An independent study course is an alternative form of course delivery, requiring a high level of self-directed learning, with minimal assistance from the instructor. Independent study courses offer the student an opportunity to learn more about a specific subject, outside of the formal classroom, with scheduled one-on-one interaction with the instructor. These activities may be experiential, directed reading, or independent research supervised by a faculty member and approved by the chairperson of the department under which the course is listed. If the department chair is the faculty member offering the independent study, then the study proposal must be reviewed and approved by the Academic Dean.
Independent study courses do not replace existing courses, nor are they necessarily Special Topics courses. Either existing courses or special topics courses may be offered as independent study in the right circumstances.
An independent study may not be used for resolving scheduling conflicts or making up failed classes. The department chair and faculty member will determine the number of students and credit hours that the instructor can supervise for independent study every semester. The total number of credits for an independent study may not be altered after the course is in progress.
The number of credits awarded by the course should be one semester credit hour for each 40 clock hours of documented independent study activities. Students may take up to 6 credits of Independent Study per semester; however, Independent Study credits are limited to less than 10% of the total credits required for the degree program in which they enrolled.
Minimum Requirements
Although it is at the discretion of each academic department to provide more rigorous and specific guidelines as deemed fit, the following minimum criteria must be met to ensure the overall outcomes of the educational experience, the success of the students, and compliance with the accreditation standards:
- Undergraduate Students who take independent studies must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and must complete a minimum of 30 credits before taking the Independent Study.
- Graduate Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 before taking an Independent Study.
- The independent study must include comprehensive objectives in a written proposal, a reviewed and approved syllabus, and promote a high level of self-directed learning.
- The student must interact with the instructors throughout the course, via a scheduled weekly meeting.