02.06.03 Independent Studies
Students may seek approval to undertake a research or performance project for academic credit on an “independent study” basis. All such projects are similar in that they cannot be completed by the student as part of an existing class but could potentially be completed by the student working on an independent basis with guidance from a faculty advisor.
Permission to undertake an independent study project is a privilege granted to students who have demonstrated their ability to work with little supervision. The student wishing to undertake the project must develop a written proposal and secure approval of the proposal by the potential faculty advisor of the project. The proposal should be two or three pages long and, in developing it, the student may wish to consult with the potential faculty advisor about what it should contain (a bibliography, for example).
This proposal, as well as the completed Independent Study Form must be reviewed and approved by the faculty advisor, chair of the department and the appropriate Dean. (For undergraduates this would be Asst. Dean of Academic Affairs; for graduate students, the Assoc. Dean of Graduate Studies.) The appropriate Dean will determine if the number of credits associated with the independent study proposal is consistent with the rigor of the course. The project normally results in a paper and/or performance by the student. The actual registration will be made under the appropriate subject heading (ENG, HUM, TH) and numbered 290 (undergraduate), 490 (master’s), or 590 (doctoral). Normal tuition charges apply to independent studies.
Students are encouraged to submit their independent study proposals to the appropriate Dean’s office in the semester prior to registering for the project. However, students MUST submit their proposals no later than the Friday of the 2nd week of classes. If a proposal is received after the deadline, the student must wait until the subsequent semester to register for the project. Exceptions to the deadline may be granted by the appropriate Dean’s office.
Please note that an independent study is different from an internship or practicum.
