INDEPENDENT STUDY GUIDELINES

The success of an independent study project is often related to the amount of advance planning expended on the project. Consequently, planning for the project should, whenever possible, be initiated in the semester before the course is taken.

By the end of the add/drop period, students will be required to submit to their faculty sponsor a specific plan which must include, but not be limited to, the following:

• The project title.

• A statement of justification, indicating why independent study is being selected and the reason for understanding the project, its importance, and how it relates to other work done by the student.

• A clear and complete statement of project objectives.

• A concise statement of the plans and methods to be used in order to accomplish each objective.

During the first full week of classes, the student and the faculty sponsor will meet and prepare a document which includes the following:

• A schedule of dates when the student and faculty member will meet and discuss progress, including a time plan indicating when various parts of the work are projected for completion.

• A list of ways in which documentation of work can be shown.

• A plan for evaluation, which will include the specific work to be submitted for evaluation on the project, and a statement of criteria to be used for evaluation, will also be included.

It is the responsibility of the faculty supervisor to ensure that all the provisions outlined above have been satisfactorily accomplished. Copies of all documents and schedules mentioned must be filed with the department chairperson* by the end of the add/drop period. Faculty sponsors should retain the completed projects, along with faculty evaluations, for review, if necessary, by appropriate school/college committees.

Notes:

Prior to enrollment in independent study, students must obtain the approval of their advisor, faculty sponsor, and the faculty sponsor’s department chairperson.

Independent study may be taken for variable credit. The amount of credit to be granted should be mutually agreed upon by the student and the faculty sponsor prior to registration. When a project is to cover more than one term, the designation XC (extended course), rather than incomplete, should be used on the final grade sheet for the first term of work.

*Please give Cindy a copy of the agreement form. Once she has a copy, she will perform the override (the student can then register for course). The override cannot be performed without the completed agreement form. She will keep this copy on file in her office.

INDEPENDENT STUDY AGREEMENT FORM

Student: ________________________________ SS#: ___________________

Course #: ______________ Semester/Year: _____________ Credits: _______

Project Title:

Project Summary:

Signatures of Agreement:

Student: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Professor: ___________________________________ Date: ______________

Chairperson: _________________________________ Date: ______________

***OR***

Academic Coordinator: _________________________ Date: ______________

Comments:

Statement of Justification:

Project Objectives:

Plans and Methods:

Schedule:

Plan for Evaluation: