ME 4900 Independent Study Proposals

ME 4900 Independent Study Proposals

This study plan must be submitted to the Mechanical Engineering Department prior to enrolling in ME 4900 - Independent Study. Please provide sufficient detail so that the Academic Standards Committee can evaluate the relevance as a ME technical elective and determine if the planned effort justifies the number of proposed credits. Please discuss any questions with your independent study supervisor or adviser. In order for an independent study proposal to be considered for the current semester, it must be complete and submitted no later than the end of the third week of the semester. Fall 2025 Proposal Due Date- September 12, 2025.

Date of Request

First and Last Name*

Student ID #*

Email Address*

Advisor*

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Advisor Email*

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Faculty Problem Supervisor Name*

Problem Supervisor Email*

Topic of your Independent Study.*

Please choose the course and topic that best represents your Independent Study. Election of course and topic must be approved in advance by supervising faculty. Note that selecting ME 490N indicates that you do not want to receive Tech Elective credit.

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Year of Enrollment*

Please select the year you are planning to enroll in the course

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Term of Enrollment*

Please select the term you are planning to enroll in the course

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Requested Number of Course Credits*

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Will you be working in a lab?*

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Have you completed necessary safety training?*

Please see your faculty supervisor for information on safety training

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Prior Study or Experience

Please list any prior study/experience that has prepared you for the independent study you are requesting.*

Example: Interning as a Program Manager at John Deere has prepared me for this experiment by knowing how to organize and present data to a group. Also, Physics 221 lab has prepared me by teaching me how to conduct experiments using equipment and the application of formulas to get me to a conclusion.

Learning Outcomes

What will you learn from this experience that would be useful in other applications outside of the 490 project? Please list specific outcomes.*

Example:1. I will learn how to conduct a literature review. 2. I will learn how to identify and choose relevant materials for creating superhydrophobic coatings. 3. I will learn how to develop an experimental matrix. 4. I will evaluate experimental data that will lead me to a conclusion. 5. I will learn how to effectively present my experiment using a PowerPoint presentation with tables, graphs, and images. 6. I will learn how to apply formulas and use equipment to find the water contact angle, average roughness, coating thickness, coefficient of friction, and etc."

Approach to Independent Study

What will you do specifically as part of the 490 experience? Please summarize the project and describe the steps, skills and research involved.*

Example: I will learn and read review articles about superhydrophobicity. Also work towards understanding what the underlying physics and chemistry that govern superhydrophobicity and the important material properties for this research. I will run an experiment of my own and try to find if there are any existing materials used to create these coatings. In my experiment I will be measuring the water contact angle, average roughness, coating thickness, coefficient of friction, and etc. Using the data from my experiment I will observe the measurements and come up with a conclusion.

Methods for Reporting Progress and Demonstrating Achievement

How will you communicate with your supervisor throughout the term? How often? How will you show that you have succeeded in meeting the objectives you have identified? What will be your end of term deliverable(s)? What specific criteria will be used for determining the semester grade, and how will the deliverable(s) factor into the grade?*

Example: I will work with the professor to schedule a weekly meeting time. I will use email to communicate my progress and goals for each week. I will meet with the Graduate Assistants and check-in to have all my data organized so they can see how my experiments are going. Deliverable by the end of semester are: - Numerical code #1 - Numerical code #2. - Final report These will be graded as follows by Faculty who is overseeing the project - Grading criteria A - Numerical codes are developed. - Experiment successful. - Final report submitted. A- - Numerical codes are developed. - Experiment unstable and the codes need improvement. - Final report submitted. B - Numerical codes are developed. - Experiment unsuccessful. - Final report submitted. C - Only one of the two numerical codes is developed. - Final report submitted. D - Final Report Submitted F - None delivered.

Students Signature*

By typing your name in the box below and clicking "Submit" you are digitally signing this form and asserting that the above information is accurate and that you are the requestor of the proposed ME 490 Independent Study for the year and term stated above.

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