POLICIES FOR ADVISOR APPROVED ELECTIVES
AND
THE INDEPENDENT COURSE OF STUDY (ICS) OPTION

Procedures for all students in the Psychology and the Child Development degrees.

1. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor during their first year. Transfer students should discuss electives with an advisor within their first two quarters.

2. The initial plan will be signed by the faculty advisor and all copies of the plan will be sent to the department chair for approval.

3. The white copy of the form will be sent to Evaluations. The yellow copy will be filed in the department, and the pink copy will be returned to the student (student pick-up file).

4. Any changes in the plan must be discussed with and approved by the faculty advisor, preferably before the courses are taken. If changes are made, new forms must be completed and signed by student, advisor, and Department Chair person (repeating steps 2 & 3) prior to the student's application for senior evaluation.

Special Guidelines for the Individual Course of Study (ICS) in Psychology

In addition to the procedures listed above, students pursuing the Independent Course of Study will be requested to explain briefly the rationale for the selection of courses on the ICS form.The ICS may include a Cal Poly minor, course prerequisites for graduate study, foreign language courses, and/or a coherent group of courses including a minimum of two upper division psychology courses and no more than nine units of lower division courses.

Forms are available at the PSY & HD Office, 24 FOB.