Independent Studies PHY 491, 493, and 495

All physics and biophysics majors are encouraged to take an independent study so that they can learn about some advanced topic or do some original research. A research independent study is especially recommended for majors planning to go to graduate school since such a study often leads to a strong recommendation by the advisor (who has gotten to know the student well through collaboration) and sometimes leads to publications or talks at conferences that strengthen a student's application to graduate school. A research independent study also often is a first step toward completing an honors thesis.

There are three kinds of independent studies:

  1. PHY 491, in which a student learns more about an advanced topic through guided reading of research articles or advanced textbooks.

  2. PHY 493, in which a student does original research.

  3. PHY 495, a research independent study during which a student write his or her thesis. (This can also involve completing research while writing a thesis.) 495 is most often taken spring of the senior year, and can be taken more than once.
Summer research in a physics research group does not count as an independent study unless a student is formally enrolled in Duke's summer school and takes an independent study course.

Please take the following steps to enroll in an independent study:

  1. Find an advisor.

    You should try to find an advisor a few weeks before the end of the semester preceding the semester during which you will actually do the independent study.

    One way to find an advisor is to get suggestions from the Director of Undergraduate Studies or from a professor teaching one of your physics courses, but also feel free to browse the webpages of Faculty Research Advisors and Physics faculty and then make an appointment to meet with a professor whose research looks interesting to you, or who has expertise related to the topic you want to learn about (for a PHY 491 course).

    Not all professors have time or resources to be an advisor, so you should identify several possible professors and not get discouraged if your first few attempts to find an advisor are not successful.

    It is possible to have an advisor who is not in the Physics Department but your choice needs to be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

  2. Fill out an Independent Study Policies and Procedures form. It is important that you and your advisor fill out this form together and in detail so that everyone will know what milestones you should achieve at different points during the semester, how often you will meet per week, and how you will be graded. The amount of work expected per a week is comparable to a regular physics course, about ten hours, and most advisors meet with their advisees at least once per week for at least an hour. Typical deliverables involve one or more of the following: writing a paper, keeping a detailed lab book, constructing and testing an experimental apparatus, analyzing a dataset, writing and applying a computer code, preparing and giving an oral presentation using presentation software, preparing and presenting a poster at the annual Department poster meeting or at a professional conference, or writing a thesis.

  3. Give the form to the DUS Assistant in Room 139B of Physics