RESEARCH REQUIREMENT
In addition to course work, IES students are required to complete a 6- hour research requirement which may be fulfilled
through a practicum, internship or thesis
(P-I-T). This page describes each research effort in depth
and reviews the necessary committee, proposal, and reporting
requirements for each research effort.
PRACTICUM
The practicum may be accomplished in one of two ways. A student may choose to work with an organization
to initiate or carry out a single environmentally-related project or program. Or the practicum can be undertaken by
several students having varying backgrounds. Working as a team, they perform research on a specific environmental
problem. The practicum option can be carried out within a community, under industrial or governmental supervision, at
the University, or with an appropriate research agency. It requires monthly progress reports and a final comprehensive
report. Team reports must document each student's effort on the project.
INTERNSHIP
The internship involves a commitment of at least six months to an appropriate sponsoring agency actively
involved in interdisciplinary environmental activities. The student will normally work full time and is required to submit
monthly progress reports to the IES. A final report which summarizes the training received and work done during the
student's internship will be filed with the IES.
THESIS
The thesis involves research that is interdisciplinary in approach and content, carried out by a single student under
appropriate supervision. Titles of some completed thesis reports by
IES students are available here.
THE MAJOR PROFESSOR
The major professor should be selected by the student on the basis of expertise in the student's proposed area of concentration.
The specific responsibilities of the major professor are as follows: (1) to act as advisor on all academic matters; (2) to provide
advice in the preparation of the P-I-T proposal; (3) to review the practicum-internship monthly reports; (4) to assure that the
final report or thesis meets Miami University Graduate School standards; and (5) to act as chairman of the student's oral
defense of the P-I-T final report. Communication between the student and the major professor is essential.
P-I-T COMMITTEE
The P-I-T Committee is composed of the major professor and at least two additional faculty members. In the case of the
practicum or internship, the committee must additionally include a local supervisor, usually not a Miami faculty member. The
members of the committee will: (1) provide professional input and advice to the student and the major professor; (2) act as
readers of the P-I-T report; and (3) sit on the oral defense of the P-I-T report.
The selection of the members of the committee is the responsibility of the student and the major professor. The academic
members of the committee must be chosen from at least two different academic departments so that truly interdisciplinary
advice may be provided the student. They do not necessarily have to be affiliates of the IES. Members of the Directorate of the
Institute are, of course, always available to provide advice and assistance in selection of these committee members.
P-I-T PROPOSALS AND MONTHLY REPORTS
Prior to the initiation of
a practicum or thesis effort, the student must prepare a proposal. This must be reviewed and approved by the
research committee and the Deputy Director for Academic Affairs. For an internship, an agreement with the interning
organization is required. Examples of proposals previously submitted by IES students are on file in the IES office. In
addition, monthly reports are required from those pursuing either an internship or a practicum.
SPONSORING AGENCIES FOR INTERNSHIPS AND PRACTICA
A number of organizations have formal and semi-formal internship arrangements with the IES. Information on possible
internship opportunities may be obtained from the IES. Many sponsoring organizations have been secured as the result of
student initiative. If you have selected an area of concentration and decided on the type of work you would like to pursue, you
are encouraged to seek a sponsoring organization. The IES Directorate and staff will help you obtain a practicum or internship
position.
P-I-T FINAL REPORTS
In order to complete the research requirement, the student must submit a written final report or thesis, and orally defend it
before his/her committee. The first step is to submit a draft to the major professor. When the major professor approves, the
student may then submit the revised draft to the other committee members. When the entire committee agrees, the major
professor may schedule the defense through the IES secretary. Upon completion of the defense, all changes requested by the
major professor and the committee must be made and a final document prepared.
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