Studies Department

Liberal Studies Department
Advising Forms and Resources for Students

Phone: 616-331-8020
Fax: 616-331-8015
Christine Drewel
drewelc@gvsu.edu

229 Lake Ontario Hall
Allendale, Mi 49401

Advising Forms and Resources for Students

Study Plan Form

Each Liberal Studies major must create an individualized Study Plan. Click on the Study Plan Form to access this form. The form is to help you organize your coursework. In the capstone course (LIB 495) you will work on an integrative statement that will help you articulate your Emphasis Area and why the courses you have chosen are relevant and connected.

The Study Plan Form requires the formulation of an Emphasis Area, which can be comprised of courses throughout the university. Here are several samples from previous students that may be helpful as you design your own:

Sample Study Plan 1 - B.A.

Sample Study Plan 2 - B.A.

Sample Study Plan 3 - B.S.

Sample Study Plan 4 - B.S.

Note, a minimum of 15 credits of the Emphasis Area must be at the 300 level or above. Click Sample Emphasis Areas to see some examples of how former Liberal Studies majors have created their Emphasis Areas.

GVSU and the Liberal Studies Department are committed to the idea of sustainability and support the College of Interdisciplinary Studies' efforts in this area. For ideas on how to integrate sustainability into your emphasis area, access the Sustainability Initiative site.

Sample Emphasis Areas

Practicum Planning

Liberal Studies majors also must spend time applying their coursework and classroom knowledge through actively engaging in a Practicum. Click Practicum Planning to access this form.

Practicums must be set up and approved by Melissa Baker-Boosamra bakerbom@gvsu.edu (Practicum Supervisor) prior to their start.

At times, our majors may decide to specialize their studies with a faculty member in a particular area through an Independent Study or Independent Readings course. These are individually designed and must have the approval of the department chair. See Independent Study Form to access the contract form you will need to fill out for this option in your studies.

Independent Study Form

Internship Form
Internship Agreement

If an internship already has a job description in place, an Internship Agreement form should be used. Students should discuss these options with their advisor.

Finally, each Liberal Studies major must create an Integrative Statement, which is typically written toward the end of your coursework in conjunction with LIB 495 Senior Seminar (capstone). The integrative statement should be a 2-3 page (minimum) reflection about your Lib major, describing the rationale for the emphasis area including what you have learned from the coursework, how those courses are integrated with each other, and how that relates to liberal education. It can also include what you expect to do with that emphasis after graduation. To view samples of Integrative Statements,
click sample 1 or sample 2 or sample 3.

Last Modified Date: November 12, 2009

Grand Valley State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution