VES TUTORIALS AND THESIS

Sophomore and Junior Tutorials (VES 97r and 98r)

Preparation for the thesis is begun in studios and seminars and is carried to completion in a VES 99 tutorial during senior year. In rare instances, concentrators needing special preparation not available in regularly offered courses can enroll in an optional junior (VES 98r), or even sophomore (VES 97r) tutorial.  Students wishing to enroll in VES 97r or 98r must find a member of the faculty to advise the tutorial and submit an application to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by the due dates specified in the department’s calendar.

Senior Project or Thesis Tutorial (VES 99)
 
Qualified students may only undertake a thesis upon approval by the VES Honors Board. A filmmaking thesis must represent the third year of work in film production. A thesis in video must represent the third year of work in film and/or video production. Students proposing theses in studio must submit a portfolio for review by the studio faculty before a thesis will be approved. All theses should be preceded by a related critical or historical course. Students who want to do a thesis should plan their sophomore and junior year courses accordingly. Visual and Environmental Studies concentrators are not required to do a thesis or senior project to be eligible for an honors recommendation.

It is also possible to enroll in a VES 99 tutorial without doing a thesis. Like a thesis, these “senior projects” are undertaken with a tutorial adviser but do not undergo some of the rigors associated with the thesis (including thesis reviews, reader evaluations, and the requirement of a finished body of work). A final body of work may or may not result from a VES 99 senior project.  For further information on the differences between a VES 99 tutorial with thesis vs. a VES 99 tutorial without thesis, please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the link regarding VES 99/thesis. 

VES 99 is presumed to be a full-course, but may be divided if necessary.   It is possible to enroll in a one-term VES 99 senior project (typically in the student’s final term).

Special Projects (VES 91r)

This course is open to advanced students who wish to carry out a special project under supervision. Professional specialization is not the aim of this course. It is intended for specially qualified students who wish to extend work begun in a regular department course. Students wishing to enroll in VES 91r must find a member of the faculty to advise the project and submit an application to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by the due dates specified in the department’s calendar.

All tutorials and special projects courses in Visual and Environmental Studies are letter-graded only. Application forms for all Visual and Environmental Studies tutorials are available in the Department Office or from the department's website.

An alternative to tutorial work could be Visual and Environmental Studies 96r, Directed Research. VES 96r is intended for students who have developed the beginnings of a practice they are prepared to pursue. Please see Courses of Instruction for further information regarding this course.